Competition calendar 2026–27

Polyphony Lit · Submissions open

A student-edited international literary magazine for high school writers. Two free general-submission windows a year, plus seasonal contests.

Yale Invitational 2026: World Schools · World Schools tournament

Yale's World Schools division, online this year: five rounds under NSDA rules and a break to octafinals.

HIR Writing Contest · Defense Day

Harvard's undergraduate journal of international affairs runs three contest cycles a year; medallists defend their essay on Defense Day.

Australasian Junior Debate Championships 2026 (AUJR) · World Schools tournament

The Australasian Juniors is a two-day online World Schools tournament for younger debaters, run by EduDrift on Zoom and Slack.

HIR Writing Contest · Register with HIR

Harvard's undergraduate journal of international affairs runs three contest cycles a year; medallists defend their essay on Defense Day.

GEMA International Student Speaker Competition 2026 · Public Speaking tournament

GEMA's International Student Speaker Competition is an online contest for Kindergarten to Grade 12: each student records one 1 to 3 minute speech on their category's topic and submits the video by 31 October.

Concord Review · Submission deadline

The only journal that publishes the academic history research of secondary students, founded 1987. Quarterly deadlines; about one paper in twenty is accepted.

Bristol Schools Debating Championships 2026 · World Schools tournament

The Bristol Schools Debating Championships is a two-day online tournament in a modified World Schools format for senior students, run by EduDrift on Zoom and Slack.

Bristol Juniors Debating Championships 2026 · World Schools tournament

The Bristol Juniors Debating Championships is a two-day online tournament in the Junior World Schools format for students aged 7 to 14, run by EduDrift on Zoom and Slack.

Polyphony Lit · Window closes (or at 200 pieces)

A student-edited international literary magazine for high school writers. Two free general-submission windows a year, plus seasonal contests.

HIR Writing Contest · Essay due

Harvard's undergraduate journal of international affairs runs three contest cycles a year; medallists defend their essay on Defense Day.

Asia Juniors Winter 2027 (EduDrift) · World Schools tournament

EduDrift's January junior World Schools tournament, online on Singapore time.

John Locke Essay Prize · Questions released

Seven subject categories, 2,000 words, and an Oxford awards ceremony. The 2027 questions have not been published; dates below are projected from the 2026 cycle.

Concord Review · Submission deadline

The only journal that publishes the academic history research of secondary students, founded 1987. Quarterly deadlines; about one paper in twenty is accepted.

John Locke Essay Prize · Registration opens

Seven subject categories, 2,000 words, and an Oxford awards ceremony. The 2027 questions have not been published; dates below are projected from the 2026 cycle.

HIR Writing Contest · Defense Day

Harvard's undergraduate journal of international affairs runs three contest cycles a year; medallists defend their essay on Defense Day.

Stanford Invitational 2027: World Schools · World Schools tournament

The 41st Stanford Invitational runs online over Presidents Day weekend with Novice and TOC World Schools divisions and a quarterfinals bid.

Cal Invitational 2027: Varsity World Schools (online) · World Schools tournament

The 53rd Cal Invitational runs its Varsity World Schools division online over Presidents Day weekend.

Harvard National 2027: World Schools Open (online) · World Schools tournament

The World Schools Open division of the Harvard National tournament runs online over Presidents Day weekend and accepts composite teams.

Cambridge Schools Debating Competition 2027 · British Parliamentary tournament

A national schools competition run by the Cambridge Union: regional rounds in British Parliamentary format, then a finals day in Cambridge.

Polyphony Lit · Submissions open

A student-edited international literary magazine for high school writers. Two free general-submission windows a year, plus seasonal contests.

HKDSC Junior Schools Debating Championship 2027 · World Schools tournament

The junior division of Hong Kong's schools debating championship, run online in 2026 for grades 6 to 9.

Oxford Schools Debating Competition 2027 · British Parliamentary tournament

The largest schools debating competition in the UK.

ICYD Finals Day 2027 · British Parliamentary tournament

The finals day of the International Competition for Young Debaters, the under-15 schools competition run from Cambridge with regional rounds.

Penn World Schools Invitational 2027 · World Schools tournament

An online World Schools invitational hosted by Penn on Zoom and Discord, with ESL and EFL categories and a finals TOC bid.

John Locke Essay Prize · Registration closes

Seven subject categories, 2,000 words, and an Oxford awards ceremony. The 2027 questions have not been published; dates below are projected from the 2026 cycle.

Polyphony Lit · Window closes (or at 200 pieces)

A student-edited international literary magazine for high school writers. Two free general-submission windows a year, plus seasonal contests.

Concord Review · Submission deadline

The only journal that publishes the academic history research of secondary students, founded 1987. Quarterly deadlines; about one paper in twenty is accepted.

John Locke Essay Prize · Essay due

Seven subject categories, 2,000 words, and an Oxford awards ceremony. The 2027 questions have not been published; dates below are projected from the 2026 cycle.

John Locke Essay Prize · Shortlist announced

Seven subject categories, 2,000 words, and an Oxford awards ceremony. The 2027 questions have not been published; dates below are projected from the 2026 cycle.

Concord Review · Submission deadline

The only journal that publishes the academic history research of secondary students, founded 1987. Quarterly deadlines; about one paper in twenty is accepted.