2026 National Bioethics Bowl

2026 National Bioethics Bowl

The 2026 National Bioethics Bowl will be hosted by the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health and will be held on 

Saturday, April 11, 2026

The National Bioethics Bowl is an annual tournament which brings together undergraduate teams from colleges and universities around the country to debate tough ethical issues in medicine, biotechnology, and health care. Students prepare for the event by studying a set of cases and crafting their own arguments for their positions on each case, which they present in debate rounds at the bowl.  

Enrollment Process

Due to the overwhelming response to the Bioethics Bowl National Competition, the Executive Committee has reconsidered the enrollment process to compete. All interested parties will have an opportunity to put their name in a lottery during a designated time frame in January. At a second date and time a few days later, there will be a live drawing of 19 schools and alternates. The host school will hold the 20th spot. Schools will have four business days to pay the registration fee of $320. 

Note: a payment link will be sent to the 20 selected schools on the evening of the drawing. Participants should check their spam/junk folders in case they payment link email is inadvertently diverted. 

Schools that have not paid will receive one reminder email (to the primary contact indicated on the original interest form) the day that payment is due (see dates below). If payment is not received by 5 p.m. EST on the payment due date, the school will be automatically removed and the next school on the waitlist will be notified of their selection into the 2026 National Bioethics Bowl and a link to pay the registration fee. Schools admitted from the waitlist will have four business days to remit the $320 payment.  

Save the Dates

picking names from a bowl
Friday, January 16, 2026, 1 p.m. EST

Live Webinar Drawing Names of Participants for the 2026 National Bioethics Bowl

A live webinar will occur to showcase the drawing for the 2026 National Bioethics Bowl. An electronic randomizer will be used to draw numbers between 1 and 19. The 20th spot will go to the host school. The list of schools drawn in the lottery will be posted here for those that are not able to watch the webinar live. 

four students brainstorming
Friday, January 16, 2026

Bioethics Bowl Case Release

Cases will be posted to the website after the drawing. All schools will have access to the cases. Schools that have been waitlisted should consider beginning to prepare in case they are called from the waitlist. 

payment successful message on smart phone
Friday, January 23, 2026, 5 p.m. EST

Deadline to pay

Selected schools will have until 5 p.m. EST to pay the $320 registration fee. Schools that have not paid by the start of business on January 23, 2026 will receive a reminder email at the email address provided in the original interest form. If payment is not received by 5 p.m. EST, the school will be removed from the list of participating schools and the next school on the waitlist will be notified by email of the opportunity to participate. Schools that have been added from the waitlist will then have 4 business days to remit the $320 registration fee. 

Questions?

For additional details or questions, please feel free to reach out to Cindy McCarthy at cindy.mccarthy@pitt.edu. 

Pitt campus with downtown skyline in the background
Plan Your Trip

Tentative Event Schedule

7:45 a.m.

Team check-in (one representative such as coach, advisor, or team captain)


Moderator check-in

Surma Board Room
7:45 a.m. Light breakfastPublic Health Commons area - 1st floor
8:00 a.m.Judge check-inSurma Board Room
8:10-8:30 a.m.Prepping session for judges A115
8:35-8:45 a.m.Opening remarks (All)G23
9-10:15 a.m.Round 1Refer to Team Schedule in blue folder
10:25-11:40 a.m.Round 2Refer to Team Schedule in blue folder
11:50 a.m.-12:50 p.m.Lunch breakPublic Health Commons area - 1st floor
   
11:50 a.m.-12:50 p.m.Coaches meetingG23
11:50 a.m.-12:50 p.m.Optional - Introduction to Pitt Public Health graduate programs (prize opportunity for participation)Public Health Commons area - 1st floor
1-2:15 p.m.Round 3Refer to Team Schedule in blue folder
2:25-3:40 p.m.Round 4Refer to Team Schedule in blue folder
3:50-4:15 p.m. Introduction of the National Bioethics Bowl Board; Announcements; Reveal of 2027 National Bioethics Bowl HostG23
4:15-5:30 p.m.Final roundG23

Note: Last minute schedule changes will be emailed to the person identified on the original interest form as primary contact. Please check your email the morning of the event.