Scripps National Spelling Bee 2026: Tradition, Rules, Participants, and Prizes

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The Scripps National Spelling Bee is underway, celebrating its 98th occurrence at Constitution Hall in Washington. The event began this Tuesday and will wrap up Thursday night. This historic competition was first held in 1925, organized by the Louisville Courier-Journal. They’ve gathered newspaper champions to showcase their spelling skills.

This year, Mina Kimes serves as the television host. Known for her role as an ESPN NFL analyst, Mina also recently won “Celebrity Jeopardy!”. The bee was previously hosted in suburban Maryland, but 2026 marks its return to the nation’s capital.

Historically, the bee was canceled during World War II and due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s champion will be the 111th, due to multiple ties in previous years, including an eight-way tie in 2019.

Streaming options are available for viewers. Preliminary rounds started Tuesday on the Scripps Sports Network and spellingbee.com. Wednesday’s quarterfinals, spanning 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by the semifinals until 6:30 p.m., are on the same platforms. The semifinals were broadcast on ION later that night. Thursday’s finals will also appear on ION. Additional Scripps channels, such as ION Plus, Bounce and Grit, will feature coverage.

Competition Rules:

The path to the spelling bee begins with regional competitions across the United States. Spellers must be younger than 15 and not beyond eighth grade. Qualifying involves two preliminary rounds, covering a spelling list and vocabulary questions.

Successful participants advance to the quarterfinals, based on a comprehensive test. Words are sourced from the Merriam-Webster Unabridged dictionary. Spellers endure oral rounds until finalists emerge, leading to potential “spell-off” tie-breakers.

Participants:

This year includes 247 spellers from U.S. states, territories, and international locations like Canada and Nigeria. Prominent contenders include Sarv Dharavane from Georgia, a past top finisher, and Shrey Parikh, who excels in multiple spelling competitions. Oliver Halkett and Esha Marupudi are among others vying for success.

Prizes:

The top speller earns $52,500, including reference works and a custom trophy. Second place wins $25,000, while third receives $15,000. Additional payouts reward the top six finalists, offering $2,000 to others.