Full Breakdown
2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee Returns to Washington, D.C.
5/26/2026, 12:54:58 AM
Return to Constitution Hall Marks 2026 Competition
The 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee convenes at DAR Constitution Hall, a few blocks from the White House, for a three-day contest that begins on Tuesday, May 26, and concludes with the finals on Thursday, May 28. A field of 247 spellers—representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, three U.S. territories and five foreign nations (the Bahamas, Canada, Ghana, Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates)—will compete for the championship title.
Historical Context and Recent Format Changes
The bee originated in 1925 when the Louisville Courier-Journal organized a national contest. It was suspended from 1943-45 for World War II and again in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sources differ on the edition count: one report calls the event the 98th bee, while another describes it as the 101st edition. This year introduces ESPN analyst Mina Kimes as the television host and retains the option of a “spell-off” lightning-round tiebreaker when only two spellers remain.
Participants, Eligibility, and Notable Contenders
Eligibility requires contestants to be in or below the eighth grade and not older than 15. After advancing through local and regional bees, the field includes returning finalists such as Sarv Dharavane (Georgia), Shrey Parikh (California), Oliver Halkett (California) and Esha Marupudi (Arizona). International representation features five countries, and 30 of the past 36 champions have been of Indian heritage, including 2025 champion Faizan Zaki of Texas.
Competition Schedule and Rounds
- Preliminaries (Tue May 26, 8 a.m.–3 p.m. ET): Live on Scripps Sports Network and spellingbee.com.
- Quarterfinals (Wed May 27, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. ET): Same streaming platforms.
- Semifinals (Wed May 27, 8–10 p.m. ET): Broadcast on ION and streamed on Scripps Sports Network.
- Finals (Thu May 28, 8–10 p.m. ET): Air on ION and on Scripps-owned channels (Bounce, Grit, Laff, etc.).
Spellers first complete a spelling round and a multiple-choice vocabulary round, then a written test drawn from the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary. Oral spelling and vocabulary questions eliminate contestants in later rounds.
Prizes and Statistical Highlights
First place receives $52,500, a custom trophy, reference works from Encyclopedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster, a commemorative medal and $1,000 in Delta Air Lines flight credits. Cash awards descend to $2,500 for sixth place. All participants obtain a souvenir package, a one-year subscription to Merriam-Webster Unabridged Online, and a certificate of participation.
Official Statements from Organizers
“For generations, the Scripps National Spelling Bee was part of the fabric of downtown Washington, DC, and we are proud to be bringing it back,” said Scripps National Spelling Bee Executive Director Corrie Loeffler.
Coaching Debate and Criticism
Full-time coach Scott Remer charges up to $180 per hour and takes a 7 % performance bonus from a champion’s prize. While champion Faizan Zaki called the expense “definitely worth it,” former competitor Navneeth Murali described the fees as “prohibitively expensive.” Scripps does not endorse coaching, and executive director Loeffler emphasized that success stems from “hard work, study ethic, perseverance.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “For generations, the Scripps National Spelling Bee was part of the fabric of downtown Washington, DC, and we are proud to be bringing it back,” — Corrie Loeffler, Executive Director
- “This is really about the love of language and the love of the competition. Part of it is once you're stung by the bee, there's kind of no going back,” — Scott Remer, Spelling Coach
- “Even though his classes are more expensive, it's definitely worth it,” — Faizan Zaki, 2025 Champion
- “I think I'm naturally talented. I've always been good at words and etymology, and finding out where they come from, and I don't really study that hard, in my opinion,” — Ethan Atanga, Maryland competitor
- “On the average weekday, I will probably be memorizing 30 minutes at a minimum, to one or two hours at a maximum,” — Raven Amrhein, Washington state competitor
- “I found it prohibitively expensive,” — Navneeth Murali, former competitor and coach
Looking Ahead
The 2026 bee concludes with the crowning of a new champion, after which Scripps will begin preparations for the 2027 competition, continuing its century-long tradition of promoting literacy and academic excellence across the United States and beyond.
