Speech contests are an important part of the Toastmasters educational program. They provide an opportunity for Toastmasters to gain speaking experience, as well as an opportunity for other Toastmasters to learn by observing proficient speakers. Speech contests are a Toastmasters tradition. Each year thousands of Toastmasters compete in the Humorous, Evaluation, Table Topics, Tall Tales, 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 regional quarterfinals level. Following region quarterfinals, winners advance to the semifinals for a chance to take part in the World Championship of Public Speaking^®. Each year, more than 30,000 Toastmasters compete in one or more of the following contests.

This year, District 13 will be participating in the following contests:

Fall Contest Season:

• Timeline: July – October 2025 @ D13 Fall Symposium, offering the following contests:
  • 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.
  • Humorous
    • Contestants present a humorous speech that must be thematic in nature (opening, body, and close), not a monologue (series of one-liners).
• Timeline: July – October 2025 @ D13 Fall Symposium

Spring Contest Season:

• Timeline: November 2025 – April 2026 @ D13 Spring Conference, offering the following contests:
  • International
    • Contestants present a five- to seven-minute speech on any subject they choose. All districts must conduct this contest. It is the only contest that moves up to the International Level to the Toastmasters International Convention in August.
    • Qualification: Must be paid member of club in good standing who has completed level 2 of Pathways.
  • Evaluation
    • Contestants observe a five-to seven-minute test speech and then present a two-to three-minute evaluation of the test speech.

As the first 2025-2026 District 13 Contest Season begins July 1st, it is important that every club understands exactly how many contestants they can send on to the next level of competition.

• If your Club is a part of an Area with four or less Clubs, each Club may send two contestants from their Club for each of the to the Area-level Contests. If your Club is part of an Area with five or more Clubs within the Area, each Club can only send the first-place contestant in each contest to the Area-level Contests.
• If your Area is a part of a Division with four or less Areas, each Area may send two contestants from their Area to the Division level contests. If your Area is a part of a Division with five or more Areas within your Division, each Area can only send the first-place contestant in each contest to the Division-level Contests.
• Each Division will then send the first- and second-place contestants to the District 13 level contests.