ABOR announces the 2026 Regents’ Cup judges

The Arizona Board of Regents today announced the slate of judges for the seventh annual Regents’ Cup, a tri-university speech and debate competition celebrating free speech.

Drawn from Arizona and across the nation, this year’s judges represent a wide range of professional backgrounds, offering students exposure to leaders in business, policy, academia, government and media. Find the full list of 2026 Regents’ Cup judges here.

“Regents’ Cup judges help ensure students stay on theme, present well-reasoned arguments and engage with one another in the spirit of civil discourse,” said Regent Lee Stein, regent advisor for the Regents’ Cup. “By giving their time and attention, judges elevate the competition and create meaningful opportunities for students to make connections and prepare for the next stage of their professional lives.”

The Regents’ Cup features student participants from Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona competing in either Oxford debate or persuasive storytelling. The competition honors independent free thinking, democratic engagement and respectful civil discourse at Arizona’s public universities.

This year’s competition, centered around the theme of “Liberty and Responsibility”,  will take place on March 28, 2026, at the U of A in Tucson, Arizona.

“Year after year, Regents’ Cup students demonstrate how free speech thrives alongside thoughtful listening and respectful engagement,” said returning judge and USA TODAY Interim Editor‑in‑Chief Michael McCarter. “Their ability to challenge ideas while honoring one another gives me great confidence in our country’s future and it’s why I’m proud to return to the Regents’ Cup.”

Student teams hone their debate skills and craft persuasive stories with expert guidance from coaches at each university. Learn more about the 2026 Regents’ Cup student participants here.

Through the generous support of the 2026 Regents’ Cup sponsors, the board awards scholarships to first, second and third place winners - $15,000, $12,000 and $5,000 respectively. All other team members receive a $500 scholarship. The funds can be used at student’s discretion to support and advance their education. Students are also eligible to receive internship or course credit for their participation. Sponsors include: 

• Helios Education Foundation, Platinum Sponsor
• Arizona Public Service, Gold Sponsor 
• Salt River Project, Gold Sponsor 
• University of Arizona, Center for Philosophy of Freedom, Gold Sponsor 
• Arizona Community Foundation, Silver Sponsor 
• Tucson Electric Power, Bronze Sponsor

Similar to the Territorial Cup rivalry, the winning team proudly displays the Regents' Cup trophy on its campus until next year's competition. The U of A currently holds the title after winning the sixth annual Regents' Cup competition in Flagstaff. 

Since its inception in 2019, the Regents’ Cup has become a hallmark of Arizona’s commitment to free expression and viewpoint diversity. Arizona’s public universities consistently rank among the top institutions nationwide for free speech, earning green light ratings from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.

To experience the Regents’ Cup, watch highlights of last year’s competition here.