Teams selected for 2026 Regents’ Cup tri-university speech and debate competition

The Arizona Board of Regents announced that 44 students from Arizona’s public universities have been selected to compete in the seventh annual Regents’ Cup, the board’s signature competition celebrating free speech and civil discourse. The competition is scheduled for March 28, 2026, at the University of Arizona.

Students from Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and the U of A will showcase their skills in Oxford-style debate and persuasive storytelling, sharing personal experiences and tackling complex issues with intellectual rigor and empathy. This year’s theme, “Liberty and Responsibility,” challenges participants to explore how constitutional freedoms and shared responsibility shape the trajectory of democracy.

Meet the 2026 Regents’ Cup student participants here. 

“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.”

Through generous sponsorships from community organizations, the board awards generous scholarships to the winners totaling over $100,000. First-place winners receive $15,000, second-place $12,000 and third-place $5,000. All other team members will 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 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.

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