13 Best Debate Competitions for High School Students [2025]

After mastering local debate competitions, you're ready to join the ranks of nationally competitive debaters. Moving from school competitions to recognized tournaments marks a significant step in your debate career—one that college admissions officers notice.

On college applications, competing in tournaments (like the ones covered below) signals more than just debate skills. These competitions show admissions officers that you can analyze complex arguments, adapt to diverse judging styles, and perform under pressure against top competitors from across the country.

This guide breaks down 13 elite debate competitions that will genuinely advance your skills and boost your academic profiles. For each tournament, you'll discover:

Before diving into the competitions, here are key terms you'll need to know:

For tournament registration and additional information, visit Tabroom.com.

NSDA Nationals

The National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) Nationals stands as the largest academic competition worldwide. Each June, over 6,000 students who've qualified through district tournaments gather to compete in events ranging from Lincoln-Douglas debate to World Schools debate format.

Recent national topics have included renewable energy policy, NATO expansion, and criminal justice reform. Winners often present arguments that combine thorough research with persuasive delivery—for example, supporting positions with current economic data while effectively addressing counterarguments.

NSDA Nationals

Key Facts

Location: NSDA Campus in Des Moines, IA

Dates: June 15-20, 2025

Number of competitors last year: 6,700

Round Robin format? No, multi-round elimination

Judge types: Active coaches, former competitors, parents, and general public

Qualification requirements: NSDA District Tournaments or Last-Chance Qualifier

Application deadline: Typically opens mid March and closes around the beginning of June

Cost:

  • Solo event: $75
  • Partner event: $150
  • World Schools: $225

Best For

  • Qualified competitors seeking national recognition - this is the largest tournament in the country
  • Students ready for intense competition, with 5 full days of debates and elimination rounds

Tournament of Champions (TOC)

The Tournament of Champions (TOC) represents the pinnacle of high school debate. Debaters must earn two qualifying bids from major tournaments—such as winning at Harvard Invitational or reaching late elimination rounds at UC Berkeley—to receive an invitation to compete.

Earning TOC bids requires exceptional performance at qualifying tournaments. For example, a debater might earn their first bid by reaching semifinals at the Glenbrooks tournament and their second by advancing to quarterfinals at Harvard Invitational. Each year, only about 100 debaters nationwide achieve this distinction.

Tournament of Champions

Key Facts

Location: University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY)

Dates: April 26-28, 2025

Number of competitors last year: ~100

Round Robin format? No, utilizes elimination rounds

Judge types: Active coaches and former competitors

Qualification requirements: Two bids earned during the qualifying season

Application deadline:

  • World Schools Debate: Typically opens at the beginning of February and closes mid March
  • General: Typically opens at the beginning of February and closes mid March

Cost:

  • Congressional/Lincoln-Douglas: $165
  • Policy/Public Forum: $255
  • Speech: $140 ($75 per additional entry)
  • World Schools: $345 (per 3 person entry)
  • Coach/Judge/Observer: $65 (optional)

Best For

  • Students who want to debate in front of qualified judges
  • Students aiming to compete against the most elite debaters in the country

Harvard Invitational

Officially known as the Harvard National High School Invitational Forensics Tournament, the Harvard Invitational is well-known as one of the most prestigious qualifiers for the Tournament of Champions (teams that reach the round of 16 in the high school varsity division receive a bid to the TOC).

Held annually over Presidents’ Day weekend, the tournament attracts a diverse group of students from across the nation. It offers a variety of debate competitions, as well as competitive junior varsity and novice pools, with fierce competition throughout.

World Schools debates remain online for 2025, while all other events take place on Harvard's campus.

Harvard Invitational

Key Facts

Location: Harvard University (Cambridge, MA)

Dates: Feb 15-17, 2025

Number of competitors last year: 5,000+

Round Robin format? Yes, for select events including World Schools (online) and Policy Debate (pre-tournament). The main tournament uses preliminary rounds followed by eliminations.

Judge types: Typically only active coaches and former competitors judge Varsity, and all judges are welcome to judge JV, novice, and middle school

Qualification requirements: Open invitational tournament, though it attracts many skilled debaters from across the country

Application deadline: Typically opens early December and closes early to mid February

Cost:

  • Lincoln-Douglas: $140
  • Policy: $180
  • Public Forum: $110-$170
  • Speech: $75-$100

Best For

  • Students seeking exposure to diverse debate styles from across the country
  • Debaters looking to strengthen their college applications with an Ivy League tournament

The Glenbrooks

The Glenbrooks Tournament, hosted jointly by Glenbrook North and South High Schools near Chicago, serves as a crucial mid-season test. Its November timing lets debaters refine their cases before winter's major tournaments, while still offering TOC bids to top performers.

Glenbrooks is known for fostering a competitive yet collaborative environment for a diverse array of students from across the U.S. to showcase their skills, and acts as a stepping stone and benchmark for those aiming to take their talent to the highest levels.

