Serbia ESU National Public Speaking Competition 2026
Konstantin Svilokos, ESU Serbia 2026 NPSC Winner 🥇
We held our Finals on Sunday 29 March and our six finalists delivered mature and convincing speeches.
Winner: Konstantin Svilokos, Karlovačka Grammar School.
The competition finals were hosted, third year in a row, in partnership with Aleksandra Marković (ESU Serbia and HMC & Assist scholarships) at 'T&T language school' in Belgrade.
Many thanks to Kalina Pavlović our Alumna and winner of ESU Serbia NPSC 2024 for her effective introductory speech.
ESU Serbia Committee Member Professor Jonathan Pendlebury, from the Philological Faculty of the Belgrade University, provided valuable feedback to all the finalists.
Semi-Final Prepared Speech Heat Theme 🎤 :
“The power to question is the basis of all human progress”
– Indira Gandhi
Grand Final Speech Theme 🎤 :
The light of a candle
Is transferred to another candle — Spring twilight
-Lighting One Candle, Yosa Buson
ESU International Public Speaking Competition 2026
The English-Speaking Union International Public Speaking Competition, hosted in London, has become one of those rare landmarks by which we divide our lives — time has been split into before and after the competition.
How could it not? Arriving in a country outside continental Europe for the first time, visiting the city of my childhood dreams, and what is perhaps most important, meeting more than 40 great young people from all four corners of the world: Australia, Sri Lanka, Romania, America, and so many others!
Over the five days of a wonderfully devised program, we were able to explore London, get to know each other, and create friendships that will last forever! The experience I gathered — while sitting in a pub, watching The Witness for the Prosecution, or trying to hear what a friend is trying to say on the Tube — completely changed my mindset. The emotions of these few days equals the amount of emotions usually reserved for a year.
But it wasn't only emotion that was at work! Out of more than 100,000 international participants, 45 became national winners and earned the honour of representing their countries at international level. The skill of each and every one of us was already formidable, but thanks to our great Oracy Coaches, it was further improved.
And finally, the last day of the competition was reserved for the Grand Finals in the Royal Institution. Top 6 out of more than 100,000. Among them, me — representing my small but brave Serbia. A Finalist's medal is not only a great achievement for myself, but also for the soil of my nation.
I believe Cicero's spirit was present in the Royal Institution that day, for the skill, reason and emotion of all 6 of us were astonishing.
What has changed since then?
Everything.
But most importantly,
We have changed.
For this great honour and opportunity I can only remain thankful to the English Speaking Union, ESU Serbia, my teachers of Karlovačka gimnazija, and my parents
Author: Konstantin Svilokos, ESU Serbia Finalist at ESU IPSC London 2026
