How much does an AI keynote speaker cost? What drives the fee and what you get

What does an AI keynote cost?

The bureau pages we checked give no general fee range, so you need a quote per speaker.

Many speakers and bureaus do not publish a fixed price. We looked at the websites of six English-language speaker bureaus; for Thinking Heads, only the English home page. This is what they wrote on 24 October 2026:

Bureau	What the bureau itself says about fees
Speakers Corner	No amounts. Fees “vary widely” depending on the speaker’s experience, profile and availability, and on the format and location of the event. An account manager helps you see what is realistic within your budget.
Chartwell Speakers	No amounts. Fees are shaped by the speaker’s profile and demand, the format, the time commitment and the scope of the engagement, including preparation, travel, exclusivity and recording permissions.
Champions Speakers	No amounts. You get a quote on price and availability for the speaker you choose. The fee normally covers a keynote plus Q&A or a meet and greet; travel and accommodation are separate.
BigSpeak	No general range. You pay no fees for the bureau’s services; the speaker pays the bureau a commission.
London Speaker Bureau	No fee range for speakers. The enquiry form asks you to choose a budget band, so the bureau can suggest realistic options.
Thinking Heads	No fee information found on the English home page.

None of these bureaus names a separate price level for speakers on AI. What counts most is how experienced and well known someone is, and what you ask for. A short online session for one team is different from a tailored keynote for a conference with a thousand guests.

For the fee, an organiser can expect an inspiring keynote tailored to the audience. That includes a thorough briefing beforehand and interaction with the audience during the session.

What determines the fee?

Profile, session length, preparation, travel, format and recordings all shape the fee.

Speakers Corner names the speaker’s experience, profile and availability, plus the format and location of the event. Chartwell Speakers adds session length, preparation time, travel logistics, exclusivity requests and the use of recordings. Chartwell also writes that time-sensitive bookings, peak dates and international travel can affect availability and sometimes the overall cost. That is why many speakers say “price on request”. Below are the factors you can influence yourself.

How long is the keynote?

Bureaus and speakers often offer a few lengths. Champions Speakers writes that a fee normally covers a keynote of 30-45 minutes, followed by Q&A or a meet and greet. On Richard van Hooijdonk’s site, a keynote lasts 30, 45 or 60 minutes or longer, with time for questions. A longer session, a second round or an extra workshop on the same day changes the price. Agree in advance how much time there is for questions, because that time is part of the session.

How much tailoring do you need?

An existing talk takes less preparation than one built around your sector, your strategy or your audience. With AI this matters more, because examples date quickly. Speakers Corner writes that most speakers tailor their content to the audience and the event, but that the level of customisation varies by speaker, topic and format. Ask what is included as standard: a briefing call, examples from your own sector, a Q&A or a conversation with the host afterwards.

How far does the speaker travel?

The location determines travel time and sometimes an overnight stay. For international engagements, Chartwell Speakers writes that clients cover approved travel, accommodation and reasonable related expenses, such as flights, ground transport, hotel, meals and visa or entry costs where they apply. Champions Speakers also lists travel and accommodation as separate from the fee. BigSpeak, a bureau based in the United States, writes that most speakers now include travel in their fee. So always ask how travel is handled in your quote.

Which language does the speaker use?

At a European event with guests from several countries, English is often the shared language. But not every speaker is equally strong in English and in the local language. Ask whether the fee differs by language, and whether the speaker has given this session in that language before.

Online or on location?

An online session saves travel time and travel costs. On the other hand, a full room calls for a different kind of session than a webinar, and an online session needs its own preparation. Chartwell Speakers recommends a short technical check for virtual and hybrid events, and writes that the client is responsible for the quality of the connection. For Richard van Hooijdonk, for example, the fee for an international keynote is set per event.

Do you want to record or stream it?

Recording is not automatically part of the deal. Chartwell Speakers writes that filming, livestreaming or reusing any part of a presentation needs written approval in advance, and that usage terms vary by speaker. Richard van Hooijdonk’s page for organisers also asks you to arrange filming, streaming or sharing the presentation in advance. Agree on it before you sign, and put it in the quote.

Do you pay more via a bureau?

Several bureaus say you pay them no separate fee; whether the total is the same, you have to check.