The Glenbrooks

Key Facts

Location: Northbrook and Glenview, IL

Dates: Traditionally held over Thanksgiving weekend in late November

Number of competitors last year: 2,000+

Round Robin format? No, traditional bracket system with preliminary rounds leading to elimination rounds

Judge types: Active coaches and former competitors

Qualification requirements: Open tournament, no specific qualification requirements

Application deadline: Typically opens end of August and closes mid November

Cost:

  • Congressional: $100
  • JV Lincoln-Douglas/Policy: $100
  • Varsity Lincoln-Douglas: $145
  • Varsity Policy/Public Forum: $165
  • Speech events: $90

Best For

  • Midwest debaters seeking national-caliber competition
  • Students wanting to test their skills before the major winter tournaments

Barkley Forum hosted by Emory University

Since 1951, the Barkley Forum at Emory University has shaped high school debate. Its January timing provides a key checkpoint before the TOC qualifying season intensifies, while its southern location draws a unique mix of established powerhouse programs and emerging regional talent.

Over the years, the tournament has attracted thousands of students, teachers, school administrators, and college coaches from over 35 states to participate. Its final rounds are particularly well-known for having large audiences who watch as top-tier high school speech and debate talent go head-to-head.

Barkley Forum hosted by Emory University

Key Facts

Location: Emory University (Atlanta, GA)

Dates: January 24-26, 2025

Number of competitors last year: 1,000+

Round Robin format? No, traditional bracket system with preliminary rounds leading to elimination rounds

Judge types: Active coaches and former competitors

Qualification requirements: Invitations are provided for Barkley Forum for High School member schools, but accepts applications from non-member schools that include students’ competitive records. Consideration for the latter is based on space availability and the student’s record.

Application deadline: Typically opens early to mid October and closes mid January

Cost:

  • Lincoln-Douglas: $110
  • Congressional: $65
  • Pelham: $125 per team
  • Public Forum: $110 per team
  • Speech: $65 per event

Best For

  • Advanced debaters ready for sophisticated argument strategies
  • Students interested in connecting with college debate programs

Greenhill Invitational

The Greenhill Invitational, also known as the Greenhill Fall Classic, is a prestigious annual tournament that is now approaching its 40th year of providing high-caliber competition in a variety of formats.

Beyond its renown for fostering a competitive yet educational environment, Greenhill serves as a significant early-season event for high school debaters nationwide, making it an exceptional opportunity for those preparing for higher level competition.

Greenhill Invitational

Key Facts

Location: Greenhill School (Addison, TX)

Dates: Typically held in mid to late September

Number of competitors last year: 400-600

Round Robin format? Yes, for Lincoln-Douglas and Policy debaters. Other events utilize preliminary and subsequent elimination rounds.

Judge types: Active coaches and former competitors

Qualification requirements: Open to high school debate teams nationwide, though specific qualifications vary by event

Application deadline: Typically opens early August and closes late August

Cost:

  • Lincoln-Douglas: $100
  • Lincoln-Douglas Round Robin: $175
  • Policy: $150
  • Policy Round Robin: $275
  • Speech: $20
  • World Schools: $150 per team

Best For

  • Debaters seeking early-season competition experience
  • Southern circuit competitors aiming for national recognition

Stanford Invitational

Akin to the Greenhill Invitational, the Stanford Invitational is also approaching 40 years of providing one of the best and most notable speech and debate tournaments available.

The Stanford Invitational leverages online technology to create a national-caliber tournament accessible to all schools. Through Stanford's digital platform, debaters from Miami to Anchorage compete in real-time, judged by experienced critics from across the country.

The tournament is no less competitive or comprehensive than its in-person counterparts, offering a range of both debate and speech categories, and acts as a TOC qualifier.

Stanford Invitational

Key Facts

Location: Online

Dates: February 8-10, 2025

Number of competitors last year: Typically 800-1,200 each year

Round Robin format? No, utilizes traditional bracket system with preliminary rounds leading to elimination rounds

Judge types: Active coaches and former competitors typically judge Varsity, with novice, JV and middle school divisions judged by all types of judges including parents and the general public

Qualification requirements: Open to high school students nationwide, but specific qualification requirements vary by event.

Application deadline: Typically opens late October and closes early February

Cost:

  • Debate: $75-$125 per team or individual
  • Speech: $50
  • World Schools: $125

Best For

  • Students seeking national competition without travel costs
  • Students who want to debate online and avoid the hassle of travel and logistics

Yale Invitational

Hosted by the Yale Debate Association since it was established in 1993, the Yale Invitational has grown into one of the premier speech and debate events on the national circuit. 

Since its inception, this esteemed tournament has attracted top debaters and speakers from across the country, providing talented students a comprehensive and competitive platform to exercise and continue developing their forensic skills.

