Select Your Tournament(s)
(Sign up first, then click the link to register for the competition)
This is your chance to get involved in a globally recognized competition that emphasizes respectful, rigorous ethical discussion — open to middle and high school students from across the Americas and Europe.
| Title (click name to register) | Registration Deadline | Event Date | Time | Price (USD) | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Middle School Ethics Olympiad | 2026-10-14 | 2026-11-14 | 10:00:00 | 180 | |
| 2027 Senior European Ethics Olympiad | 2027-03-18 | 2027-03-18 | 09:00:00 | 180 | |
| 2027 Senior Pan-American Ethics Olympiad | 2027-04-03 | 2027-04-03 | 10:00:00 | 180 |
2026 Middle School Ethics Olympiad
We are thrilled to invite you to the 2026 Middle School Ethics Olympiad, an online event where 11–14-year-olds (at any point during 2026) can engage in structured, thought-provoking discussions on complex ethical issues. This competition is an excellent opportunity for students to sharpen their critical thinking, engage in meaningful dialogue, and explore diverse perspectives on challenging moral dilemmas.
We are the official qualifying event for the International Middle School Ethics Olympiad, meaning school-based teams can earn a spot in the International Final hosted in Australia!
Dates and Times (All Olympiads are Online!)
Middle School Olympiad: Saturday, November 22, 2025
Time:
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (EST)
3:00 PM – 9:00 PM (BST – UK)
4:00 PM – 10:00 PM (CET – Europe)
11:00 PM – 5:00 AM on Nov 23 (CST – China Standard Time)
International Final: Tuesday, February 18, 2027 (time TBD, hosted in Australia)
Eligibility
-
Open to any team from anywhere in the world, whether school-based or not.
-
To qualify for the International Final, teams must be school-based.
-
Students must be aged 11–14 at some point during 2026.
-
Teams of 3–5 students.
Event Schedule (EST)
10:00 – 10:15 AM: Introduction
10:15 – 11:20 AM: Round 1 (includes feedback)
11:20 – 11:30 AM: Break
11:30 AM – 12:35 PM: Round 2 (includes feedback)
12:35 – 1:15 PM: Lunch Break
1:15 – 2:20 PM: Round 3 (includes feedback)
2:20 – 2:30 PM: Break
2:30 – 3:35 PM: Round 4 (includes feedback)
3:35 – 4:00 PM: Closing Remarks
Ethical Topics for 2026 (To be released soon)
Year 2025, teams grappled with a wide range of thought-provoking ethical issues, including:
Case 1 – You Can Only Save One: Which Do You Choose?
Case 2 – Moniker Morality
Case 3 – Should Artists’ Ethics Affect Our Artistic Judgments?
Case 4 – Bullfighting
Case 5 – Relying on Civilian Intelligence in War
Case 6 – Locker Problems – Freaks and Geeks
Case 7 – Using AI in the Classroom
Case 8 – Tears of the Koroks
Registration Fees
Early Bird Fee: $180 USD per team (closes October 1st)
Regular Fee: $225 USD per team (registration closes November 1st)
Additional fees apply for PayPal/credit card payments.
Scholarship Opportunities
We are committed to ensuring accessibility for all schools. If your school requires financial assistance, please contact us at panamethics@modusponensinstitute.com to inquire about available scholarships.
Don’t Miss Out!
Participate in a rigorous yet rewarding ethical debate experience.
Register now and secure your team’s place in the 2026 Middle School Ethics Olympiad!
2027 Senior European Ethics Olympiad
We are delighted to invite you to the 2027 Senior European Ethics Olympiad, an exciting online event designed for 14-18 year-olds (at any point during 2027) to explore complex ethical questions through structured, thought-provoking discussions. Participants will have the chance to sharpen their critical thinking, engage in meaningful dialogue, and consider diverse perspectives on challenging moral dilemmas.
As the official qualifying event for the 2027 International Final, school-based teams have the unique opportunity to secure a spot in the International Final hosted from Australia! This is a chance for young minds to engage on a global stage and connect with peers who share a passion for ethics.
Discover our resources here, and the case set here.
