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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 NameModalityDates
TOC Asia Fall ChampionshipsOffline (Location TBA)December 27-28

Public Forum Silver Bids

Tournament NameModalityDates
TOC Asia West China QualifierOffline (Chengdu)October 6-7
TOC Asia China Online Qualifier IOnlineOctober 18-19
International Speech & Debate Initiative #1OnlineOctober 23-25
TOC Asia South China QualifierOffline (Shenzhen)November 1-2
TOC Asia China Online Qualifier IIOnlineNovember 15-16
International Speech & Debate Initiative #2OnlineNovember 21-23
TOC Asia East China QualifierOffline (Shanghai)December 6-7
TOC Asia China Online Qualifier IIIOnlineDecember 13-14
TOC Asia Fall Championships
(with Gold Bids)
Offline (Location TBA)December 27-28
International Speech & Debate Initiative #3OnlineJanuary 23-25

Asia Worlds Championship Series (AWCS) Bids

Tournament NameModalityDates
AWCS IOnlineSeptember 20-21
International Speech & Debate Initiative #1OnlineOctober 23-25
AWCS IIOnlineNovember 8-9
International Speech & Debate Initiative #2OnlineNovember 21-23
AWCS IIIOnlineJanuary 3-4
International Speech & Debate Initiative #3OnlineJanuary 23-25

Junior World School Debate Championship Series Bids

Tournament NameModalityDates
AWCS IOnlineSeptember 20-21
TOC Asia West China QualifierOffline (Chengdu)October 6-7
TOC Asia South China QualifierOffline (Shenzhen)November 1-2
AWCS IIOnlineNovember 8-9
TOC Asia East China QualifierOffline (Shanghai)December 6-7
TOC Asia Fall ChampionshipsOffline (Location TBA)December 27-28
AWCS IIIOnlineJanuary 3-4

Speech/Individual Events Bids

Tournament NameModalityEventsDates
AWCS IOnlineOratorySeptember 20-21
TOC Asia West China QualifierOffline (Chengdu)Impromptu, Oratory, ExpositoryOctober 6-7
TOC Asia China Online Qualifier IOnlineImpromptu, ExpositoryOctober 18-19
International Speech & Debate Initiative #1OnlineOratoryOctober 23-25
TOC Asia South China QualifierOffline (Shenzhen)Impromptu, Oratory, ExpositoryNovember 1-2
TOC Asia China Online Qualifier IIOnlineImpromptu, ExpositoryNovember 15-16
AWCS IIOnlineOratoryNovember 8-9
International Speech & Debate Initiative #2OnlineOratoryNovember 21-23
TOC Asia East China QualifierOffline (Shanghai)Impromptu, Oratory, ExpositoryDecember 6-7
TOC Asia China Online Qualifier IIIOnlineImpromptu, ExpositoryDecember 13-14
TOC Asia Fall ChampionshipsOffline (Location TBA)Impromptu, Oratory, ExpositoryDecember 27-28
AWCS IIIOnlineOratoryJanuary 3-4
International Speech & Debate Initiative #3OnlineOratoryJanuary 23-25
Oratory is also known as Original Oratory. It is also often interchangeable with Persuasive Speaking. 

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