The Munk Debates are open to the public. General admission tickets to the ROM event cost $30. Each event begins at 6:45 p.m. with a vote by the audience on the resolution being debated. The debaters then provide opening arguments and cross-examine each other. A question and answer period with the audience follows. A well-known moderator keeps the proceedings orderly. The debate wraps up with a summation by each debater and a second vote by the audience on the resolution. The final vote is tallied and the winning side announced at 9pm. CBC Radio's Ideas and The Globe and Mail take each event's discussion to the larger public.

The Munk Debates is an initiative of the Aurea Foundation, a charitable organization founded by Peter and Melanie Munk to support Canadian institutions involved in the study and development of public policy.

The Munk Debates is organized by Rudyard Griffiths and Patrick Luciani, the co-directors of the Salon Speakers Series.

The Munk Debates benefit from advice and insights of an advisory board. Its members include Andrew Coyne, Devon Cross, Allan Gotlieb, George Jonas, Margaret MacMillan, Anthony Munk and Janice Gross Stein.