Dates and Times (All Olympiads are Online!)
Senior European Ethics Olympiad: Thursday, March 18th, 2027
???? Time:
8:00 AM – 2:00 PM (BST – UK)
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (CET – Europe)
International Final: (hosted from Australia)
Eligibility
-
Open to European/UK School based teams
-
Students must be aged 14–18 at some point during 2027.
-
Teams of 3–5 students.
UK Time (GMT) — March 18th, 2027
Event Schedule (UK Time)
???? 8:00 – 8:15 AM: Introduction
???? 8:15 – 9:20 AM: Round 1 (includes feedback)
? 9:20 – 9:30 AM: Break
???? 9:30 – 10:35 AM: Round 2 (includes feedback)
???? 10:35 – 11:15 AM: Lunch Break
???? 11:15 AM – 12:20 PM: Round 3 (includes feedback)
? 12:20 – 12:30 PM: Break
???? 12:30 – 1:35 PM: Round 4 (includes feedback)
???? 1:35 – 2:00 PM: Closing Remarks
Central European Time (CET) — March 18th, 2027
Note: Europe begins Daylight Saving Time after this date (on March 30, 2027), so Central Europe will still be on CET (UTC+1).
Event Schedule (CET)
???? 9:00 – 9:15 AM: Introduction
???? 9:15 – 10:20 AM: Round 1 (includes feedback)
? 10:20 – 10:30 AM: Break
???? 10:30 – 11:35 AM: Round 2 (includes feedback)
???? 11:35 – 12:15 PM: Lunch Break
???? 12:15 – 1:20 PM: Round 3 (includes feedback)
? 1:20 – 1:30 PM: Break
???? 1:30 – 2:35 PM: Round 4 (includes feedback)
???? 2:35 – 3:00 PM: Closing Remarks
Ethical Topics for 2027
Teams will engage with eight complex, real-world ethical dilemmas designed to spark rigorous discussion and thoughtful analysis.
Cases
• Case 1 – Salacious Gossip
• Case 2 – Digital Afterlife Management: Who Speaks for the Dead?
• Case 3 – In-Vitro Meat
• Case 4 – Redefining Humanity
• Case 5 – A Phenotypic Prometheus?
• Case 6 – Ode to a Scab
• Case 7 – A Monthly Subscription to Brutality
• Case 8 – Taking the Spot or Earning It? – University Scholarship
Registration Fees
Early Bird Fee: $180 USD per team (closes January 26th 2027)
Regular Fee: $225 USD per team (registration closes February 26th 2027)
? Additional fees apply for PayPal/credit card payments.
Scholarship Opportunities
We are committed to ensuring accessibility for all schools. If your school requires financial assistance, please contact us at panamethics@modusponensinstitute.com to inquire about available scholarships.
Don’t Miss Out!
Participate in a rigorous yet rewarding ethical debate experience.
???? Register now and secure your team’s place in the 2027 Senior European Ethics Olympiad!
2027 Senior Pan-American Ethics Olympiad
PAN AMERICAN OLYMPIAD
We are delighted to invite you to the 2027 Pan American Olympiad, an exciting online event designed for 14–18-year-olds (at any point during 2027) to explore complex ethical questions through structured, thought-provoking discussions. Participants will have the chance to sharpen their critical thinking, engage in meaningful dialogue, and consider diverse perspectives on challenging moral dilemmas.
As the official qualifying event for the 2027 International Final, school-based teams have the unique opportunity to secure a spot in the International Final hosted in Australia! This is a remarkable chance for young minds to engage on a global stage and connect with peers who share a passion for ethics.
Dates and Times (All Olympiads are Online!)
