Speech Contests

Humorous Speech and Table Topics Contests

Your Fall 2026 District 219 contests

Challenge yourself, inspire others, and celebrate excellence. Speech contests are one of the most exciting experiences in Toastmasters. Whether you are stepping on stage for the first time or cheering on fellow members, District 219 contests are a chance to grow your communication and leadership skills while connecting with Toastmasters across the district.

Quick links

This fall’s contests

• Humorous Speech Contest: a 5 to 7 minute humorous speech. A crowd favorite and a great first contest to try.
• Table Topics Contest: a 1 to 2 minute response to a surprise question, showing off impromptu-speaking skills.

Contest timeline

Every contest starts in your home club, then advances Club to Area to Division to the District final. Use these windows to plan.

Level	Dates
Club contests	July 1 to August 31, 2026
Area contests	September 1 to 27, 2026
Division contests	September 28 to November 6, 2026
District finals	November 13 and 14, 2026, at the Fall Symposium

Why compete?

• Build confidence
• Sharpen your speaking and leadership skills
• Receive valuable feedback
• Meet Toastmasters from across District 219
• Challenge yourself in a supportive environment
• Represent your club

Running your club contest

Club contests run from July 1 through August 31, 2026. Hold yours as early as you can, so the Area, Division, and District rounds finish in time to recognize our champions at the Fall Symposium. A simple checklist:

• Review the official Speech Contest Rulebook with your club officers.
• Schedule your Club Speech Contest as early as possible.
• Recruit a Contest Chair and a Chief Judge.
• Recruit judges, timers, ballot counters, a Sergeant at Arms, and other officials.
• Verify that every contestant meets all eligibility requirements.
• Encourage every eligible member to take part, as a contestant or a volunteer.
• Reach out to your Area Director for help at any point, and submit your club winners to them right after the contest.

Contest training

District 219 offers training throughout the contest season for everyone who helps run a contest: Contest Chairs, Chief Judges, Judges, Timers, Ballot Counters, and Sergeants at Arms. Watch the Events calendar for upcoming training sessions.

Volunteer

Speech contests are powered by volunteers, and helping is one of the best ways to learn how contests work. Every contest needs people to serve as:

• Contest Chair
• Chief Judge
• Voting Judge and Tiebreaking Judge
• Timer
• Ballot Counter
• Sergeant at Arms
• Registration and Hospitality
• Zoom and technology support

Who can compete

To compete, you must be a paid member in good standing of a club in the Area, Division, and District where you are competing, with your dues current at World Headquarters. The International Speech Contest also requires that you have completed Levels 1 and 2 of a Pathways path, or earned the Distinguished Toastmaster award.

Current District officers, this year’s candidates for District office, and Immediate Past District Directors are not eligible to compete. Your speech must also be substantially your own original work.

Contest resources

Everything you need to compete, judge, or run a contest lives on the Toastmasters International Speech Contests resource center.

Rulebook

The rulebook for the current program year: 2026-2027 Speech Contest Rulebook. It also contains the official forms and certificates contest teams use.

Contest kits

Each contest has an official kit with the rules, forms, and materials that contest chairs and judges use:

• Humorous Speech Contest kit
• Table Topics Contest kit
• International Speech Contest kit
• Evaluation Contest kit
• Tall Tales Speech Contest kit

Frequently asked questions

Who can compete?

Any paid member in good standing of a club in the Area, Division, and District where they are competing. See Who can compete above.

What contests are offered this year?

Fall: Humorous Speech and Table Topics. Spring: International Speech and Evaluation.

Can I volunteer if I am competing?

Yes. Contestants often help with other contests, though you cannot judge or serve as an official (timer, ballot counter, Sergeant at Arms, contest chair, or contest Toastmaster) for a contest you are competing in.

What if my club does not hold a contest?

For this cycle, District 219 has adopted the option that lets an Area with four (4) or fewer assigned clubs in good standing send up to two contestants per club to the Area contest (see the note above). Otherwise, contact your Area Director.

How do I become a judge?

Judges must meet the eligibility in the Speech Contest Rulebook. District 219 offers judge training during the season, so watch the Events calendar or ask your contest chair.

Where can I get training?

District 219 runs contest training throughout the season. Watch the Events calendar.

Coming up: Spring 2027 Contests

Once the fall season wraps, District 219 holds two more contests in the spring, so you can start planning ahead:

• International Speech Contest: a 5 to 7 minute original speech. This is the only contest that continues past the District, advancing through quarterfinals (conducted by video) and semifinals to the World Championship of Public Speaking. Contestants must have completed Levels 1 and 2 of a Pathways path, or earned the Distinguished Toastmaster award.
• Evaluation Contest: contestants watch a 5 to 7 minute test speech, then have five minutes to prepare and deliver a 2 to 3 minute evaluation of it.

Club contests begin in December 2026 and advance through Area and Division to the District final at the D219 Spring Conference, May 14 to 16, 2027.

Need help?

Not sure who to ask? Start with your Area Director, then your Division Director, and the District Trio. You can find them on our leadership page, or reach the district through our contact page and we will point you to the right person.