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Shrey Parikh Wins 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee
His crowning word was announced by the Scripps National Spelling Bee as "bromocriptine."
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Jeffin T. Kaleekal - Thu, 28, May 2026
- 00:03 EDT
- 362
2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee winner Shrey Parikh / Scripps National Spelling Bee
Continuing the legacy of dominant displays that Indian Americans put forth each year in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, California's Shrey Parikh has clinched the top spot in the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee on May 28.
Contesting in a field of eight contenders who had advanced to the finals of the 98th edition of the competition, it was two young kids with Indian roots who were the only ones left standing at the end: 14-year-old Parikh from California and 12-year-old Ishaan Gupta from New Jersey.
The contest was decided after a competition called a "spell-off," featuring contestants trying to spell as many words as they can in a 90-second window.
Parikh spelled 32 words correctly, while Gupta spelled 25, making Parikh the 111th champion. His crowning word was announced by the Scripps National Spelling Bee as "bromocriptine."
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Along with the coveted Scripps Cup and a Merriam-Webster reference library, Parikh will also take home the $52,500 in prize money that comes with the win.
Now a Bee veteran, Parikh tied for 89th place in 2022 and finished tied for third in 2024, according to Scripps News.
This year's Scripps National Spelling Bee featured 247 spellers ranging in age from 9 to 15 and was held at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., for the first time in 15 years.
The competition begins at the local and school levels, where students advance through classroom, school and regional bees. Top regional winners then qualify for the national finals in Washington, D.C., which feature multiple oral rounds, a vocabulary test and final spell-offs until a champion or co-champions are crowned.
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