Event Date: Saturday, April 3, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, GMT-4)
International Final: (hosted from Australia)
Eligibility
? Open to all teams from the American continent (South, Central, and North America, including Canada)
? Students must be aged 14–18 at some point during 2027
? Teams of 3–5 students.
https://www.tkethics.org/tournaments
Event Schedule (GMT-4)
???? 10:00 – 10:15 AM: Introduction
???? 10:15 – 11:30 AM: Round 1 (includes feedback)
? 11:30 – 11:40 AM: Break
???? 11:40 AM – 12:55 PM: Round 2 (includes feedback)
???? 12:55 – 1:15 PM: Lunch Break
???? 1:15 – 2:30 PM: Round 3 (includes feedback)
? 2:30 – 2:40 PM: Break
???? 2:40 – 3:55 PM: Round 4 (includes feedback)
???? 3:55 – 4:00 PM: Closing Remarks
Ethical Topics for 2027
Teams will engage with eight complex, real-world ethical dilemmas designed to spark rigorous discussion and thoughtful analysis.
Cases
Case 1 – Salacious Gossip
Case 2 – Digital Afterlife Management: Who Speaks for the Dead?
Case 3 – In-Vitro Meat
Case 4 – Redefining Humanity
Case 5 – A Phenotypic Prometheus?
Case 6 – Ode to a Scab
Case 7 – A Monthly Subscription to Brutality
Case 8 – Taking the Spot or Earning It? – University Scholarship
Registration Fees
Early Bird Fee: $180 USD per team (closes February 4th, 2027)
Regular Fee: $225 USD per team (registration closes March 3rd, 2027)
Additional fees apply for PayPal/credit card payments.
Scholarship Opportunities
We are committed to ensuring accessibility for all schools. If your school requires financial assistance, please contact us at info@tkethics.org to inquire about available scholarships.
Don’t Miss Out!
Participate in a rigorous yet rewarding ethical debate experience.
Register now and secure your team’s place in the 2027 Pan American Ethics Olympiad!
TKEthics Invitational, an event characterized by competition and cooperation, offers a unique opportunity to develop students' critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills in the context of modern technological advancements. The event encourages students to engage in thoughtful deliberation on ethical issues, reflecting the intricate moral and political interactions within our increasingly digital society. Each year, relevant and age-appropriate ethical cases, often focusing on contemporary technological dilemmas, are released to assist coaches in preparing their students for the event. This tournament differentiates itself from traditional debates by allowing students to advocate for beliefs they genuinely uphold, rather than assigned opposing positions.
| Title (click name to register) | Registration Deadline | Event Date | Time | Price (USD) | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 TKEthics Novice Invitational | 2026-07-28 | 2026-08-28 | 18:00:00 | 180 | |
| 2026 TKEthics International Grand Final | 2026-07-29 | 2026-08-29 | 18:00:00 | 180 | |
| Marc Sanders Foundation Case Writing Prize | 2026-08-31 | 2026-08-31 | 00:00:00 | 0 | |
| TKEthics Invitational Fall 2026 | 2026-10-07 | 2026-11-07 | 18:00:00 | 180 | |
| TKEthics Invitational Spring 2027 | 2027-03-06 | 2027-03-06 | 18:00:00 | 180 |
2026 TKEthics Novice Invitational
We are excited to invite you to the 2026 TKEthics Novice Invitational, an online event where students explore pressing ethical questions in our rapidly changing world. Participants will engage in thought-provoking discussions, sharpen their reasoning and communication skills, and consider diverse perspectives on real-world moral challenges.
All rounds follow the Ethics Olympiad format, with extended judge questioning and detailed verbal feedback after each round. Judges are trained philosophers, graduate researchers, and experienced educators, most holding Master’s or PhD degrees, with extensive experience judging Ethics Olympiads and TKEthics Invitationals worldwide.
The TKEthics Invitational emphasizes respectful dialogue, rigorous reasoning, and substantive feedback, offering students an experience modeled on real philosophical inquiry rather than traditional debate.
Tournament Information:
Register Now to Secure Your Place! All TKEthics Invitationals are Online!
