University of Georgia HS Bulldog Debates

2026 — Athens, GA/US

Friends and Colleagues,

The University of Georgia Debate Union is pleased to invite you to the Annual Bulldog Debates that will be held in Athens, Georgia, on February 27 (Fri) through March 1 (Sun). We wish to make this year’s Bulldog Debates an enjoyable and educational experience as we return to hosting in person.

There will be six (6) preliminary rounds of open and novice, policy debate, followed by an appropriate number of elimination rounds for each division. The national policy resolution will be used in both open and novice team debate: (Resolved: The United States federal government should significantly increase its exploration and/or development of the Arctic.)

We have two hotels with block rates this year. You can book at the Athens Holiday Inn Express at this link for $179/night. You can book at the Athens Courtyard at this link for $219/night.

Entry fees will be $80.00 per team. We expect to have a limited pool of hired judges available.

We will have distinct Open and Novice policy debate divisions. Coaches will still be able to enter novice teams in the open division if they choose to do so. Such a decision will preclude a team from receiving awards designated for the novice division. The Novice policy division will NOT utilize the Georgia novice evidence packet. High School students will be allowed to judge the Novice Division. There will be a limited preference system used in assigning judges in the Open division.

We look forward to seeing old friends and welcoming new ones to our campus. Please reach to us if we can provide you with any additional information.

Sincerely,

Johnnie Stupek and the Georgia Debate Union

Head Debate Coach Tournament Director

404-693-2780

email:john.stupek25@uga.edu

https://comm.uga.edu/uga-debate