Pecha Kucha presentations have transformed how people share ideas - from Tokyo design events to boardrooms worldwide. Here's everything you need to know about this fast-paced, image-driven presentation format.

What is Pecha Kucha?

Pecha Kucha is a presentation format built on the 20x20 rule: 20 slides, each displayed for exactly 20 seconds, creating a total presentation time of 6 minutes and 40 seconds.

Each slide features one powerful image with minimal text (5 words or less). No bullet points, no paragraphs, no cluttered visuals. Images carry the message while your narration adds context and depth.

Where is Pecha Kucha From?

In 2003, Tokyo-based architects Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham faced a problem every presenter knows: design presentations that dragged on forever, losing audiences halfway through.

Their solution? Cutting presentations to 20 slides at 20 seconds each.

They launched Pecha Kucha Nights at Tokyo's SuperDeluxe venue with a guiding principle: "talk less, show more." Young designers could showcase work without losing their audience. The format spread rapidly - first across Tokyo's design community, then globally.

Today, Pecha Kucha Nights happen in over 1,000 cities worldwide, and the format is used everywhere from boardrooms to classrooms to TED-style events.

Pecha Kucha vs Traditional Presentations: What's The Difference?

Why Use The Pecha Kucha Format: Key Benefits

For presenters:

• Forces genuine preparation: The strict time constraint makes you think carefully about every piece of content, no fluff.

• Builds presentation discipline: You learn to be concise and practice rigorously to ensure you deliver your presentation within the time limit.

• Encourages visual thinking: Breaks the bullet-point habit and pushes you toward creative, visual storytelling.

For audiences:

• Maintains engagement: Fast pacing and constant visual changes keep attention focused throughout the entire presentation.

• Perfect length: Six minutes forty seconds is short enough that audiences commit fully, knowing there's a clear end in sight.

• Better retention: Visual-narrative pairings are more memorable than text-heavy slides, increasing information retention.

• Event efficiency: Great for events with multiple presenters - ten speakers take just over an hour versus half a day when using traditional formats.

How to Create a Pecha Kucha Presentation

Step 1: Define Your Core Message

Identify your single most important takeaway. With 6 minutes 40 seconds, you can't cover everything. Ask yourself: if people only remember one thing from my presentation, what should it be?

Step 2: Structure Your 20-Slide Story

Think of your presentation as a short film with clear beginning, middle, and end. Here’s how to break-down the 20 slides:

• Slide 1: Hook your audience immediately. No title slides with just names, each slide needs to tell a compelling story.

• Slides 2-18: Your narrative arc. This might follow problem → exploration → solution, or chronological progression. Each slide should build on the previous one and lead naturally to the next.

• Slides 19-20: Deliver your conclusion and call-to-action with impact.

Map out what each slide will convey before designing anything. Write one sentence describing each slide's purpose - if you can't articulate what a slide does, you don't need it.

Step 3: Design for Visual Impact

Since Pecha Kucha presentations focus heavily on visuals, this is the most important step. Make sure you have:

• One powerful image per slide: Not two images, not a collage. One strong visual that instantly communicates your concept.

• Minimal text: 5 words or less. Text should emphasize, not explain.

• Visual consistency: Maintain unified colour schemes and style across all 20 slides. Inconsistent style shifts break flow and distract from your message.

• High-quality images: Grainy stock photos undermine credibility and create a poor experience for your audience. Invest in quality visuals.

Example of a Pecha Kucha Presentation - each slide focuses on visuals not words

Step 4: Create a Speaker Script

Draft 50-60 words per slide, roughly what most people speak comfortably in 20 seconds. Don’t waste your words on describing visuals, add context to them.

For example, if your image shows a rocket launch:

Don't say: "Here's a rocket launching into space."

Say: "In 2015, everyone said reusable rockets were impossible. Today, they're the industry standard. This is what happens when you challenge assumptions everyone else accepts as fact."

Bonus Step: Create Pecha Kucha Presentations with AI

Designing 20 visually consistent slides from scratch is time-consuming. AI presentation tools like Alai make this faster while maintaining Pecha Kucha's image-first requirements.

