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[IndigoFenix]

Essentially, a way of constructing a formal challenge, with the victor gaining a particular benefit.  Challenges could take place in Adventure mode, Fort mode, or Legends.  They would basically be a way of getting something from someone without killing them or beating them into submission.

Creating a challenge would involve opening up a screen similar to a trading screen, with the player defining the nature, time and place of the competition, and request a reward they would get for winning and a price they would pay if they lost.  The challenged party would evaluate the challenge based on their own perceived chance of victory, their personality or values (people with high confidence or pride would be less likely to back down from a challenge), as well as what they would gain or lose for winning or losing, and similar to trading, could make counter-offers (modifying the terms of the challenge to be more favorable to them, or asking for a prize they would prefer) or simply refuse.

Issuing blatantly unfair or frivolous challenges could impact the player's reputation.

Competitions could be related to any skill.  Combat duels would be one form of competition, naturally, but you could have music or dance competitions, writing, crafting, hunting, and more.  Depending on the type of challenge, more units could be involved as well, or the challenger (or the challenged) could pick another unit(s) as proxies.  For example, one might challenge a warlord for a non-lethal battle between their two strongest party members and two units of the warlord's own choosing.

Competitions could be fought over a particular artifact, a government position, the loser's fealty, exile or death.  Or challenges could be offered simply for fun.

If a unit cheated, or if they lost and failed to uphold their part of the agreement, they would gain a reputation as a cheater and this would make it harder for them to create or join competitions.  Depending on the details, they could also be attacked by units in the offended civilization.  (For example, if they lost a duel to the death and managed to escape, they would be branded as an outlaw and could be killed by any unit in the civilization without repercussions, or if they were exiled and tried to return other civ members might spit at them or refuse them service.)

One could also create an "open tournament" for a particular reward, which would spread as a rumor, and units that considered themselves skilled could enter the tournament.  This would be common in worldgen but the player could also issue one - for instance, if one wanted to find a strong companion, they could offer a combat tournament for a cash reward, and then try to recruit the winner into their party.

Hunting competitions could also be "races" to kill a particular creature.  Integrating this system into Adventure Mode would also allow leaders to issue challenges to kill a target for a reward, instead of just asking the player to do it for "glory".

[Azerty]

Contests might be held, and it might be related to festivals. For exemple, a deity might order, to the priests of one of his temple, to hold an art contest every five years.

Another way would be trial by jury, where two opposed parties might duel, with the winner of the fight also winning the trial.

[DwarfStar]

These already happen in legends mode, if you hadn't noticed. These are good suggestions for additions, though, like the cheating concept (if that happens, I'm not sure how to tell). It's also not clear if there are prizes awarded. Here are some competitions I found in the (modded) world I'm playing in, via the legends viewer.

0057-04-04 In 57, early summer, (4th of Hematite)  The Moot of Proliferation held a musical competition in Propagatedeep the Virtuous Holes as part of The Brainstorm of Recognitions.
Competing were the halfling Hepfurkup Numberlesstruculence and the halfling Ilatac Tenderizejigsaw. The winner was the halfling Ilatac Tenderizejigsaw. competition 
0057-05-23 In 57, midsummer, (23rd of Malachite)  The Masterpiece of Maize held a foot race in Dicesolicited as part of The Pink-Garnet Ceremony.
Competing were the dwarf Bilis Intrudechasm, the dwarf Esmegeshuth Irresponsiblebunged, the dwarf Kudishez Hookhobnobbed, the dwarf Lit Chairsling, the dwarf Nefik Pyramidalseabed and the dwarf Vagiksal Schoolcraned. The winner was the dwarf Kudishez Hookhobnobbed. competition 
0057-06-07 In 57, late summer, (7th of Galena)  The Masterpiece of Maize held a wrestling competition in Dicesolicited as part of The Pink-Garnet Ceremony.
Competing were the dwarf Esmegeshuth Irresponsiblebunged and the dwarf Lit Chairsling. The winner was the dwarf Lit Chairsling. competition 
0057-06-10 In 57, late summer, (10th of Galena)  The Masterpiece of Maize held a pick throwing competition in Dicesolicited as part of The Pink-Garnet Ceremony.
Competing were the dwarf Umgudimur Forkextol, the dwarf Ubet Begunfrills, the dwarf Roruth Pandahatch, the dwarf Rustiz Forsakenrhodolite and the dwarf Bilis Intrudechasm. The winner was the dwarf Bilis Intrudechasm. competition 

[IndigoFenix]

I know about the contests in Legends Mode.  I'm suggesting a way that they might be created by the player in Adventure Mode, or occur as a procedurally generated event.

After being created, an event would be created at a particular time and location.  (For instance, a sword duel at noon.)  This would create a rumor that would spread, similar to army movements.  (Alternatively, a contest could be declared immediately.)

When the time drew near, the units involved (and possibly an audience) would make their way to the appointed location, bringing along any materials necessary (weapons, instruments, targets, etc.).  When the contest begins, the competing units would perform an action related to the contest (probably accompanied by a voice line, like "Begin!" or even a countdown, to cue the player that the challenge has started.)  For combat contests, the competing units would attack their opponents, but this would be a special form of combat where other units would not join in.

Non-combat contests (and possibly some combat contests) would appoint a judge or group of judges (choosing particular judges could be one of the contest's parameters).  The winner would be determined the same way opinions of actions (for example, the quality of a singer or storyteller) are determined now.  In general, the unit with the higher success roll would win.  (It could also be possible that if the judge was biased, for instance if they were a friend of one of the competing units and had low honesty, they might pick the unit they liked more.  This could generate a rumor in the audience, if many of their opinions disagreed with the judge's decision.)

Actions considered "cheating" would vary depending on the kind of contest.  Using the wrong kind of weapon (in a duel where the weapons were specified), beginning a race before the appointed time, or attacking the opponent in a non-combat competition would invalidate the victory and generate a negative reputation.  Failing to acquiesce to the agreed upon terms (For example, if part of the agreement was that the loser would hand over an item to the winner, and the loser failed to do so) would create a negative rumor similar to being caught stealing, and might result in the offended party trying to take it in other ways.  Killing the opponent in a non-lethal duel would not be considered cheating, but could result in a separate negative reputation depending on the ethics of the civilization.  These actions would influence whether or not another unit would agree to a contest in the future ("I won't compete with a cheat!")

Failing to show up at a contest by the appointed time could also result in a negative rumor.

Non-combat contests to the death would also appoint an executioner whose job was to kill the loser.  If the loser escaped, this would also generate a negative rumor and could cause them to become an outlaw from that civilization.