International Public Speaking Contest Final 2023

Ever since 1971, France’s premier university for the Humanities and Social Sciences, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, has cultivated a unique spirit combining a rigorously scientific approach with an ambition to generate knowledge to transform the world. Through an exceptional range of academic disciplines, the Sorbonne trains researchers, teachers, legal professionals, corporate and public administration executives, economists, artists... and most notably, citizens, to analyze the world around them and design novel solutions for the challenges facing society today.

Every spring, the university organizes an International Public Speaking Contest (le Concours international d’éloquence). The competition offers its students and French-speaking candidates from all across the globe  a chance to take their ideas head to head before a top-notch panel of judges. For this year’s event, the debate will focus on Freedom.

Following an exhilarating semi-final, eight finalists  will compete for one of four prizes in this year's competition at the final, set to take place on May 23rd, from 6 to 9pm at the Pantheon. Who will emerge as the most  compelling speaker  and add their name to the winner’s list at the top university public speaking competition?

The eight candidates still in the running will compete in four showdowns with each pronouncing an original panegyric in the hope of becoming one of the prizewinners and entering the chronicles of the Concours international d’éloquence de l’université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. Over the course of the evening, each contestant shall take part in the showdowns and the panegyrics before an enthusiastic audience and a demanding jury. 

► Follow the final live on the University’s YouTube channel 

► Vote for your favorite candidate for the People's Choice Award

► Additional information on the Concours international d’éloquence (in French)