Embedded Files
The TOC Circuit: A Global Competitive Network
The TOC Circuit: A Global Competitive Network
The JW Patterson Tournament of Champions (TOC), hosted by the University of Kentucky, represents the gold standard in competitive high school speech and debate. It is a championship tournament that serves as the culminating event after a season of competition at qualifying tournaments. The TOC circuit includes over 100 qualifying events that serve tens of thousands of students each year. Qualifying tournaments are hosted by prestigious Universities and high schools around the world. They offer students a globally connected competitive and educational experience. We recommend attending TOC Qualifying tournaments to receive top tier competition & judging.
TOC Qualifiers occur at institutions including:
Harvard University
Yale University
Stanford University
Emory University
Georgetown University
University of Texas at Austin
Montgomery Bell Academy
The Blake School
Princeton
University of Pennsylvania
UC Berkeley
Taipei American School
Saigon South International School
University of Georgia
University of Michigan
Glenbrook North and South
Greenhill School
For a full list of University of Kentucky's TOC Qualifying tournaments recommended by the International Speech & Debate Initiative, visit https://ci.uky.edu/debate/toc/bids/bid-tournaments.
Benefits of Competition at TOC Tournaments
Benefits of Competition at TOC Tournaments
The benefits of competing at TOC Tournaments include:
High caliber judging and feedback from some of the best high school and college coaches
High-level matchups simulating championship conditions
A transparent, qualification-based pathway to the JW Patterson TOC
Global visibility and recognition
Bid tournaments are interconnected. Success at one event opens doors to others.
In-Person Flagship Competitions
In-Person Flagship Competitions
Harvard National Speech and Debate Tournament
o Dates: February 14–16, 2026
o Hosted at Harvard College, this is one of the largest and most prestigious tournaments in the world. It offers TOC bids in Public Forum, World Schools, Original Oratory, and more. It is a cornerstone of the season for schools globally.
JW Patterson Tournament of Champions
o Dates: April 11–13, 2026
o Held at the University of Kentucky, this invitation-only event is the culminating championship of the TOC circuit. Only students who qualify through bid tournaments or at-large review may attend. It is widely regarded as the most prestigious event in U.S. high school speech and debate.
Recommended Online Competitions
Recommended Online Competitions
The ISDI supports a robust slate of online competitions to ensure year-round access including:
o National Speech and Debate Season Opener – September 6–8, 2025
o International Speech & Debate Initiative TOC Qualifier #1 – October 23-25, 2025
o International Speech & Debate Initiative TOC Qualifier #2 – November 21-23, 2025
o Digital Series #1 – December 5–7, 2025
o International Speech & Debate Initiative TOC Qualifier #3 – January 23-25, 2026
o Harvard National Speech & Debate Tournament (Online Divisions) - February 14-16, 2026
o Digital Series #2 – February 20–22, 2026
o Digital Series #3 – March 6–8, 2026
o Silver Public Forum @ the JW Patterson TOC (Online Division) – April 11-13, 2026
o Middle School TOC – May 1–3, 2026
Recommended Asia Competitions
Recommended Asia Competitions
The ISDI supports the Asia-TOC circuit as well as other tournaments throughout the region.
Online Qualifiers
(Public Forum, Impromptu, Expository)
TOC Asia China Online Qualifier I: October 18-19
TOC Asia China Online Qualifier II: November 15-16
TOC Asia China Online Qualifier III: December 13-14
Offline Qualifiers
(Public Forum, JWSDC, Impromptu, Persuasive, Expository)
TOC Asia West China Qualifier: October 6-7 Chengdu
TOC Asia South China Qualifier: November 1-2 Shenzhen
TOC Asia East China Qualifier: December 6-7 Shanghai
TOC Asia Fall Championships and Gold Bid: December 27-28, Location TBA (Likely Shenzhen or Shanghai)
Asia Worlds Championship Series (AWCS)- Online
(World Schools, Junior WSDC, Persuasive Speaking)
AWCS I: September 20-21, 2025
AWCS II: November 22-23, 2025
AWCS III: January 3-4, 2026
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse