Tryouts 2026: The 2026-2027 Team Is Selected

Team Canada Tryouts brought 30 of the country’s top high school debaters to Truro, Nova Scotia from May 24 to 26 to compete for a place on the 2026-2027 team. Over three days of debate rounds and interviews, the selection committee chose eight new members to join the four returning members of the team.

This year’s tryouts had students debating a diversity of topics, ranging from government disputes with AI companies to how we should view the “male loneliness epidemic.” It was also the first year in which, alongside their interviews, candidates were asked to complete a surprise general knowledge test.

To every student who competed and was not selected: thank you. Canadian selection tryouts are among the most competitive in the world, and qualifying for the tryout is itself a major accomplishment that each of you should be proud of.

The 2026-2027 Team

New members

Returning members

With thanks

Committee members, coaches and volunteer judges

Tryouts run on volunteer time. Our thanks to the committee members, coaches and volunteer judges who judged rounds, ran the interviews and kept the weekend on schedule.