Debate & Forensics Tournament Schedule
The Whitman College Debate & Forensics team competes in a variety of regional and national collegiate tournaments that showcase argumentation and public speaking skills.
Parliamentary Debate is a team-based activity that highlights quick thinking, strong reasoning and persuasive speaking with limited preparation time. Forensics (also known as Speech) focuses on individual performance and communication through events such as informative and persuasive speeches, communication analysis, after-dinner speaking and competitive acting.
Together, these events challenge students to research, perform, and communicate meaningful academic messages about current issues shaping today’s world.
Spring 2026 Tournaments:
January 15-19
The Great Salt Lake Invitational
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
January 23-25
Golden Gate Invitational
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California
February 6-7
The Big Red Mackie
Denison University
Virtual event
NATIONALS
February 27 through March 2
National Parliamentary Debate Association Nationals
Mercer University
Macon, Georgia
March 6-8
National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence
Mercer University
Macon, Georgia
March 17-23
Pi Kappa Delta National Tournament and Convention
Missouri State University
Springfield, Missouri
April 2-7
American Forensics Association National Speech Tournament
Lewis and Clark College
Portland, Oregon