Annual Regents’ Cup Celebration of Free Speech and Debate/Storytelling Tournament Offers Students Scholarship and Credit

Scholarships, course credit, and unforgettable connections await. Applications are now open for the 2026 Regents’ Cup — a one-of-a-kind speech and storytelling competition hosted by the Arizona Board of Regents where students from Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona learn powerful new skills, share personal stories and represent their university in a celebration of free speech and civil discourse at Arizona’s public universities.

Students from ASU, NAU and the U of A may apply to represent their school at the 2026 Regents’ Cup. Students compete in either Oxford debate or persuasive storytelling, sharing true stories from personal experiences. Previous debate or speech experience is not required.

Regents’ Cup awards participants for articulating different points of view in an environment where competitors remain civil and respectful. This year’s competition — centered around the theme Liberty and Responsibility — will take place on March 28, 2026, at the U of A. 

"The Regents’ Cup is a unique experience for students to build essential skills like public speaking, critical thinking and persuasive communication that will aid them throughout their academic and professional careers," said Regent Lee Stein, who serves as the regent advisor for the event. "Just as importantly, it promotes a culture of respectful dialogue and intellectual curiosity across Arizona’s universities. That commitment to civil discourse is a cornerstone of our institutions’ values."

The board awards generous 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 work. 

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 won the sixth annual Regents' Cup competition in Flagstaff. 

Arizona’s public universities have been nationally recognized for their commitment to free speech by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). In the 2025 College Free Speech Rankings, ASU, NAU and the U of A all placed among the top 30 institutions nationwide. Each university also earned a green light rating, FIRE’s highest distinction which indicates that the institution has no policies that seriously threaten free expression. Arizona is the only state in the U.S. where all of its four-year universities have the green light rating from FIRE.

The application deadline is October 30. University teams will be selected, notified and announced by mid-December and on-campus coaches will prepare students for the competition in March. Find more information about Regents’ Cup and the application here. 

WATCH last year’s storytellers here and final Oxford debate here.