How do I cite a speech in Harvard?

To cite a speech in Harvard (Cite Them Right), 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 Harvard?

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

How to Cite a Speech in Harvard (Cite Them Right)

Learn how to cite speeches, addresses, and sermons, live or recorded in Harvard format (Cite Them Right). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

Harvard Reference List Format

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

Speaker, A. (Year) Title of speech. Speech delivered at Event, Venue, City, Day Month. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).

Harvard Example for a Speech

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

King, M.L. (1963) I have a dream. Speech delivered at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC, 28 August. Available at: https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm (Accessed: 18 October 2026).

Matching in-text citation: (King, 1963)

Harvard In-Text Citation

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

Parenthetical

(King, 1963)

Narrative

King (1963) argued…

Key Harvard Formatting Rules

Use the speaker as author and the year the speech was given in round brackets.
Give the title in italics, then where and when it was delivered.
For a recording or transcript online, add Available at: with the URL and (Accessed: Day Month Year).
For a speech in Parliament, cite Hansard instead, and for a speech reprinted in a book, cite the book chapter.

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 Harvard (Cite Them Right) 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 Harvard 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

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a speech in Harvard?: To cite a speech in Harvard (Cite Them Right), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the Harvard format for a speech citation?: The Harvard format for a speech is: Speaker, A. (Year) Title of speech. Speech delivered at Event, Venue, City, Day Month. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).
What does the in-text citation look like for a speech in Harvard?: In Harvard, the in-text citation for the example above is (King, 1963)