Submit Your Essay

2026 Question: Has the pursuit of happiness made Americans unhappy?

Use this form to submit your essay of up to 750 words.  We recommend you compose the essay in a word processing application and then cut and paste it into the Google form.

Though this online form is preferred, you may also submit essays by email to info@think-off.org or by surface mail to the Cultural Center, Attn: Think-Off, P.O. Box 246, New York Mills, Minnesota 56567.

Entrants should take a strong stand, basing their arguments on personal experience and observations rather than philosophical abstraction.

Please note, while there is demographic information requested, entrants are judged on essay content only, with all personal information redacted before being reviewed by the judging committee.

The deadline for submitting an essay is April 1.  Finalists will be announced May 1. The 33rd annual live debate will be held in New York Mills, Minnesota, on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at 7PM.

Get tickets to attend the live debate here: https://kulcher.networkforgood.com/events/92111-2026-great-american-think-off