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!

Discover our resources here, and the case set here.