One of the United States’ most iconic long-running academic competitions for young people is officially underway, as the nation’s top child spellers convene this week to test their mastery of English orthography and compete for a coveted title and $52,000 in cash rewards.
The 2026 iteration of the Scripps National Spelling Bee kicked off its final rounds on Tuesday, bringing together 247 qualifying contestants ranging in age from 9 to 15 from across the country. Steeped in 101 years of tradition, the annual contest is scheduled to wrap up Thursday evening, when just nine finalists will advance to the final onstage showdown. These remaining young competitors will face off in front of a live audience of family members, teachers, and peers, as well as a national television viewership, working through the letter-by-letter spelling of some of the most complex, obscure, and challenging words in the English language.
The champion of the competition will walk away with two top honors: the official Scripps Cup and the $52,000 cash prize, equivalent to roughly £39,000. For readers curious about how their own spelling skills measure up to the nation’s top young competitors, an interactive practice quiz is also being offered, which invites participants to test their abilities by spelling words after listening to audio prompts. For those who have worked years to qualify for the national stage, all eyes are now on the final round to see which speller will claim this year’s title.