Share and Follow
The Scripps National Spelling Bee began with a field of 247 participants, and after a rigorous nine rounds, only a select few have advanced.
WASHINGTON — The 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee kicked off on Tuesday with 247 spellers. By the end of Wednesday’s semifinal rounds, the competition had been whittled down to just nine contenders.
This year’s contestants hail from all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, three U.S. territories, and five other nations, including The Bahamas, Canada, Ghana, Nigeria, and the United Arab Emirates.
The finals are set to air on Thursday from 8 to 10 p.m. on ION. Viewers can also catch the event on various Scripps-owned platforms and services such as ION Plus, Bounce, Grit, Laff, The Spot, Bounce XL, Grit Xtra, Laff More, Scripps News, and Scripps Sports Network.
Among the finalists is Sarv Dharavane from Dunwoody, Georgia, who notably finished third in 2025 as an 11-year-old fifth-grader. Sarv returns this year as a top contender.
Shrey Parikh, a 14-year-old eighth-grader from Rancho Cucamonga, California, who finished third in 2024, also made it to the finals.
Who are the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee finalists?
- Aiden Meng, 13, a seventh-grader from Danville, California
- Oliver Halkett, 14, an eighth-grader from Los Angeles
- Shrey Parikh, 14, an eighth-grader from Rancho Cucamonga, California
- Zwe Spacetime, 14, an eighth-grader from Washington, D.C.
- Sarv Dharavane, 12, a sixth-grader from Dunwoody, Georgia
- Ishaan Gupta, 12, a seventh-grader from Jersey City, New Jersey
- Kushi Gottimukkala, 13, a seventh-grader from Charlotte, North Carolina
- Avishka Dudala, 13, an eighth-grader from Dallas
- Logan Bailey, 12, a sixth-grader from Houston
What are the prizes for the Scripps National Spelling Bee champion?
The winner receives a custom trophy and more than $50,000 in cash and prizes. Here are the prize payouts:
- First place: $52,500 in cash, reference works from Encyclopedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster, a custom trophy and commemorative medal, and $1,000 in flight credits from Delta Air Lines.
- Second place: $25,000.
- Third place: $15,000.
- Fourth place: $10,000.
- Fifth place: $5,000.
- Sixth place: $2,500.
- All other finalists: $2,000.