E.W. Scripps Company president and CEO Adam Symson, right, holds the trophy over winner of the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee, Shrey Parikh, 14, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., at DAR Constitution Hall, Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)
Shrey Parikh won the Scripps National Spelling Bee Thursday night, beating Ishaan Gupta in a lightning-round tiebreaker. This year’s spellers came from all 50 states, D.C., three U.S. territories and five other countries.
Ishaan Gupta, 12, of Jersey City, N.J.,, left, and Shrey Parikh, 14, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., prepare for the finals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee at DAR Constitution Hall, Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)Surrounded by family and friends, Shrey Parikh, 14, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., holds his trophy after winning the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee at DAR Constitution Hall, Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)Shrey Parikh, 14, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., considers a question during the final round of the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, Thursday, May 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)Louis Avetis, 13, of Orlando, Fla., jumps after spelling his word correctly during the quarterfinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee at DAR Constitution Hall, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)Logan Bailey, 12, of Houston, Texas, reacts during the final round of the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, Thursday, May 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)Minna Danziger, 13, of Suttons Bay, Mich., spells her word as she competes during the preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee at DAR Constitution Hall, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)Josh Verma, 11, of Germantown, Tenn., reacts after spelling his word during the quarterfinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee at DAR Constitution Hall, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)Keona-Dannette Osae-Twum, 13, of Waldwick, N.J.,, spells her word as she competes during the preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee at DAR Constitution Hall, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)A competitor fiddles with their hands during the quarterfinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)Behind the scenes of the quarterfinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)Zwe Spacetime, 14, of Fort Washington, Md., competes during the quarterfinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)Parents react to the quarterfinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)Shruthi Ayyagari, 14, of Aurora, Ill., highfives another competitor during the quarterfinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)A competitor wears bee socks during the quarterfinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)Sarah Fernandes, 14, of Omaha, Neb., competes during the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)Sanil Thorat, 10, of Shreveport, La., talks with other competitors during the quarterfinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)Charlie Huang, 12, of Oak Park, Calif., competes during the quarterfinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)Anay Mahesh, 13, of Orlando, Fla., reacts after answering incorrectly during the quarterfinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)Sanil Thorat, 10, of Shreveport, La., reacts after answering correctly during the quarterfinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)Parents in the audience watch closely during the quarterfinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)
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