The result
Scripps names Shrey Parikh, 14, of San Bernardino, California, as the 2026 National Spelling Bee champion. The organizer says he correctly spelled 32 words in the deciding spell-off, a record for that format. Its official page identifies the winning word as bromocriptine.
What changed about the venue
The 2026 competition took place at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., with 247 spellers. The published schedule placed preliminaries on May 26 and finals on May 28. The JW Marriott served as the host hotel for other Bee Week activities, so the hotel and competition venue should not be confused.
For future participants
Use the organizer’s current school, regional and national information when preparing for another season. A prior year’s venue or format is useful context, but does not establish future eligibility, deadlines or arrangements. The official recap and spell-off recording provide a direct way to review the result without relying on an outdated event preview.