2026 TKEthics Novice Invitational Event Date:
Saturday, August 28, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM – 12:15 AM (Eastern Time – USA)
Key Dates
-
Final Registration Closes: July 28, 2026
Eligibility
-
Open to all secondary and high school teams worldwide
-
Teams of 3 – 5 students
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Have been to less than 2 ethics competitions and never gotten a medal (across TKE, Ethics bowl, Ethics Cup, Ethics Olympiad, inter alia)
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Students must be aged 13–18 at some point during 2026
-
Teams do NOT need to be from the same school
Event Schedule (Eastern Time)
6:00 – 6:15 PM – Welcome & Orientation
6:15 – 7:35 PM – Heat 1 (includes feedback)
7:35 – 7:45 PM – Break
7:45 – 9:05 PM – Heat 2 (includes feedback)
9:05 – 9:15 PM – Break
9:15 – 10:35 PM – Heat 3 (includes feedback)
10:35 – 10:45 PM – Break
10:45– 12:05 AM – Heat 4 (includes feedback)
(Coaches meeting)
12:05 – 12:15 AM – Closing Remarks
Registration Fees
Early Bird Fee: $180 USD per team (closes June 28, 2026)
Regular Fee: $225 USD per team (closes July 28, 2026)
(Additional fees apply for PayPal/credit card payments.)
Scholarship Opportunities
We are committed to ensuring accessibility for all schools. If your school requires financial assistance, please contact us at info@tkethics.org to inquire about available scholarships.
Don’t Miss Out!
Participate in a rigorous yet rewarding ethical debate experience.
Register now and secure your team’s place in the TKEthics Invitational Novice 2027!
Discover our resources here, and the case set here.
2026 TKEthics International Grand Final
Qualified Teams Only
The 2026 TKEthics International Grand Final is an online event where the top qualifying teams from the TKEthics Spring and Fall Invitationals, as well as top three teams from European Senior Ethics Olympiad, and Pan American Senior Ethics Olympiad, will engage in structured, thought-provoking discussions on complex ethical issues related to High tech and AI.
This is the ultimate opportunity for students to showcase their ethical reasoning, engage in high-level discourse, and compete for the title of TKEthics International Grand Final Champion!
Ethical Cases & Information Kits
Half the cases from Fall 2025 and half from Spring 2026 will be used in the final. Once registration is confirmed, ethical cases will be released.
Case:
- AI Detection Software in Education
- AI law firms
- AI friendship
- Mars Colonization
- Speed Limiters
- Severance
- Paid Surrogacy
- Video Game Cheating
Download the Complete case set here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XnH84PDS-fG7NlZTBfY4IOUA8SZJR5MK/view?usp=drivesdk
Judging Panel
Judges are experienced debate coaches and experts holding degrees in philosophy. They will provide professional evaluations and feedback on your team’s performance.
Event Schedule (EST)
6:00–6:10 PM — Introduction
6:10–7:30 PM — Round 1 (includes feedback)
7:30–7:40 PM — Break
7:40–9:00 PM — Round 2 (includes feedback)
9:00–9:20 PM — Dinner Break
9:20–10:40 PM — Round 3 (includes feedback)
10:40–10:50 PM — Break
10:50–12:10 AM — Round 4 (includes feedback)
12:10–12:15 AM — Closing Remarks
Registration Deadline for Qualified Teams: July 29, 2025; Early bird offer ends after Jun 29, 2025.
Team Formation Guidelines
-
3~5 members per team
-
Teams that have qualified for the grand final may choose to maintain their original team composition or reorganize into new teams. However, any new team must include at least two qualified players.
-
The team is considered a high school team if anyone in the team is high school student.
Registration Fees
-
Early Bird Registration: US$180 (before Jun 29, 2026)
-
Regular Registration: US$225 (before Jul 29, 2026)
Complete your registration: Please submit your team information by Aug 20 to complete your registration and receive your team code and Zoom Meeting ID. Team information can be revised later.
Marc Sanders Foundation Case Writing Prize
The Marc Sanders Foundation Case Prize awards outstanding student-written ethics cases exploring the intersection of technology and ethics. Winning submissions may be included in the TKEthics Invitational case set. Cases are evaluated on ethical depth, clarity of framing, real-world relevance, and the quality of discussion questions. You may submit more than one case per entry.
What Should Your Case Be About?
TKEthics cases live at the intersection of technology, artificial intelligence, and ethics. Here are the thematic areas we're most interested in though strong cases may span more than one:
AI Autonomy & Decision-Making; Surveillance & Privacy; Biotechnology & Enhancement; Social Media & Manipulation; Algorithmic Bias & Justice; AI & Creativity and even Your Original Topic!
