What is Pecha Kucha? Definition and example presentation format
Pecha Kucha (often written PechaKucha) is a presentation format of 20 slides that advance automatically every 20 seconds, so each talk lasts exactly 6 minutes 40 seconds. It was created in Tokyo in 2003 by the architecture firm Klein Dytham, and the name comes from the Japanese for "chit-chat".
The rules
- 20 slides, mostly images, few or no words
- 20 seconds per slide, advancing automatically: you can't go back or pause
- 6 minutes 40 seconds in total
The format began at events in Tokyo where designers showed their work, with the aim of talking less and showing more. It has since spread to events and classrooms in many cities. Because the slides move on without you, it rewards tight planning and punishes rambling.
Timing and words
| Pace | Words per 20-second slide | Words for the whole talk |
|---|---|---|
| 120 wpm | About 40 | About 800 |
| 130 wpm | About 43 | About 870 |
| 150 wpm | About 50 | About 1,000 |
Forty words is two or three short sentences per slide. Plan for less than you think: you need a beat of silence when a slide changes. The speech length calculator can check other formats.
Example topic plan
Example topic: "How our town's old cinema became a library." Made-up details.
| Slides | Section | What you show |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Hook | The empty cinema in 2019; the queue on reopening day |
| 3–7 | The problem | Closed for years; damp; who missed it |
| 8–13 | The project | Volunteers, the funding vote, the build |
| 14–18 | The result | Children's corner, study rooms, film nights kept |
| 19–20 | Close | What other empty buildings could become |
Tips
- Write one sentence per slide first, then add a second only if time allows.
- Use a slide as a pause: a striking image with one short line.
- Rehearse with auto-advance on from the first run-through.
- If you fall behind, skip ahead to the current slide. Don't try to catch up.
Questions people ask
How long is a Pecha Kucha presentation?
6 minutes and 40 seconds: 20 slides at 20 seconds each.
What does Pecha Kucha mean?
It comes from the Japanese word for "chit-chat."
Can I use text on Pecha Kucha slides?
You can, but the format favours images. Text the audience has to read competes with you for 20 seconds.
How is Pecha Kucha different from a lightning talk?
Lightning talks are usually about 5 minutes with no fixed slide rules. Pecha Kucha fixes both the slide count and the timing. See how to give a lightning talk.