2026 Light the TORCH
TORCH (VA) · Nov 21, 2026
The 3rd Annual Light the TORCH Tournament
Join us for a one-day Stoa NITOC-qualifying tournament featuring Lincoln Douglas Debate and a full slate of speech events.
Tournament Overview
Lincoln Douglas Debate
6 rounds plus Finals
Speech Events
Original Oratory • Literary Interp • Expository • Persuasive • Open Interp • Impromptu • Apologetics • Storytelling
Speech Format: 3 rounds
Important Dates
Registration Opens:
October 12, 2026 at 10:00 AM EST
Registration Closes and All Fees Due:
October 25, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Script Submission Deadline:
Scripts are required for Original Oratory, Expository, Literary Interp, Open Interp and Slam and must be submitted by November 7, 2026 at 11:59 PM.
Judge Orientation
Videos will be posted soon! Please check back!
New to Stoa?
Please complete the following steps before registration opens:
1. Create your family profile.
A parent must create the family account and add each participating student.
2. Join an official Stoa club.
Request membership in your Stoa club and make sure it has been approved. If your club does not yet exist in StoaHub, your club director will need to create it.
3. Complete your annual Stoa registration.
Your family must complete and pay for the annual Stoa registration.
Tournament Fees
First Speech Event: $20
Each Additional Speech Event: $15
Lincoln Douglas Debate: $40
Drop Fee after October 30: $10
A completed registration, including payment, is due by the registration deadline.
Please note: LD debaters are limited to three speech events, even if StoaHub allows registration for additional events.
Student snacks are included with your fees.
“Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence.”
1 Peter 3:15
Tournament Events
Speech
- Apologetics Qual
- Expository Qual
- Impromptu Qual
- Literary Interpretation Qual
- Open Interpretation Qual
- Original Oratory Qual
- Slam Poetry Qual
- Storytelling Qual
LD
- Lincoln Douglas Qual
Tournament Timetable
- Community Judge registration will open at 9:00 pm Fri 10/02/2026 (Eastern)
- Tournament Status will update to Drops only at 12:00 am Mon 10/26/2026 (Eastern)
- Tournament Status will update to Open at 3:30 pm Sat 11/07/2026 (Eastern)
- Tournament Status will update to Closed at 4:30 pm Sat 11/07/2026 (Eastern)
- Script submission will open at 6:45 pm Tue 11/10/2026 (Eastern)
- Script submission will close at 10:46 am Wed 11/11/2026 (Eastern)
- Meal registration will close at 12:00 am Sun 11/15/2026 (Eastern)
- Community Judge registration will close at 12:00 am Sat 11/21/2026 (Eastern)
What the statuses mean
- Setup
- The tournament is still being set up.
- Open
- Registration is open — families can register for the tournament.
- Drops Only
- No new entries are allowed, but families can drop existing ones.
- Closed
- Registration is closed — no adds or drops. Contact the tournament director with questions.
- Completed
- The tournament is finished.