Mumbai, Aug 3: Ryan Group of Schools, in collaboration with the Indian Debating League, successfully hosted the Semi-Finals and Grand Finale of the 4th edition of the Mumbai Speech & Debate League 2026 on 25th July 2026 at Ryan International School ICSE/ISC, Malad West. The championship brought together over 500 students from more than 50 cities across India, celebrating oratory, critical thinking and leadership after nationwide online qualifiers held on 18 July 2026.
Held under the theme “The Media, The Magic, and the Pop Culture Point of View,” the championship encouraged participants to examine the influence of media, storytelling and popular culture on public discourse. Following nationwide online qualifiers held on 18 July 2026, the competition culminated in the Semi-Finals and Grand Finale where students competed across junior, middle and senior categories in the World Schools Debating Championship , After Dinner Speech and Dramatic Adaptation before the country’s top-performing teams and speakers were recognised during the finals.
The event was graced by eminent dignitaries, including Ms. Sonal Pinto, Director, Ryan Group of Institutions; Ms. Swati Deshpande, Senior Editor , The Times of India; Dr. Kusum Kanwar, Education Leader, Leadership Coach, Author and TEDx Speaker; Ms. Lehar Bhatia, Senior Manager, The Times of India – NIE; Mr. Vinayak Sudhakar, Educational Advisor, Entrepreneurship Mentor and Debate Coach; and Mr. Kamal Kashyap, Co-Founder, Indian Debating League and AugLi.ai.
Among the winners, Bombay Scottish School, Mahim and Jamnabai Narsee International School secured Gold in the Junior category of the World Schools Debating Championship, while Shiv Nadar School, Noida won the Middle category. Indus International School, Pune and Sri Sankara Senior Secondary School, Chennai emerged as Senior category champions. Students from Avabai Petit Girls’ High School, JBCN International School and leading Ryan International School campuses received top honours in the speech competitions. The championship was adjudicated by experienced debate professionals and senior educators from leading academic institutions.
Gracing the occasion, Ms. Sonal Pinto, Director, Ryan International Group of Institutions said,
“At Ryan Group of Schools, we believe every voice has the power to inspire change. The Mumbai Speech & Debate League 2026 celebrated the confidence, intellect and expression of young minds while fostering critical thinking, empathy and respect. Through such meaningful platforms, we remain committed to nurturing articulate, confident and socially responsible leaders for tomorrow.”
Speaking to the audience,Mr. Kamal Kashyap, Co-Founder & CTO, Indian Debating League said,
“The Mumbai Speech & Debate League reflects the shared commitment of Ryan International Group of Institutions and the Indian Debating League to nurture confident communicators, critical thinkers and future leaders by creating meaningful platforms for dialogue, collaboration and public speaking.”
Building on the momentum of the Mumbai Speech & Debate League 2026, the Indian Debating League is now inviting registrations for the Harvard College Debating Union World Schools India Invitationals 2026, to be held from 14–16 August 2026 at Jayshree Periwal International School, Jaipur. The tournament will identify the top five teams that will represent India at Harvard University in April 2027, while also offering participants mentorship, specialised training and exposure to the World Schools Debating Championship format. Registrations are open until 7 August 2026, with students from Grades 6–12 eligible to participate in both Open and Novice categories.