Frankly Speaking Speech Competition 2026
A Benjamin Franklin House speech competition in collaboration with the US Embassy London and the DAR Walter Hines Page Chapter.
Formerly the Frankly Speaking Debate Competition, in 2026 we will be relaunching the competition with a new focus on public speaking and speech giving. As part of our America 250 celebrations, this new format will emphasise the power of the spoken word, encouraging young people aged 16-18 to engage with important themes and topics surrounding American independence and democracy.
In that spirit, and to encourage tomorrow’s thinkers today, Benjamin Franklin House proudly holds the Frankly Speaking Speech Competition for KS5 students, in collaboration with the US Embassy London.
In 2026, we will be inviting students in Years 12 and 13 from across the country to deliver speeches in the Constitutional Hall of the United States Embassy in London to an audience of their peers and teachers as well as staff from the Embassy and Benjamin Franklin House and representatives from the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Head over to our News & Blog page to read articles from previous competitions and see pictures from each event.
For information about the competition please contact our Head of Education.
How to apply
Please complete and return an application form by 5pm on Friday 5th December 2025. Schools selected shall be informed before the end of December.
Email education@benjaminfranklinhouse.org if you do not have access to this form.
Welcome
Thank you for your interest in participating in Frankly Speaking, our annual speech competition!
To celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s independence, this year the competition will champion public speaking through an individual speaking competition. The event will also feature an inaugural keynote speech by a guest speaker prior to the competition.
More than 650 upper secondary school students have participated in Frankly Speaking since 2010. The competition has expanded beyond London to welcome schools from Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Bradford, Coventry, and beyond.
Benjamin Franklin House is the world’s only remaining Franklin home. For nearly sixteen years between 1757 and 1775, Benjamin Franklin – scientist, diplomat, philosopher, inventor, Founding Father of the United States and more – lived behind its doors. Located on Craven Street just metres from Trafalgar Square and built circa 1730, today the House is a dynamic museum and educational facility.
Franklin exemplified Enlightenment beliefs in the primacy of reason and critical thought. In his role as a colonial agent, and later as one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, Franklin regularly found himself having to advance his opinions in the face of real criticism. In that spirit, Benjamin Franklin House is proud to hold a speech competition for senior school students, in collaboration with the US Embassy London and supported by the Daughters of the American Revolution (Walter Hines Page Chapter).
Competition schedule
Frankly Speaking 2026 will be held on February 5, 2026 at the United States Embassy, London. Participants will arrive at the Embassy at 8:45am for security checks.
The competition will be run in two rounds. The preliminary round will welcome 20 students to deliver 5-minute speeches on a predetermined topic in front of an audience of their peers and judges. The top ranked students will then progress to a final round in which they deliver a 5-minute speech based on prompts randomly assigned during a prep round on the day of the competition.
In between rounds there will be a short lunch break – provided by the U.S. Embassy and generously funded by the Daughters of the American Revolution, Walter Hines Page Chapter.
After lunch, we will announce the speakers who progress to the finals. Finalists will then have preparation time before the final begins. This will be followed by an awards ceremony. The competition should conclude no later than 3.00pm.
Speech format
Round 1 – Original Oratory
20 total competitors in two rooms (10 contestants per room). Each speech is five minutes, and each contestant competes once before finalists are announced.
What is Original Oratory?
Original Oratory is a speech event where you deliver a prepared, original speech on a topic you care about. You will be provided themes to base your speech on at a later date.
You get to interpret this theme in your own unique way and take creative direction—meaning you can write your speech about any topic or story that connects to that idea and reflects your own thoughts and experiences.
Time Limit
Your speech will be five minutes long. This means you’ll want to be concise and focused—every word counts! It’s important to practice timing so you can deliver your message smoothly within this limit.
Using Notes
You can read from your prepared remarks during the speech. This means you’re allowed to have your speech printed or written out and refer to it as you speak. While you can look at your notes, try to keep eye contact and connect with your audience as much as possible.
Five Tips for Writing a Compelling Original Oratory Speech:
- Start Strong: Grab your audience’s attention from the very beginning with a powerful quote, question, or story.
- Make it Personal: Use your own experiences or feelings to connect with your audience and make your message authentic.
- Be Clear and Focused: Stick to a clear main idea related to the theme, and organize your speech so it flows logically.
- Use Stories and Examples: Stories, examples, and vivid language make your speech memorable and help illustrate your points.
- End with Impact: Finish with a strong conclusion that leaves your audience thinking or inspired. Think: what am I trying to encourage?
Round 2 (Final) – Extemporaneous Speaking
10 total competitors, in one room. Each speech is memorized and five minutes.
What is Extemporaneous Speaking?
Extemporaneous Speaking is an event where you deliver a speech on a current event topic, usually related to politics, culture, or global issues. Unlike Original Oratory, you do not prepare your speech in advance. Instead, you’ll be given a question or prompt shortly before you speak, and then you’ll have 30 minutes to research, organize your thoughts, prepare, and practice your speech.
How It Works
- Competitors draw in order of their assigned speaking order, so each contestant gets exactly 30 minutes of prep time. Speaker one draws first, five minutes later speaker two draws, etc.
- When it’s your turn, you’ll receive a topic or question related to current events.
- You’ll then have 30 minutes to research and prepare your speech using available materials.
- During that preparation time, you can use your phone to find facts and evidence to support your points.
- After 30 minutes of preparation, you’ll deliver a five-minute speech (without notes and from memory) answering the prompt clearly and effectively.
Time Limit
Your speech will be five minutes long, so practice staying concise and focused. Managing your time well during your speech is just as important as preparing during the research period.
Using Research Materials
Use outside materials during your preparation time to gather facts, statistics, and quotes. However, while delivering your speech, you must rely on memory—you won’t have the research materials or notes in front of you.
Five Tips for Succeeding in Extemporaneous Speaking:
- Stay Updated: Keep up with current events regularly so you’re familiar with major issues.
- Practice Researching Quickly: Be familiar with reliable search engines to get better at finding relevant info fast.
- Organize Your Speech Clearly: Use a simple structure like introduction, three main points, and conclusion.
- Use Evidence: Support your arguments with facts, quotes, or statistics from your research.
- Practice Speaking Naturally: Work on delivering your speech confidently and clearly.
