Thursday, August 27 · Chicago, IL

Chicago DebateShowcase

Live debate, done right. A hands-on workshop, exhibition matches, and a flagship showdown over the AI boom, in one unforgettable night.

Reserve a seat · $20 Apply to debate

Date

Thursday, August 27

Doors

5:30 PM

Location

Chicago, IL

Reserve

$20

The format

What the night looks like

Workshop

45 minutes

Learn to build a case, handle objections, and actually win an argument. First-timers welcome.

Exhibition debates

2v2 teams

Sharp debaters take crowd-picked topics head to head. You vote the winner.

Flagship debate

The main event

An extended showdown on whether the AI investment boom is a bubble, with audience Q&A.

Run of show

Evening schedule

Thursday, August 27, 2026 · doors at 5:30 PM

5:30

Doors open

Check-in, refreshments, networking

6:00

Workshop: How to win any argumentMain

45-minute interactive session

6:45

Exhibition debate 1

Crowd-picked topic · 2v2 · audience vote

7:10

Intermission

Refreshments and networking

7:25

Exhibition debate 2

Audience-selected topic · 2v2 · audience vote

8:00

Flagship debateMain

The AI investment debate · extended · Q&A

8:45

Awards and closing

Best debater, best argument, audience favorite

9:00

Networking reception

Meet the debaters, sponsors, and fellow attendees

The motions

You pick the topics

The flagship is set: is the AI investment boom a bubble? The exhibition motions are crowd-picked, so the room decides what Chicago argues about.

01Is the AI investment boom a bubble?0 votes
02Should the Bears leave Chicago for the suburbs (or Indiana)?0 votes
03Deep dish is the one true Chicago pizza0 votes

Reserve and suggest a topic

The lineup

Debaters announced soon

Eight debaters, four teams, one stage. We are reviewing applications now, and this is where they will appear. Think you belong up there?

Apply to debate

The bracket

Team 012 seats open
Team 022 seats open
Team 032 seats open
Team 042 seats open

Eight seats. One could be yours.

Be part of it

Three ways in

Reserve a seat

$20 · open to all

Workshop, all three debates, the audience vote, and the reception.

Step into the ring

By application · 8 spots

Compete in an exhibition debate. Some debate experience preferred.

Apply to debate

Volunteer to judge

No experience needed

Help score the debates. We train you in a 30-minute orientation.

Reserve now and we will follow up about payment before the event.

Partners

Sponsor the night

Put your name on the night Chicago starts arguing better. Sponsors keep the evening independent and the production sharp.

Become a sponsor

The venue

Announced soon

Chicago, IL · CTA accessible

A premier Chicago space, central and easy to reach. Reserve a seat and we will send exact details as soon as they are set.

Good to know

Questions

Keep going

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Thursday, August 27, 2026

Reserve your seat

Capacity is limited. Claim your spot for the night Chicago learns to argue, the right way.

Reserve a seat · $20

Reserve a seat · $20