Shrey Parikh faced the challenge of being a top contender at the Scripps National Spelling Bee, but his self-assurance shone through whenever he encountered familiar words. In a thrilling lightning-round tiebreaker against Ishaan Gupta, Shrey emerged victorious without a doubt.
The 14-year-old from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., excelled in the intense final, swiftly navigating the 90-second “spell-off” by correctly spelling 32 words to claim the title of the best young speller in English. Gupta, on the other hand, spelled 25 words accurately during the tiebreaker.
Having placed third in 2024 and overcoming a setback at his school bee due to illness last year, Parikh has been a dominant force in spelling competitions ever since. His success includes winning various challenging online contests against many of the same competitors he surpassed in the recent national competition.
Gupta, a seventh-grader from Jersey City, N.J., aged 12, reached the semifinals this year and has another shot at the championship next year. He outperformed experienced spellers in the finals, displaying his remarkable spelling skills.
Spellers earn a spot in the national bee by progressing through regional competitions sponsored across the U.S. They must navigate two preliminary rounds, facing questions on predetermined word lists. The competition includes a spelling round and a multiple-choice vocabulary section.
The competition intensifies as spellers tackle a written test based on the Merriam-Webster Unabridged dictionary, with around 100 top performers advancing to the quarterfinals. Through oral spelling and vocabulary rounds, contestants are gradually eliminated until only a handful reach the finals.
The 2026 bee featured 247 spellers from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, three U.S. territories, and five other countries. After rigorous rounds, only 95 quarterfinalists remained, including Sarv Dharavane, the top returning finisher from the previous year, who secured a spot in the finals after acing the written test.
In a display of sportsmanship, Parikh congratulated his opponent upon his victory. His coaching team, led by Sam Evans and Sohum Sukhatankar, provided invaluable support. Participants showcased exceptional skills from the onset, with some minor hiccups along the way, leading to a nail-biting competition.
Parikh’s triumph not only earned him the title but also a substantial cash prize, reference materials, a custom trophy, and flight credits.