The Scripps National Spelling Bee started with 247 spellers. After nine rounds, only a few remain.
WASHINGTON — The 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee started on Tuesday with 247 spellers. After the semifinals on Wednesday, only nine spellers remained.
The spellers in this year’s bee represent all 50 states, the District of Columbia, three U.S. territories and five other countries: The Bahamas, Canada, Ghana, Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates.
Finals will be broadcast on Thursday on ION from 8 to 10 p.m. The finals will also air or be streamed on these Scripps-owned channels
Our editorial team includes several staff writers, each contributing their specialized knowledge to enhance the depth and breadth of our event and story coverage.