How do I cite a speech in APA?

To cite a speech in APA (7th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

What does the in-text citation look like for a speech in APA?

In APA, the in-text citation for the example above is (King, 1963)

How to Cite a Speech in APA (7th edition)

Learn how to cite speeches, addresses, and sermons, live or recorded in APA format (7th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

APA Reference List Format

Here is the standard APA format for citing a speech in your reference list:

Speaker, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of speech [Speech audio recording or Speech transcript]. Site Name. URL

APA Example for a Speech

A complete APA reference for a speech, written by hand and checked against the official APA guidance for this source:

King, M. L., Jr. (1963, August 28). I have a dream [Speech audio recording]. American Rhetoric. https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

Matching in-text citation: (King, 1963)

APA In-Text Citation

Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:

Parenthetical

(King, 1963)

Narrative

King (1963) called on…

Key APA Formatting Rules

Use the speaker as author and give the full date the speech was delivered.
Italicize the title in sentence case and add a bracketed description: [Speech audio recording], [Speech video recording] or [Speech transcript] for a transcript you read.
Name the site or archive that holds the recording or transcript, then give the URL.
A speech you heard live and that was not recorded cannot be retrieved, so cite it in the text only as a personal communication.
If you watched the speech on YouTube, cite it as a YouTube video, with the uploading channel as author and [Video] as the description.

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your speech.
Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the APA (7th edition) template shown above.
Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
Add to your reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match APA requirements.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples on this page are written by hand from the style's own published guidance and checked against it, because the general CSL styles do not encode this source's rules. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.

Metadata to collect

speaker's name
title of the speech, or a short description
date the speech was delivered
event, venue and city
whether you used a recording, a transcript or the live event
URL or publication details of the version you used

Common metadata traps

A transcript and a recording are different versions; name the one you actually used, and do not cite a recording if you only read the text.
A speech reprinted in a book or anthology is cited as a part of that book, with the book’s date, not as a free-standing speech.
A video of a speech on YouTube is credited to the account that uploaded it in APA, which may not be the speaker; check who posted it.

Editorial sources

APA Style — references →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a speech in APA?: To cite a speech in APA (7th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the APA format for a speech citation?: The APA format for a speech is: Speaker, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of speech [Speech audio recording or Speech transcript]. Site Name. URL
What does the in-text citation look like for a speech in APA?: In APA, the in-text citation for the example above is (King, 1963)