Why Alai makes Pecha Kucha creation easier:

• Automatic design consistency: Maintains unified colours, fonts, and styling across all 20 slides

• Multiple layout options: Get 4 different design options per slide to choose the strongest visual approach

• Smart AI image generation: Intelligently generates relevant visuals that fit your narrative. Regenerate images using slide context without typing prompts manually

• Quick refinement: Swap images, adjust layouts, or refine individual slides without rebuilding your entire presentation

Once you've designed your presentation in Alai, export it and configure 20-second auto-advance timing in PowerPoint or Google Slides.

Build a Pecha Kucha on Alai

What Makes a Great Pecha Kucha? Tips from PechaKucha HQ

Brian from PechaKucha HQ in Tokyo has reviewed thousands of Pecha Kucha presentations. Here are his tips on how to create a great one:

Use Big, Bold, Beautiful Images

Edge-to-edge, full-bleed, high-resolution images only. Avoid text-heavy slides, corporate templates, graphs, and multiple competing images.

Structure Simply

Don't cram 20 ideas into 20 slides. Use frameworks like the three-act play: Act 1 (slides 1-5) introduces your topic, Act 2 (slides 6-17) shows your work, Act 3 (slides 18-20) delivers why it matters.

Deliver with Confidence

An amazing topic with poor delivery falls flat. Be cool, relaxed, and speak from the heart, not from memorized scripts. Pecha Kucha should feel casual and fun.

Practice for Authenticity

Find the balance between confident and natural. Practice enough to nail timing, but not so much you sound robotic.

Watch Brian’s video on how to make great Pecha Kuchas →

Want to see these principles in action? Here are real Pecha Kucha presentations that demonstrate excellence

Top Pecha Kucha Templates To Learn From

The Courage To Imagine by Michel Rojkind

In “The Courage to Imagine,” Rojkind reflects on imagination as an act of bravery, exploring how design rooted in intuition, craft, and care can restore belonging and beauty in a thin culture.

Step by Step by Betty Ng

Architect Betty Ng, founder of COLLECTIVE, takes us through her ten-year journey leading her internationally acclaimed architecture studio based in Hong Kong. In “Step by Step,” she reflects on the cross-cultural encounters, challenges, and inspirations that have shaped her evolving creative path.

Pecha Kucha For Microsoft’s Q4 2011 Financial Results

This video was shot live at the Presentation Summit 2011 conference. It is a Pecha Kucha style presentation by Dave Paradi. The presentation is about the Q4 2011 Microsoft financial results directed to an internal company audience.

FAQs

How long is a Pecha Kucha presentation?

A Pecha Kucha presentation is always exactly 6 minutes and 40 seconds long (20 slides × 20 seconds = 400 seconds).

How do you pronounce Pecha Kucha?

Pronounce it "peh-CHAH koo-chah." It's a Japanese term (ペチャクチャ) meaning "chit-chat" or "chatter."

Can you use text in Pecha Kucha slides?

Yes, but sparingly. Aim for 5 words or less per slide. Text should emphasize key points, not explain them. Your narration provides the explanation while text serves as headlines or emphasis. Slides dominated by bullet points or paragraphs violate the format's spirit and make it difficult for audiences to absorb information in just 20 seconds.

What software works best for Pecha Kucha?

Alai is particularly effective for Pecha Kucha presentations because it generates visually consistent slides quickly while maintaining the image-first approach the format demands. You can also use PowerPoint, Keynote, or Google Slides.

Alai's advantage is speed and visual consistency across all 20 slides - crucial when each slide needs maximum visual impact.

How many words should I speak per Pecha Kucha slide?

Aim for 50-60 words per slide, which most people can comfortably speak in 20 seconds. This translates to roughly 1,000-1,200 words for your entire presentation. Practice with a timer to find your natural speaking pace and adjust your script accordingly.

Can I pause a Pecha Kucha presentation?

No, slides auto-advance every 20 seconds and cannot be paused during delivery. This is a core feature that creates the characteristic pace and energy. If you need to answer questions or elaborate, save that for after your 6-minute-40-second presentation concludes.

Why is Pecha Kucha 20 slides?

The number 20 was chosen by creators Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham as the optimal balance between brevity and substance. It's enough slides to tell a complete story with proper arc (beginning, middle, end) but constrained enough to force presenters to be selective about content.

What makes a good Pecha Kucha topic?

Good Pecha Kucha topics are visual, story-driven, and focused on a single core message. Topics that work well include personal journeys, creative processes, case studies, historical narratives, and passion projects. Avoid topics requiring extensive technical explanation, detailed data analysis, or complex multi-part arguments that need more time to develop properly.