Prize Structure
Up to three winning cases will be selected for inclusion in the TKEthics Invitational. Prizes are divided evenly among winners. A School Prize Pool of $1,000 will be split evenly among the winning students' schools, to support ethics and philosophy education. A Student Prize Pool of $500 will be split evenly among the winning student author(s) directly.
Writing and Submitting Your Case
01 - Choose a Topic: Identify a real-world scenario at the intersection of technology or AI and ethics. The best topics resist easy resolution and generate genuine moral disagreement.
02 - Draft Your Case: Write a 300 to 600 word ethics case. Describe the scenario clearly, identify the key stakeholders, and surface the core ethical tension without leading readers toward a predetermined conclusion. Feel free to include citations to relevant articles.
03 - Add Discussion Questions: Include exactly 3 open-ended discussion questions beneath your case. These should probe the ethical tensions at the heart of the scenario and be usable by a team in competition.
04 - Submit Online: Submit via the form below. You may submit more than one case per submission. By submitting, you grant MPI permission to use your case in the TKEthics Invitational if selected.
Ready to Write Something That Matters?
Register Now: https://forms.gle/2biN4YQQZkq4Xj3s6
TKEthics Invitational Fall 2026
We are excited to invite you to the TKEthics Invitational Fall 2026, an online event where students explore pressing ethical questions arising from advanced technologies and artificial intelligence. Participants will engage in thought-provoking discussions, sharpen their reasoning and communication skills, and consider diverse perspectives on real-world moral challenges.
All rounds follow the Ethics Olympiad format, with extended judge questioning and detailed verbal feedback after each round. Judges are trained philosophers, graduate researchers, and experienced educators, most holding Master’s or PhD degrees, with extensive experience judging Ethics Olympiads and TKEthics Invitationals worldwide.
The TKEthics Invitational emphasizes respectful dialogue, rigorous reasoning, and substantive feedback, offering students an experience modeled on real philosophical inquiry rather than traditional debate.
Tournament Information:
Register Now to Secure Your Place! All TKEthics Invitationals are Online!
2026 TKEthics Invitational Fall Event Date:
Saturday, November 7, 2026 6:00 PM – 12:15 AM (Eastern Time – USA)
Key Dates:
Registration Deadline: October 7, 2026
Early Bird Offer Deadline: September 7, 2026
Eligibility
-
Open to all secondary and high school teams worldwide
-
Teams of 3 – 5 students
-
Students must be aged 13–18 at some point during 2026
-
Teams do NOT need to be from the same school
Event Schedule (Eastern Time)
6:00 – 6:15 PM – Welcome & Orientation
6:15 – 7:35 PM – Heat 1 (includes feedback)
7:35 – 7:45 PM – Break
7:45 – 9:05 PM – Heat 2 (includes feedback)
9:05 – 9:15 PM – Break
9:15 – 10:35 PM – Heat 3 (includes feedback)
10:35 – 10:45 PM – Break
10:45– 12:05 AM – Heat 4 (includes feedback)
(Coaches meeting)
12:05 – 12:15 AM – Closing Remarks
Registration Fees
Early Bird Fee: $180 USD per team (closes September 7, 2026)
Regular Fee: $225 USD per team (closes October 7, 2026)
(Additional fees apply for PayPal/credit card payments.)
Scholarship Opportunities
We are committed to ensuring accessibility for all schools. If your school requires financial assistance, please contact us at info@tkethics.org to inquire about available scholarships.
Don’t Miss Out!
Participate in a rigorous yet rewarding ethical debate experience.
Register now and secure your team’s place in the 2026 TKEthics Invitational Fall!
TKEthics Invitational Spring 2027
Get ready to explore the ethical frontiers of technology and deepen your philosophical thinking alongside peers from around the globe!
2027 TKEthics Invitational Spring – Key Dates (tentative):
-
Feb 6th (11:59 PM EST): Final Registration Deadline
-
March 6th 2027 (6:00PM EST): Live Invitational – Event Day
-
Registration Fees (regular): $225 USD per team (3-5 members each team).
