Speech Contests

Speech contests are a Toastmasters tradition. Each year, thousands of Toastmasters compete in the Humorous, Evaluation, Tall Tales, Table Topics, Online, and International speech contests. Competition begins with Club contests, and winners continue competing through the Area, Division, and District levels. Winners of the District level International Speech Contest proceed to the Quarterfinal level. Following Quarterfinals, winners advance to the Semifinals for a chance to take part in the World Championship of Public Speaking.

District contests are held each May during the Annual Conference, where members can compete in the International Speech Contest and/or another contest that changes from year-to-year. This year, District 205’s second contest is the Humorous Speech Contest.

The purpose of a speech contest is to provide an opportunity for speakers to improve their speaking abilities, to recognize individual Toastmasters as an encouragement to all, and to provide an opportunity for all Toastmasters to learn by observing speakers who have benefited from their Toastmasters training. Each contest focuses on a particular set of skills, providing a terrific opportunity to learn about a specific area of communication.

Eligibility

Contestant

In general, to be eligible for any contest, a contestant must be a member in good standing of a club in good standing (dues current). If a member belongs to more than one club, the member may enter the club contest for each club where he/she maintains good standing. However, a contestant may not represent more than one club at the Area level, even if the clubs are in different Areas or Divisions. District officers may not compete in any contest.

For the International Speech Contest, the contestant must have earned certificates of completion in Pathways Levels 1 and 2 of any path or DTM.

However, a charter member of a club chartered less than one (1) year before the club contest is permitted to compete without having completed this requirement. The club must have officially chartered before the Area contest

See the Speech Contest Rulebook for complete eligibility requirements. A copy may be downloaded from the Toastmaster International website Speech Contest information page.  As there may be changes from year to year, you will also want to review the Explanation of Changes summary.
Judges

To be a chief judge, voting judge or tiebreaking judge at a Toastmasters speech contest, you must meet all eligibility requirements identified below.

  1. At a club contest, be a paid member.
  2. At an Area, Division, or District contest:
    1. Be a paid member for a minimum of six months.
    2. Have completed a minimum of six speech projects in the Competent Communication manual or earned certificates of completion in Pathways Levels 1 and 2 of any path.

Note that candidates for elected District leader positions for the term beginning the subsequent July 1 are ineligible to compete in a contest and to serve as a contest official or as a test speaker at the Area, Division, or District level.  Contest officials include the contest chair, contest Toastmaster, chief judge, voting judges, ballot counters, timers, sergeant at arms and any presenter role.

Online and Hybrid Format
In 2025, the Toastmasters International Board of Directors decided was that Districts must return to in person events each level of the contest (Area, Division, District). The format selected for a level must apply to all contests that take place at that level.

Clubs may choose the format that best suits the members, online, hybrid or in-person for the Club contests.  For online and hybrid formats, it’s recommended that members review the Online and Hybrid Speech Contest Best Practices handbook.

Each club in good standing is permitted to choose its contestant for their Area speech contest by whatever means the club desires. If a club contest is held, it must comply with the rules in the Speech Contest Rulebook, and the contest result is final.

Contest Summary
The following chart summarizes some of the details about the contests held in District 205.  While the International Speech Contest is held each year, the District Program Quality Director can choose to run any one of the other contests. The Humorous Speech Contest will be conducted in 2027. For more information, contact your club’s VP Education or the District Program Quality Director (quality@d205tm.org).

International

Contestants present a five- to seven-minute speech on any subject they choose. All districts must conduct this contest.

Humorous

Contestants present a humorous speech that must be thematic in nature (opening, body, and close), not a monologue (series of one-liners).

Evaluation

Contestants observe a five-to seven-minute test speech and then present a two-to three-minute evaluation of the test speech.

Tall Tales

Contestants present a speech on a topic that is highly exaggerated and improbable in theme or plot.

Virtual

Contestants present a five- to seven-minute speech on any subject they choose while participating live and online from physically distant locations.

Table Topics

The topic of this impromptu speech is the same for all contestants who only learn about it when they are introduced by the contest chair.