Story perspectives

Mina Kimes Hosts 2026 Scripps Bee Finals, $52.5K Prize

5/26/2026

Center

Mina Kimes Hosts

ESPN analyst Mina Kimes will host the semifinals and finals of the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee.
The 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee takes place May 26-28 at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., with 247 competitors.
The champion will earn $52,500, a trophy, reference works and a $1,000 Delta flight credit.
The competition features 247 spellers: 72 veterans, 169 first-timers, plus six past top finishers.

Left

Raven Amrhein Wins

Seventh-grader Raven Amrhein, who has hyperlexia, prepares for the spelling bee by studying multilingual word stems.
The competition in Washington, D.C., crowned Raven Amrhein champion, awarding her $52,500, trophy, reference works and $1,000 Delta flight credit.
She won the King and Snohomish counties regional title, becoming Washington’s sole national contestant.
Former champion Amy King advises Amrhein to stay present and avoid over-studying during competition week.

Blindspot

Center coverage emphasized the broadcast role of ESPN analyst Mina Kimes as host of the semifinals and finals, a detail not highlighted in Left coverage.
Center also detailed the event’s date, venue, and the composition of the 247-speller field, including veterans and first-timers, which Left coverage did not address.

History

Historical Context

Founded in 1925, the Scripps National Spelling Bee crowned Kentucky’s 11-year-old Frank Neuhauser as its first champion and offered a $500 prize to 22 contestants in 1940. Over a century the field grew to 247 spellers and a $52,500 top award, with ESPN analyst Mina Kimes hosting the 2026 finals at DAR Constitution Hall.

1 of 4

Mina Kimes Hosts

ESPN analyst Mina Kimes will host the semifinals and finals of the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee.
The 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee takes place May 26-28 at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., with 247 competitors.
The champion will earn $52,500, a trophy, reference works and a $1,000 Delta flight credit.
The competition features 247 spellers: 72 veterans, 169 first-timers, plus six past top finishers.

1 / 4