-
Early Bird Discount 20% off, valid till Jan 6th, 2027
Event Schedule (EST US and Canada)
|
Time |
Activity |
|
6:00 – 6:15 PM |
Welcome & Orientation |
|
6:15 – 7:35 PM |
Round 1 (includes feedback) |
|
7:35 – 7:45 PM |
Break |
|
7:45 – 9:05 PM |
Round 2 (includes feedback) |
|
9:05 – 9:15 PM |
Break |
|
9:15 – 10:35 PM |
Round 3 (includes feedback) |
|
10:35 – 10:45 PM |
Break |
|
10:45 – 12:05 PM |
Round 4 (includes feedback) |
|
12:05 – 12:15 AM |
Closing Remarks |
Refund Policy (Minus any transaction fees)
Full refund: Cancellations made before the registration deadline are eligible for a full refund.
Patial refund: Cancellations made up to ten days before the competition date are eligible for a 50% refund.
No refund: Cancellations made within one week of the competition are not eligible for a refund.
To cancel, send email to info@tkethics.org please! The date we receive your email is the official cancellation date. If we reschedule or cancel the event, you can choose a full refund or transfer to the new date.
Further updates will be shared as they become available — stay tuned and sign up for early bird access!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pLhnWzBFQs8oLDsuKWfLwY0R-ULTg-hO9_GV2FQI_iE/edit?usp=drive_link
The Global AI Debates is a prestigious debate and essay competition judged by experts from MIT, UCLA, Microsoft, Perplexity, OpenAI, and UC Berkeley. For Fall 2025, we’re streamlining the structure to focus on depth and quality. There will be three divisions — High school (Senior), middle school (Junior), and primary school (Beginner). In the middle and high school categories, there will be a speech event and an essay + debate event, in the primary category there will only be a speech event.
| Title (click name to register) | Start Date | End Date | Time | Price (USD) | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global AI Debate - Fall 2026 | 2026-10-01 | 2026-11-01 | 00:00:00 | 120 |
Global AI Debate - Fall 2026
Registration open! Payment due by October 1, 2026.
Registration & Pricing
$120 per entry — fewer than 10
$100 per entry — 10 or more
Early bird: 20% off all entries with code EARLYBIRD before July 1, 2026.
Fee waivers are available for under-resourced schools. Contact us to apply.
Topics — Fall 2026
Junior Speech (Ages 7–10): We support the development of self-driving cars. — 5-min speech, solo
Middle Speech (Ages 11–13): There are jobs that AI should not be allowed to do, even if it is as good as humans.. — 7-min speech, solo
Senior Speech (Ages 14–18): AIs should be granted the rights of legal persons.. — 7-min speech, solo
Essay & Debate (Any age): AIs should be granted the rights of legal persons.. — 1,500-word essay, Pro or Con, group in 2 to 5
Schedule
Speech Competition
|
Nov 14, 2026 |
Speech videos due |
|
Nov 28, 2026 |
Finalists announced (top 20% of submissions in each category advance) |
|
Sat, Dec 5, 2026 · 6 PM ET |
Live finals before a panel |
Essay & Debate
|
Nov 14, 2026 |
Initial essays due |
|
Nov 28, 2026 |
Finalists announced (top 8 essays qualify) |
|
Sat, Dec 5, 2026 · 6 PM ET |
Quarterfinals (Zoom) |
|
Sat, Dec 5, 2026 · 7:30 PM ET |
Semifinals |
|
Sat, Dec 5, 2026 · 9 PM ET |
Finals |
Oppportunity to win the Cash Prize:
For Fall 2026, the grant funds a $3,500 prize pool distributed as follows:
|
DIVISION |
1ST |
2ND |
3RD |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Essay & Debate (top team) |
$1,000 |
$350 |
$200 |
|
Primary School Speech (ages 7–10) |
$400 |
$150 |
$100 |
|
Middle School Speech (ages 11–13) |
$400 |
$150 |
$100 |
|
High School Speech (ages 14–18) |
$400 |
$150 |
$100 |
