A look back at the 8th edition of the École Polytechnique Bachelor’s Public Speaking Competition

The 8th edition of the Bachelor Speech Contest took place on 31 March 2026 at École Polytechnique, in the Poincaré lecture theatre. This year, the grand final brought together nine exceptional talents to speak on the theme ‘Last night, I had a dream’. Each of the finalists approached the theme in their own way with personal, inspiring and deeply moving speeches.

AX, a partner of the event since its inception, rewarded the winner, Anne-Axelle Assamoua, by offering her two tickets to the Bal de l’X, which will take place on 17 April 2026 at the Palais Garnier.

Maria Neagoie and Adrien Duvernay took second and third place respectively, whilst Antonio Mateos Belinchón received the audience award.

The Bachelor Speech Contest marks the culmination of a semester of hard work dedicated to the art of public speaking. Guided by specialists in rhetoric, the students learnt how to construct a speech, defend an idea and captivate an audience.

The competition takes place over three successive rounds. Following the first two selection phases, during which participants hone their eloquence and refine their presentation skills, the nine best speakers qualify for the final.

This year’s event also featured several artistic performances, offering Bachelor’s students a wonderful opportunity to showcase their creativity and diverse talents.

The evening will be all the more memorable as it marked the last edition of the competition to be held in the Poincaré lecture theatre before its closure for renovation as part of the Rénov’X project.

Photo credits: Jérémy Barande / École polytechnique