How do I cite a speech in MLA?

To cite a speech in MLA (9th 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 MLA?

In MLA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Eisenhower)

How to Cite a Speech in MLA (9th edition)

Learn how to cite speeches, addresses, and sermons, live or recorded in MLA format (9th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

MLA Works Cited Format

Here is the standard MLA format for citing a speech in your Works Cited page:

Speaker Last Name, First Name. “Title of Speech.” Day Month Year. Website Name, Publisher, URL. Transcript.

MLA Example for a Speech

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

Eisenhower, Dwight D. “Chance for Peace.” 16 Apr. 1953. Docsteach, National Archives, www.docsteach.org/documents/document/chance-for-peace-speech. Transcript.

Matching in-text citation: (Eisenhower)

MLA In-Text Citation

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

Parenthetical

(Eisenhower)

Narrative

Eisenhower called every gun and warship “a theft from those who hunger and are not fed.”

Key MLA Formatting Rules

Put the speaker first and the title of the speech in quotation marks.
Give the date the speech was delivered after the title when the transcript or recording shows it, then the website in italics as the container, its publisher and the URL.
Say which version you used: add Transcript at the end for a transcript, or cite a recording by its own site and date.
For a speech you attended, give the event, date, venue and city, and add a descriptor such as Speech or Address at the end.
For a speech reprinted in a book, use the book as the container and the book’s date, as in the Style Center’s Emma Goldman example.

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 MLA (9th 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 Works Cited: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match MLA 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

MLA Style Center — works cited →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a speech in MLA?: To cite a speech in MLA (9th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the MLA format for a speech citation?: The MLA format for a speech is: Speaker Last Name, First Name. “Title of Speech.” Day Month Year. Website Name, Publisher, URL. Transcript.
What does the in-text citation look like for a speech in MLA?: In MLA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Eisenhower)