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.
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.
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:
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.
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:
Cost:
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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
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.
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