Maya Higa has reached a major milestone in her career after becoming the first Twitch streamer to give a main stage speech at the TED conference in front of thousands of attendees.
The speaker participated in the TED2026 event held in Vancouver. There, the creator discussed topics related to animal conservation and talked about Alveus Sanctuary’s animal rescue efforts.Later, on May 12, 2026, Maya Higa’s TED talk titled “A wildlife reserve you can visit from anywhere” It was released on the official TED YouTube channel. In the video, the broadcaster shared her views on how live streaming can help raise awareness about wildlife.
She also talked about how the Internet can connect millions of viewers to conservation work, even if they are far from nature. Fans across Twitch held watch parties in support of her, helping the word reach more people online.
Maya Higa has become the first Twitch streamer to speak on the TED main stage about wildlife conservation
Maya Higa started Alveus Sanctuary in 2021 in Austin. The non-profit sanctuary cares for non-releasable exotic animals and uses 24/7 live streaming on Twitch to teach viewers about wildlife.
Over the years, the shelter has grown into one of the most popular animal education projects on the platform. It has also expanded to include wildlife rehabilitation and research, including work related to endangered wolves.
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A wildlife reserve that you can visit from anywhere Maya Hija | Ted
Maya used her TED talk to explain how online content can do more than just entertain people. She said live streaming could help create future conservationists by making animal education fun and accessible.
Her speech included references to animals, social media and communities, focusing on how contemporary platforms can help important initiatives reach younger demographics around the world.Maya Higa was so thrilled after her presentation that receiving the standing ovation became a career-changing moment for her. Fans and other creators also chipped in to celebrate this historic moment by sharing their thoughts on this massive accomplishment for her and the streaming industry as a whole. By attending TED2026, Maya showed that live streamers are starting to gain recognition in many prestigious venues in the world.