BigSpeak writes that you pay no fees for its services, because the speakers pay the bureau a commission. Champions Speakers puts it the same way: “you won’t pay us - the speaker pays us”. BigSpeak also explains that some bureaus charge up to 30 percent of a keynote speaker’s fee, but that for companies this commission is often included in the speaker’s flat rate. For a speaker who is not on its own roster, BigSpeak writes that it books “at the same fee as any other bureau”. So at BigSpeak and Champions Speakers you pay no separate bureau fee, but that does not prove that booking directly would cost the same in total.

Whether you book through a bureau or directly depends mainly on what you need. A bureau helps if you don’t have a name yet or want to compare several speakers. Speakers Corner and Champions Speakers both mention help with finding a replacement if a speaker has to cancel. If you already know who you want, you can also contact the speaker directly. In both cases, ask for the same items in the quote, so you can put them side by side.

Which extra costs come on top?

Travel, accommodation, visa costs, technology, recording rights and VAT can all come on top.

Check which of these items are in the quote and which come on top:

• Travel
  flights, trains or ground transport. Chartwell Speakers and Champions Speakers list these as separate costs.
• Accommodation and meals, if an overnight stay is needed.
• Visa or entry costs, if they apply (Chartwell Speakers).
• Technology
  sound, microphone, screen and a stable connection for online sessions.
• Recording and usage rights, if you want to film, stream or share the session.
• VAT.
  Ask whether the amount in the quote includes or excludes VAT. For a speaker from another EU country, ask your finance team how VAT is handled for your booking.

What do you get for the money?

Ask whether a briefing call, tailoring, Q&A and a replacement in case of illness are included.

For the price of a keynote, you buy more than an hour on stage. Ask which of these are included:

• A briefing call
  about your goal, your audience and your programme. Speakers Corner writes that it always aims to organise a call between the speaker and the client.
• Tailoring
  examples from your sector and a link to the theme of the day.
• A current talk.
  On AI, a talk dates quickly; ask when it was last updated.
• Room for questions
  from the audience, or a conversation with the host.
• Agreements on recording
  and on sharing the slides afterwards. Speakers Corner notes that speakers do not always share their slides in advance.
• A replacement in case of illness or emergency.
  Speakers Corner and Champions Speakers both write that they look for a replacement; ask how this works for your booking.

From a keynote on AI you can also expect the audience to know where to start afterwards: with their own processes, asking for each task what AI can do and what stays with people. You can read more about what a guest speaker can add to an event in The impact of a guest speaker.

Richard van Hooijdonk’s fees

Fees for Richard van Hooijdonk’s international keynotes are on request and set per event.

On the page about Richard van Hooijdonk, it says: “Fees for international keynotes are on request.” A keynote lasts 30, 45 or 60 minutes or longer, in Dutch or English, in person or online. You send your date and a short description of your event and target audience, and the proposal gives the topic, format, length and fee for your event, so you can talk it over with your colleagues. Want to know what a keynote at your event would cost? Request a proposal via the speaker kit. One example of such a keynote is The AI Revolution.

How do you compare quotes?

Send every speaker the same brief and compare on what you get, not only on the amount.

1. Send the same brief
   to every speaker or bureau: date, city, length, language, format and audience. Chartwell Speakers asks for date, location, format, audience type and size, theme, session goals and budget range.
2. Ask whether the amount includes VAT
   and which extra costs will follow, such as travel and accommodation.
3. Ask what the fee covers
   briefing call, tailoring, Q&A, recording.
4. Ask about cancellation and replacement
   in case of illness or emergency.
5. Book in good time.
   Speakers Corner writes that starting three to six months in advance can help for major conferences or high-profile speakers. Champions Speakers advises 6-12 months for a big name and recommends booking more than a month ahead.
6. Compare on what you get, not only on the amount. A general guide to booking any speaker is Hire the perfect speaker. Still unsure which speaker fits? Use the checklist How to choose an AI keynote speaker: 8 questions to ask first.

Frequently asked questions

What does an AI speaker cost on average?

We found no published average on the bureau pages we checked. Ask for a quote for the speaker you have in mind.

Is an online keynote cheaper?

It often saves travel time and travel costs, but there is no fixed rule. For Richard van Hooijdonk, fees for international keynotes are on request, whether online or on location.

Can you record a keynote?

Only with the speaker’s permission. Chartwell Speakers writes that recording and livestreaming need written approval in advance and that usage terms vary by speaker. Agree on it beforehand and put it in the quote.