The 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee is bringing together 247 of the nation’s brightest young spellers for a high-pressure showdown packed with impossible words and intense competition. Only one contestant can walk away the champion, but every contestant will have to survive a gauntlet of notoriously difficult words to get there.
So, how does one watch this high-stakes competition?
Here is everything you need to know about the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee, including how to watch the competition, the structure of the Bee itself, and what to expect.
When does the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee premiere?
The 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee takes place from Tuesday, May 26, to Thursday, May 28, 2026. The televised semifinals and finals will air on the ION television network on Wednesday, May 27, and Thursday, May 28.
What is the competition schedule?
- Preliminaries: Tuesday, May 26 | 8:00 am – 3:00 pm ET
- Quarterfinals: Wednesday, May 27 | 8:00 am – 1:00 pm ET
- Semifinals (Broadcast): Wednesday, May 27 | 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm ET
- Finals (Broadcast): Thursday, May 28 | 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm ET
How do you watch the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee?
You can watch the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee on the Scripps Sports Network and the ION television network.
The two-night special event on ION, hosted at DAR Constitution Hall, begins with the semifinals on May 27, followed by the live finals on May 28. Both broadcasts begin at 8/7c.
ION is available free over the air, as well as on most cable, satellite, and streaming providers. ION is also carried on streaming platforms such as FuboTV, DirecTV Stream, and Freevee. Please check your local provider lineup.
Click here to find ION in your area.
You can also watch via the Scripps Sports Network, which will provide live coverage of every round, including the preliminaries, quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals. The Scripps Sports Network is available on leading streaming platforms nationwide.
Click here for more information on the Scripps Sports Network.
How is someone eligible for the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee?
Do you think you or your child might have what it takes? According to the rulebook, a speller qualifying for the 2026 SNSB National Competition must meet these requirements:
- Who they are:
- A speller must not have passed beyond the eighth grade or its equivalent on or before August 31, 2025.
- A speller must not have reached their 15th birthday on or before August 31, 2025.
- A speller must not have any relatives who are current employees of The E.W. Scripps Company or its affiliates, as of February 1, 2026.
- What they do:
- The speller must not previously have won an SNSB National Competition.
- The speller must attend a school that is enrolled with the SNSB.
- The speller must not have repeated any grade for the purpose of extending their eligibility.
- The speller must not have declared to any entity an academic classification higher than eighth grade.
- The speller must not have earned the legal equivalent of a high school diploma.
- The speller must not bypass or circumvent normal school activity to study for spelling bees.
- The speller must have been declared a champion of an SNSB-sanctioned regional spelling bee on or after February 1, 2026.
Click here to read the lengthy list of rules for yourself.
What does the winner of the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee get?
The winner of the Scripps National Spelling Bee will get a $50,000 cash prize, a commemorative medal, and the Scripps Cup, the official championship trophy of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. And from Merriam-Webster, they will also get a $2,500 cash prize and a reference library.
All finalists will receive a commemorative medal from the Scripps National Spelling Bee, while cash prizes will be awarded to the top finishers. Seventh place through finalists eliminated in the first round of finals will receive $2,000, sixth place earns $2,500, fifth place receives $5,000, fourth place takes home $10,000, third place wins $15,000, and the runner-up will receive $25,000.
For the full list of prizes, click here.
Who was the winner of the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee, and what was the winning word?
The winning word at the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee was “éclaircissement.” Faizan Zaki, a 13-year-old speller from Texas, won with this French noun, which means the “clearing up of something obscure.”
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