2026 Predictions for the Year Ahead - Balloon Debate

Join Debate London for our first debate of 2026!

This time we present a crowd favourite! A Balloon Debate!

A free-for-all debating event where our panel of debaters must compete for your vote each round or be voted off stage!

For the nights events we will be asking ourselves what do we think is the most likely to occur over the course of 2026 pulled from a recurring lists of things that may happen in 2026.

sneak peak at a couple of predictions sitting in our crystal ball this year includes a return to the moon and a return to peace in eastern Europe.

WHAT IS A BALLOON DEBATE?

A light-hearted debate format which sees a panel of 5 or 6 debaters go head to head to stay in the balloon over a series of rounds in which panellists are voted off one at a time until only the winner remains. Normally, they are assigned a celebrity figure to represent, but anything goes and in past debates, speakers have represented everything from terrible Christmas gifts to the Seven Sins.

WHAT IS THIS ONE GOING TO BE ABOUT?

Predictions for the year to come - not all of the possibilities (that would take way too long) but 5 or 6 - specifically selected from a range of tabloid, magazine and blog prediction lists.

HOW WILL IT WORK?

Our panellists will be challenged to debate each other in a range of different styles each round, including:

- only being allowed to talk up their prediction in round 1

- only being allowed to talk down the other predicitions in round 2

- Q&A with the audience in round 3

(where you get involved)

- freestyle debate in the final round

A blend of comedic timing and critical thinking (aka wit) will prove vital as they will be expected to make well thought-out arguments, but - since it is a social - will most likely be judged by how entertaining you, the audience, find them.

Venue

Our venues serve food and drink (both alcholic and non-alcoholic)

Please do not bring external food and drink on site - you WILL be asked to throw them away

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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