Welcome speech in English: 6 complete samples and how to write your own
A welcome speech greets the audience, says what the event is, gives a special welcome to the chief guest, briefly says what to expect, and thanks people for coming, usually in 1 to 2 minutes. Below are six complete welcome speeches you can adapt (school annual function, chief guest, farewell, Independence Day, seminar and new employees), the structure behind them, and lines to open and close.
By The YoFluent teamUpdated 9 min read

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6 welcome speech samples
1. Welcome speech for a school annual function
About 1½ minutes
Good evening to our honourable chief guest, Dr. Anil Verma, our respected principal, Mrs. Sunita Rao, members of the management, dear teachers, parents and my fellow students.
On behalf of everyone at Green Valley School, it is my privilege to welcome you to our 25th Annual Day.
A special welcome to our chief guest. Dr. Verma has cared for the children of this city for more than twenty years, and many of us in this hall have sat in his clinic, a little scared, and left smiling. Thank you, sir, for making time for us tonight.
Dear parents, thank you for your trust and support, and for coming in such large numbers. Tonight, you will see what your children have been practising after school for weeks: dances, songs, a play, and much more.
This evening is a celebration of a year of hard work by our students and teachers. I hope you enjoy every moment of it.
Once again, a very warm welcome to all of you. Thank you.
2. Welcome speech for a chief guest
About 1 minute
Good morning, everyone. It gives me great pleasure to welcome our chief guest for today, Ms. Priya Nair, the founder of a company that helps farmers sell directly online.
Ms. Nair started her business from a single room with two computers. Today it works with more than ten thousand farmers. Her story shows that a good idea and hard work can change many lives.
Ma’am, we are honoured to have you with us, and our students are looking forward to learning from you. Please join me in giving our chief guest a warm round of applause.
3. Welcome speech for a farewell party
About 1 minute
Good afternoon, respected principal, dear teachers and our wonderful seniors.
Today is a happy and a sad day. Happy, because you are starting a new chapter. Sad, because this school will feel a little emptier without you.
You showed us how to prepare for exams, how to win, and how to lose with a smile. We have planned this afternoon to say thank you in our own way, with music, memories and a few surprises.
On behalf of the junior batch, a very warm welcome to your farewell. Let’s make it a day to remember.
4. Welcome speech for Independence Day
About 1 minute
Good morning to our respected chief guest, principal, teachers and my dear friends.
A very warm welcome to all of you on this proud day, as we celebrate the Independence Day of our country.
Today we remember the people who gave their lives so that we could live in freedom, and we remind ourselves that freedom comes with responsibility: to be honest, to respect each other, and to build a better country.
We have a programme of songs, speeches and a march past prepared by our students. Once again, welcome, and Happy Independence Day.
5. Welcome speech for a seminar or conference
About 1 minute
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of the Department of Computer Science, I am delighted to welcome you to today’s seminar on “Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work”.
We are fortunate to have three expert speakers from industry and research, and I would like to extend a special welcome to each of them.
Today’s programme has three talks of twenty minutes each, followed by an open question-and-answer session. Please keep your questions ready.
Thank you for being here. I hope today gives you new ideas and useful contacts. Welcome, and enjoy the seminar.
6. Welcome speech for new employees
About 45 seconds
Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the team!
We are very happy to have you with us. Each of you was chosen because of your skills and your attitude, and we are excited to see what you will bring.
This week is about getting to know the company, your teams and your tools, so please ask as many questions as you like. Nobody expects you to know everything on day one.
Once again, welcome aboard. We are glad you are here.
Names and details are examples: replace them, and check names and titles with the organiser.
Opening lines for a welcome speech
- “Good morning to our honourable chief guest, respected principal, dear teachers and my dear friends.”
- “On behalf of…, it is my privilege to welcome you to…”
- “It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to…”
- “A very warm welcome to everyone who has joined us today.”
- “Ladies and gentlemen, good evening, and welcome to…”
Closing lines
- “Once again, a very warm welcome to all of you. Thank you.”
- “I hope you enjoy the programme. Thank you.”
- “Please join me in giving our chief guest a warm round of applause.”
- “With that, I hand over to our anchors for the rest of the evening.”
Welcome speech vs vote of thanks
| Welcome speech | Vote of thanks | |
|---|---|---|
| When | At the start | At the end |
| Purpose | Greet guests, introduce the event | Thank everyone who made it happen |
| Mentions | Chief guest, audience, what is coming | Chief guest, organisers, teachers, performers, staff |
| Length | 1–2 minutes | 1–2 minutes |
Tips for delivering it
- Greet in the right order: highest rank first.
- Pronounce every name correctly. Ask beforehand and practise it.
- Say one specific thing about the chief guest, not just “a great personality”.
- Keep it under 2 minutes. The audience is waiting for the event.
- Speak slowly into the microphone and look up from the paper after each sentence.
- Hosting the whole event? See the anchoring script.
Frequently asked questions
How do I start a welcome speech?
Greet the audience in order of rank, for example “Good morning to our honourable chief guest, respected principal, dear teachers and my dear friends”, then say “On behalf of…, it is my privilege to welcome you to…”.
How long should a welcome speech be?
A welcome speech is usually 1 to 2 minutes, about 120 to 300 words. It should be short because the audience is there for the main event.
What should a welcome speech include?
A greeting, the name of the event, a special welcome to the chief guest with one specific fact about them, a short preview of the programme, thanks to the audience for coming, and a closing line.
How do I welcome a chief guest in a speech?
Say their name and title, give one or two specific facts about their work or achievements, say why you are honoured to have them, and ask the audience to welcome them with applause.
What is the difference between a welcome speech and a vote of thanks?
A welcome speech comes at the start and greets the guests and audience; a vote of thanks comes at the end and thanks the chief guest, organisers, performers and everyone who helped.
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- Welcome speech for college function, Vedantu
- Public speaking, Wikipedia
- Words per minute, Wikipedia