About Speech Day USA
Speeches shaped the soul of America. It’s time we celebrated that.
Speech Day USA is a new national initiative dedicated to celebrating the rich heritage, enduring influence, and living tradition of speeches in the United States.
From the Declaration of Independence to the Gettysburg Address… from Seneca Falls to Selma… from presidential inaugurations to community town halls — the power of speech has helped shape America’s identity and ideals. Speech Day USA offers an annual moment to reflect on that legacy and reignite its relevance for today’s voices.
This isn’t about politics. It’s about oratory — as a civic art, a shared inheritance, and a uniquely American form of expression.
A National Celebration — Created by American Voices
Speech Day USA is currently in development, and we are proud to be assembling a Steering Committee of educators, students, speechwriters, historians, and public speaking professionals from across the United States. Their role will be to shape and guide the initiative from the ground up — ensuring it reflects the full diversity, depth, and democratic spirit of American speechmaking.
Participation in Speech Day USA may take many forms:
- Celebrating great speeches from American history
- Hosting student speech competitions or performance events on campus
- Showcasing new and emerging voices from your community
- Exploring how speech shapes identity, values, and civic life
We invite institutions, educators, and individuals to help co-create this national moment — and ensure Speech Day USA becomes a meaningful and lasting tradition.
Inspired by a Global Movement
Speech Day USA is inspired by the success of World Speech Day, now in its 10th year and celebrated in over 100 countries. World Speech Day was founded on a simple idea: that speeches can change the world — not only from podiums of power, but from unexpected places.
Of particular note is the success of the “Unexpected Voices” initiative, which has given thousands of people around the world the opportunity to speak — often for the first time — in schools, libraries, village squares, and community halls. Speech Day USA carries forward that same spirit by inviting a new generation of Americans to step forward, speak up, and be heard.
“Speak it like an American”
Speech Day USA is a celebration of how America speaks — in every accent, every region, and every generation. It belongs to no party, no ideology, and no single voice. It’s about the ongoing story of a nation told — and retold — through speech.
Whether you’re a professor, student, librarian, coach, or simply someone who believes in the power of the spoken word — we invite you to join us in building Speech Day USA.
Let’s celebrate the voices that shaped America — and those shaping it still.