Shrey Parikh, a 14-year-old from Rancho Cucamonga, California, has been crowned the champion of the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee after a dramatic lightning-round tiebreaker against Ishaan Gupta. Parikh correctly spelled 32 words in the 90-second spell-off, while Gupta managed 25, securing the title and a custom trophy along with $52,500 in cash.
A Comeback from Defeat
Parikh, who finished third in 2024, had lost his school bee last year while battling a fever. He described the victory as a flood of emotions, saying, "Right now I'm probably the happiest I've ever been. I'm just so happy and relieved." His father, Gaurav Parikh, noted that the setback was a blessing in disguise, teaching his son how to deal with ups and downs.
Final Standings
Ishaan Gupta, a 12-year-old seventh-grader from Jersey City, New Jersey, was a semi-finalist last year and has another year of eligibility. Sarv Dharavane, a 12-year-old sixth-grader from Dunwoody, Georgia, finished third for the second consecutive year. For the first time in bee history, second- and third-place finishers from the same year have gone on to win, as Faizan Zaki, last year's champion, was runner-up two years ago.
The Tiebreaker and Winning Word
The spell-off moved so quickly that the winning word was not immediately apparent, but Scripps later announced it was "bromocriptine," a polypeptide alkaloid that mimics dopamine activity. Parikh's intense preparation included coaching from Sam Evans, who has tutored the past three champions, co-champion Sohum Sukhatankar, and longtime coach Vijaya Ganesh.
Strong Field of Finalists
This year's finalists were described as unusually strong, starting the competition 18 for 18. Aiden Meng of Orinda, California, ended that streak with "catometope," and Oliver Halkett and Zwe Spacetime were eliminated on tricky words "Faesulae" and "vaesite." The bee moved to Constitution Hall, which provided a more intimate atmosphere despite some logistical concerns.
New ESPN host Mina Kimes narrated the event alongside analyst Paul Loeffler. Unlike previous years, no confetti showered the champion, but Parikh's muted celebration underscored his deserving victory. Coach Evans remarked, "Shrey's relentless. I've really never seen someone put this much effort into spelling bees."
