Speech & Debate: “Arctic” to be 2025-26 National High School Policy Debate Topic

INDIANAPOLIS – The NFHS has announced the selection of “Arctic” as the National High School Policy Debate Topic for the 2025-26 academic year.  

“Arctic” was chosen over “Military Presence” by a 21-13 vote in the final balloting process, which saw participation from 30 state associations, the National Speech and Debate Association, the National Catholic Forensic League, the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues and the NationalDebate Coaches Association.  

“We are thrilled to announce ‘Arctic’ as the 2025-26 National High School Policy Debate Topic,” said Dr. James Weaver, NFHS director of performing arts and sports. “This decision reflects the collective voice of our members and the commitment to providing students with timely, impactful issues to explore. Debate fosters critical thinking, and the topic of the Arctic offers a unique opportunity for students to delve into geopolitical, environmental and economic discussions that shape our world.” 

The debate resolution will be as follows: “The United States federal government should significantly increase its exploration and/or development of the Arctic.”  

Three stages of voting were used to determine the winning topic. The first was held during the NFHS Policy Debate Topic Selection Meeting August 1-4, 2024, where 61 attending delegates from 21 states and multiple national organizations compiled five potential choices. In addition to Arctic and Military Presence, other options included “India,” “Nation State Recognition” and “South Asia.”   

Over the next two months, 34 organizations ranked the five options in order of their preference, with the two lowest aggregate totals then advancing to the final vote. The Arctic topic ranked highest in the voting of those final five topics.  Use of the final ballot assures a majority of coaches across the nation favor the chosen topic area and resolution.  

For more information about the 2025-26National High School Policy Debate Topic, including a visual breakdown of how each organization voted on the final ballot, please visit:  https://www.nfhs.org/articles/arctic-selected-as-2025-2026-national-policy-debate-topic