Thirty young speakers from schools and higher education institutions will take the stage at the Future Voices 2026 grand finale in Kandy on 5 September, organisers confirmed to Lakbima News.
Organisers use the phrase “every great voice begins with the courage to speak” and say the programme aims to build confidence in public speaking, improve communication skills and encourage leadership among young people.
This year the competition features 15 school students and 15 students from higher education institutions. Each finalist will present a prepared speech to a live audience and to the panel of judges.
Organisers provided a list of participating schools that includes Gateway College, Swarnamali Girls’ College, St. Sylvester’s College, Pushpadana Girls’ College, Viharamahadevi Girls’ College, Badi-ud-din Mahmud Girls’ College, Ecole Internationale and Wariyapola Sri Sumangala College.
Students from higher education institutions named to Lakbima News include APIIT, ANC Education, American College of Higher Education, SLIM and SLIIT. The organisers said the entries represent a range of academic backgrounds and regions.
During the preliminaries and the semi-final, judges asked contestants to present original material, respond to impromptu prompts and demonstrate stage presence. Organisers told Lakbima News the process tests clarity, reasoning and composure under pressure, and is intended to help participants overcome fear of public speaking.
The Future Voices 2026 grand finale will be held at the Level 5 Banquet Hall, Kandy City Centre (KCC), from 8.30am on 5 September, the event schedule supplied to Lakbima News shows.
Winners in the two categories will receive certificates and cash prizes, organisers confirmed. When asked about prize amounts, the organisers did not provide figures.
Future Voices 2026 combines competition with training: finalists compete for awards while the programme offers opportunities to practice public speaking and leadership in front of an audience, organisers told Lakbima News.
For every participant who steps up to the microphone, organisers say the achievement is having the courage to stand up, speak and be heard.
