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Click here for the 2026 press release.

�鶹ֱ�� & Lardner LLP is proud to host the annual MLK Jr. Oratory Competition in Dallas, Houston, and Chicago. In celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, the oratory contest is designed to highlight the cultural diversity and talent of local communities while recognizing and encouraging the writing and public speaking skills of elementary school students. To celebrate the teachings of Dr. King, �鶹ֱ�� has dedicated ongoing resources and community partnerships to support student voices in the MLK Jr. Oratory Competition.

Each year, fourth- and fifth-grade students from Dallas, Houston, and Chicago elementary schools are invited to compose and present original three- to five-minute speeches based on a pre-selected topic, incorporating ideals from Dr. King’s teachings. The students’ speeches celebrate Dr. King’s lasting influence and demonstrate how his words inspire and shape their lives.

Each regional oratory competition begins with virtual or in-school qualifying rounds, followed by semifinals and finals. At each stage, students are evaluated on delivery, stage presence, decorum, content interpretation, and memorization. The final rounds are judged by panels of prominent community and local business leaders.

The topic for the 2026 MLK oratorical competition is, “As a student of Dr. King’s life, what message of hope do you think he would have for the world today?”

Watch the replays and winning speeches from Chicago, Dallas, and Houston below, and join us in celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s remarkable legacy.