Friends and Colleagues:

 

The University of Illinois Chicago is pleased to invite you to the Chicago Swing, held in person on October 31st, 2026 in Chicago. “Chicago Swing: House of Villains”

 

We are pleased to offer all 11 AFA Events. A novice division will be offered for any events with sufficient entries. Recognition for top novice competitors will be made at the awards presentation. Novice is defined for this tournament as a competitor in their first year of competition. Semi-finals will be held in events with 40 or more entries. Awards will be presented to the top six speakers in each event, top five speakers in individual sweepstakes, and the top five schools in team sweepstakes. 

  

Please enter the tournament by using speechwire.com:

 

Fee discussion

Entries due at 6pm on Tuesday, October 27th, 2026

One judge will be required for every six entries. Schools should cover 50% of their entries.

Fees are $10 per IE entry. Uncovered entries are each an additional $10.

Drop fees will be assessed after 6pm on Tuesday, October 27th, 2026.

Add/drops after 6pm on Tuesday, October 27th, 2026: $10 per change plus entry fee.

Drops on/after Friday, October 30th incur a $15 per drop plus entry.

Dropped judges are $50 after 5pm on Thursday, October 26th, 2026.

A final invoice including dropped fees will be shared.

 

If you have questions, feel free to contact Vance by email (vpierce4@uic.edu) or phone (309.648.7605).

Student run teams will not be charged for entries covered by judges. Any teams in need of entry fee discounts will be given support if asked

 

Hotel Option

Holiday Inn Chicago – Midway Airport S

Rate: $129 per night

 

You can book your room using the link below: 

https://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/find-hotels/select-roomrate?fromRedirect=true&qSrt=sBR&qIta=99801505&icdv=99801505&qSlH=CHICI&qCiD=30&qCiMy=092026&qCoD=01&qCoMy=102026&qGrpCd=UIC&setPMCookies=true&qSHBrC=HI&qDest=7353%20South%20Cicero%20Avenue,%20Chicago,%20IL,%20US&showApp=true&adjustMonth=false&srb_u=1&qRmFltr=

 

The room block ends on 10/16/2026

 

If the hotel does not meet your needs, there are also several other hotel options available in the surrounding area. We are more than happy to help you navigate your search for lodging. Please let us know.

 

 

We will provide parking validation at check-in.

 

We look forward to seeing you in Chicago soon!

 

 

Vance Pierce, Director of Forensics 

University of Illinois Chicago vpierce4@uic.edu

 Tournament Schedule:

 

October 31st, 2026

 

8:30am - Registration

9:30am – Extemp Draw

10:00am – Round 1A (EXT, PERS, DUO, PRO, POI, CA)

11:15am – Round 1B (IMP, ADS, INF, DI, POE)

12:30pm – Break for Lunch (Lunch Provided) 

1:15pm – Extemp Draw

1:45pm – Round 2A (EXT, PERS, DUO, PRO, POI, CA)

3:00pm – Round 2B (IMP, ADS, INF, DI, POE)

4:15pm – Extemp Draw for Finals

4:45pm – Finals A (EXT, PERS, DUO, PRO, POI, CA)

6:00pm – Finals B (IMP, ADS, INF, DI, POE) (we will collapse finals if possible)

Immediately Following – AWARDS

 

Sweepstakes Points Individual Sweepstakes:

All students entered in IE’s will be entered in individual sweepstakes. Students will earn points toward individual sweepstakes for any entry reaching open or novice finals

 

Team Sweepstakes:

Team sweepstakes will be awarded to the top five teams at the tournament based on final round points.

 

Individual and team sweepstakes points will be awarded as follows: 

12 Points – 1st Place in final

10 Points – 2nd Place in final

8 Points – 3rd Place in final

6 Points – 4th Place in final

4 Points – 5th Place in final

2 Points – 6th Place in final

1 Point – 7th Place in final (or Non-advancing Semifinalist)

 

*Events advancing to finals will also score 2pts for each 1st place in prelims and 1 pt. for each 2nd place in prelims

 

-Semi-finals can be held for events with 40 or more competitors

 

Awards:

The top six finalists in each event will be recognized.

The top five schools in team sweepstakes will be recognized with an award.

Designate each competitor as novice or varsity when registering. We will recognize TOP NOVICE in each event

Awards will be awarded to the top 6 speakers (determined by speaker points).

 

(vr24)