The Tournament of Champions is committed to expanding opportunities for international students to participate in the TOC and its network of qualifying events.
In 2026 international students may apply for at-large bid consideration in World Schools Debate, the silver division of Public Forum Debate (online), and speech events if they have demonstrated competitiveness at two or more qualifying events.
For more information on qualifying (bid) tournaments or the at-large process please visit Bid Tournaments and Bid Allocation.
For questions about program support please email tournamentofchampions@uky.edu
International Speech & Debate Initiative Tournaments
A collaboration between Harvard and UK Debate/TOC. ISDI Tournaments will be time-zone friendly for both Asia and the Americas (especially west cost times). World Schools Debate, Silver Public Forum, and Original Oratory are bid earning events.
- International Speech & Debate Initiative (ISDI) #1: October 23-25 (online)
- International Speech & Debate Initiative (ISDI) #2: November 21-23 (online)
- International Speech & Debate Initiative (ISDI) #3: January 23-25 (online)
Public Forum Gold Bids | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tournament Name | Modality | Dates |
| Taiwan Speech and Debate Invitational | Offline (Taipei) | October 10-12 |
| TOC Asia Fall Championships | Offline (Location TBA) | December 27-28 |
Public Forum Silver Bids | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tournament Name | Modality | Dates |
| TOC Asia West China Qualifier | Offline (Chengdu) | October 6-7 |
| TOC Asia China Online Qualifier I | Online | October 18-19 |
| International Speech & Debate Initiative #1 | Online | October 23-25 |
| TOC Asia South China Qualifier | Offline (Shenzhen) | November 1-2 |
| TOC Asia China Online Qualifier II | Online | November 15-16 |
| International Speech & Debate Initiative #2 | Online | November 21-23 |
| TOC Asia East China Qualifier | Offline (Shanghai) | December 6-7 |
| TOC Asia China Online Qualifier III | Online | December 13-14 |
| TOC Asia Fall Championships (with Gold Bids) | Offline (Location TBA) | December 27-28 |
| International Speech & Debate Initiative #3 | Online | January 23-25 |
Asia Worlds Championship Series (AWCS) Bids | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tournament Name | Modality | Dates |
| AWCS I | Online | September 20-21 |
| International Speech & Debate Initiative #1 | Online | October 23-25 |
| AWCS II | Online | November 8-9 |
| International Speech & Debate Initiative #2 | Online | November 21-23 |
| AWCS III | Online | January 3-4 |
| International Speech & Debate Initiative #3 | Online | January 23-25 |
Junior World School Debate Championship Series Bids | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tournament Name | Modality | Dates |
| AWCS I | Online | September 20-21 |
| TOC Asia West China Qualifier | Offline (Chengdu) | October 6-7 |
| TOC Asia South China Qualifier | Offline (Shenzhen) | November 1-2 |
| AWCS II | Online | November 8-9 |
| TOC Asia East China Qualifier | Offline (Shanghai) | December 6-7 |
| TOC Asia Fall Championships | Offline (Location TBA) | December 27-28 |
| AWCS III | Online | January 3-4 |
Speech/Individual Events Bids | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Tournament Name | Modality | Events | Dates |
| AWCS I | Online | Oratory | September 20-21 |
| TOC Asia West China Qualifier | Offline (Chengdu) | Impromptu, Oratory, Expository | October 6-7 |
| TOC Asia China Online Qualifier I | Online | Impromptu, Expository | October 18-19 |
| International Speech & Debate Initiative #1 | Online | Oratory, Dramatic Interp | October 23-25 |
| TOC Asia South China Qualifier | Offline (Shenzhen) | Impromptu, Oratory, Expository | November 1-2 |
| TOC Asia China Online Qualifier II | Online | Impromptu, Expository | November 15-16 |
| AWCS II | Online | Oratory | November 8-9 |
| International Speech & Debate Initiative #2 | Online | Oratory, Extemp, Dramatic Interp | November 21-23 |
| TOC Asia East China Qualifier | Offline (Shanghai) | Impromptu, Oratory, Expository | December 6-7 |
| TOC Asia China Online Qualifier III | Online | Impromptu, Expository | December 13-14 |
| TOC Asia Fall Championships | Offline (Location TBA) | Impromptu, Oratory, Expository | December 27-28 |
| AWCS III | Online | Oratory | January 3-4 |
| International Speech & Debate Initiative #3 | Online | Oratory, Dramatic Interp | January 23-25 |
| Oratory is also known as Original Oratory. It is also often interchangeable with Persuasive Speaking. | |||
World Schools Bids | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tournament Name | Modality | Dates |
| Taiwan Speech and Debate Invitational | Offline (Taipei) | October 10-12 |
| International Speech & Debate Initiative #1 | Online | October 23-25 |
| International Speech & Debate Initiative #2 | Online | November 21-23 |
| International Speech & Debate Initiative #3 | Online | January 23-25 |