Students from seven towns and cities will compete in the national "Burgas Open" debate tournament in Burgas from 16 to 18 October, organiser the Youth International Centre – Burgas said.

It is the fourth year in a row the contest has been held. The teams come from Burgas, Varna, Stara Zagora, Sofia, Montana, Dobrich and Aytos, and include middle school and high school students. The teams and judges have already been picked.

The debates follow the "World Schools" format and are held in Bulgarian. Some topics are announced in advance. The rest are impromptu, and teams learn them just before each debate.

Judges score how well each side defends its position, using clear arguments and a look at the problem from different angles.

The organisers expect participants to know the topics, analyse information, build logical arguments and stay confident when the situation changes fast. The centre says convincing arguments, quick thinking and the ability to hold a position matter most.

The organisers say the tournament builds public speaking, teamwork and critical thinking. It also lets students meet peers from different parts of the country.

The centre's partner is the Debates Bulgaria Association, and the tournament is part of the project "Young People of Burgas – the Future Starts Now".

A few days ago we reported that more than 80 break dancers from seven towns and cities will compete in Burgas on 17 October at the "Battle Time 2026" tournament at the Youth Cultural Centre.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports is funding it under the Programme for Funding Youth Centres in the Republic of Bulgaria for 2026–2028.