Yale Invitational

Key Facts

Location: Yale University (New Haven, CT)

Dates: September 19-21, 2025

Number of competitors last year: ~2,000

Round Robin format? No, utilizes traditional bracket system with preliminary rounds leading to elimination rounds

Judge types: Active coaches, former competitors, and parents with coaches and competitors typically judging the vast majority of Varsity division debates

Qualification requirements: Open to high school students nationwide, but specific qualification requirements vary by event.

Application deadline: Typically opens early August and closes around mid September

Cost:

  • Debate: $70-$110
  • Speech: $65-$130

Best For

  • East Coast debaters seeking early-season competition
  • Students wanting exposure to college-level debate standards

Apple Valley Invitational

The Apple Valley Tournament (MinneApple) has grown since 1986 into a crucial midwest circuit event. Its November date lets teams test their cases before the TOC bid season peaks, while its location draws unique perspectives from across the northern United States and Canada.

This tournament routinely features a competitive pool of participants looking to test their skills and engage in rigorous intellectual discourse, making it a great opportunity for students to grow their skills in an environment geared towards cultivating success on larger stages.

Apple Valley Invitational

Key Facts

Location: Apple Valley High School (Apple Valley, MN)

Dates: November 7-9, 2025

Number of competitors last year: ~1,000+

Round Robin format? No, utilizes traditional bracket system with preliminary rounds leading to elimination rounds

Judge types: Active coaches and former competitors judge varsity and all judges typically are welcome to judge Novice and JV 

Qualification requirements: Open to high school students nationwide, but specific qualification requirements vary by event.

Application deadline: Typically opens early August and closes early to mid November

Cost:

  • Congressional: $75
  • Novice/JV Lincoln-Douglas: $40
  • Varsity Lincoln-Douglas: $100
  • Novice Public Forum: $50
  • Varsity Public Forum: $120

Best For

  • Midwest circuit debaters seeking regional competition
  • Students preparing for larger national tournaments

Harvard-Westlake Debates

Known for its competitive atmosphere and picturesque backdrop, the Harvard-Westlake Debates is an annual tournament held just a stone’s throw from the hustle and bustle of the greater Los Angeles area. 

Featuring various speech and debate events, this tournament attracts top debaters from across the nation and fosters a rigorous environment for students to refine their approach to intellectual exchange and grow their forensics skills in a competitive but communal setting.

Harvard Westlake Debates

Key Facts

Location: Harvard-Westlake School (Los Angeles, CA)

Dates: January 18-20, 2025

Number of competitors last year: 1,000+

Round Robin format? Yes

Judge types: Active coaches and former competitors

Qualification requirements: Open to high school students nationwide, but specific qualification requirements vary by event

Application deadline: Typically opens early December and closes mid January

Cost:

  • Novice Lincoln-Douglas: $50
  • Varsity Lincoln-Douglas: $125
  • HW Round Robin: $175
  • World Schools: $100

Best For

  • West Coast debaters seeking TOC qualifying opportunities
  • Students ready for intense competition in all debate formats

Strake Jesuit Tournament

Considered one of the nation’s premier high school debate tournaments, the Strake Jesuit Tournament is a distinguished competition with a long-standing tradition.

Hosted by Strake Jesuit College Preparatory in Houston, Texas, it features a variety of events and is known for high-quality judging and unique awards. Similar to other tournaments of its kind, it also offers qualifying semis bids to the TOC, making it the perfect opportunity for talented speech and debate students to prepare and qualify for top-tier competition.

Strake Jesuit Tournament

Key Facts

Location: Strake Jesuit College Preparatory (Houston, TX)

Dates: Typically held in mid to late December (prior to holiday break)

Number of competitors last year: 1,000+

Round Robin format? No, utilizes traditional bracket system with preliminary rounds leading to elimination rounds

Judge types: Active coaches, former competitors, and parents (typically only in JV) 

Qualification requirements: Open to high school students nationwide, but specific qualification requirements vary by event

Application deadline: Typically opens in late October and ends in mid December

Cost: Varsity Lincoln-Douglas: $75

Best For

  • Southern circuit debaters seeking national competition
  • Students looking for experience before winter championship season

College Prep Invitational

The College Prep Invitational specializes in Lincoln-Douglas debate, allowing for deeper exploration of philosophical arguments and more detailed feedback from experienced LD judges.

In addition, students participate on a small, self-contained campus, allowing those with parent chaperones to attend if a coach cannot.

College Prep Invitational

Key Facts

Location: The College Preparatory School (Oakland, CA)

Dates: Typically held in mid to late December (before holiday break)

Number of competitors last year: Often in the hundreds

Round Robin format? No, utilizes traditional bracket system with preliminary rounds leading to elimination rounds

Judge types: Active coaches, former competitors, and parents (typically only novice) 

Qualification requirements: Open to high school students nationwide

Application deadline: Typically opens in early May and closes in mid December

Cost: $105 per entry

Best For

  • Lincoln-Douglas debaters of all experience levels
  • Students who need parent chaperones rather than team coaches