World Schools · Online · Registration not open

ISDI TOC Qualifier 1 (Harvard) 2026: World Schools

Organised by ISDI with Harvard Debate Council and University of Kentucky

The first of three online TOC qualifiers run by Harvard Debate and the University of Kentucky for students around the world, with Open and Junior World Schools divisions.

The International Speech and Debate Initiative's TOC Qualifying series is co-sponsored by the University of Kentucky's Tournament of Champions and the Harvard Debate Council and built for students outside the United States. This first tournament, administered by Harvard, runs from 23 to 25 October 2026 on NSDA Campus with two World Schools divisions: Open, which carries a finals TOC bid, and Junior, with shorter speech times. Four preliminary rounds mixing prepared and impromptu motions, then a break to semifinals.

The schedule is written for global entry: Friday and Saturday evenings in the Americas, Saturday and Sunday mornings in Asia, late afternoon and evening in the Gulf. The organiser's fee is USD 130 per team, each entry needs one judge, and registration closes on 20 October. Club and composite entries are accepted when a student's own school does not field a debate team, so tell us the school when you sign up and we will confirm eligibility.

What's included if you sign up through us

  • 4 hours of coaching by experts
  • Sorted registration and judge requirement
  • Feedback about the tournament after the rounds
Which division?

Open for high-school students; Junior, with speech times halved, for younger students. Tell us which when you sign up.

My school has a debate team. Can I still enter?

The organiser accepts club entries only from students whose school has no debate team. Register interest and we will check your case before anything is paid.

Preparing for the tournament

Students entering their first judged rounds usually get the most out of a short run of coached practice first. The Foundation class covers the format from scratch, the Competition Team trains year-round, and the motion bank has thousands of real motions to practise on. How rounds are scored is explained in how World Schools judging works.