Participants at the Asian Schools Debating Championship 2025. Photo: VADP

HÀ NỘI - The Asian Schools Debating Championship 2026 will take place from June 21 to June 24 at Wellspring International Bilingual School Ha Noi, with the Veritas Academy of Debate and Public Speaking (VADP) serving as the organising institution. The tournament is expected to welcome participants from across Asia, reinforcing Việt Nam’s growing role as a regional hub for academic exchange and youth leadership development.

More than 450 students from countries and territories including Japan, South Korea, China, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Việt Nam are expected to participate. Reports have shown a substantial increase from the approximately 250 students who attended the 2025 edition, reflecting both the continued growth of the tournament and the rising popularity of competitive debating throughout the region.

Established in 2009, ASDC has become one of Asia’s most anticipated debating competitions for secondary and high school students. Over the past decade, the tournament has provided a platform for young debaters to engage with global issues while developing critical thinking and public speaking.

The 2026 edition will be held entirely in English under the Asian Parliamentary (AP) format, one of the most widely used formats in international debating. Throughout the four-day event, teams will debate motions covering a broad range of contemporary topics, including economics, education, technology, culture, and society. Participants must demonstrate the ability to analyse information rapidly, construct persuasive arguments, evaluate competing perspectives, and respond effectively under pressure. These demands make the competition a valuable training ground for many of the competencies increasingly sought in higher education and professional environments.

To ensure the highest standards of adjudication, ASDC 2026 will feature approximately 60 international judges, with more than 70 members of the Organising Committee.

The tournament’s Chief Adjudicator will be Ms. Banun Sabri from Malaysia, an experienced debate educator and adjudicator who has served in the Core Adjudication Panel at the biggest debate competitions, including the World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC) and World Schools Debating Championship (WSDC). The Deputy Chief Adjudicators are Asif Mehedi Adi from Bangladesh, Lia Denise Tan from the Philippines, Raymond Kimura from Malaysia and Yang Ming Sim from Australia. All are accomplished debaters, coaches and adjudicators with extensive experience at major regional and international tournaments.

The Asian Schools Debating Championship brings together participants from across the region. Photo: VADP

This year marks the second consecutive occasion that VADP has organised ASDC in Việt Nam. According to Mr. Vũ Anh Tuấn, Founder and Academic Director of VADP, the significant increase in participation demonstrates the tournament’s growing reputation among schools and debating communities across Asia.

"The continued hosting of ASDC in Việt Nam provides valuable opportunities for Vietnamese students to compete against international teams while fostering cultural exchange and stronger connections among student communities across Asia," he said.

Beyond competition, championship is also an opportunity to strengthen educational cooperation among the region’s future leaders.

ASDC 2026 is organised by the Veritas Academy of Debate and Public Speaking, with the support from VinUniversity, Viet Thang Food Processing Co., Ltd., and HSBC Việt Nam.