Competitors from 50 states reach National Spelling Bee 2026 in Washington
Students from all 50 states, D.C., three U.S. territories and five other countries are competing in national spelling bee 2026 in Washington. The century-old Scripps National Spelling Bee is being staged at DAR Constitution Hall, with the field spread across preliminary and quarterfinal rounds on May 26 and May 27, 2026.
DAR Constitution Hall
Louis Avetis, 13, of Orlando, Fla., jumped after spelling his word correctly during the quarterfinals on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. Josh Verma, 11, of Germantown, Tenn., also competed in the quarterfinals that day, reacting after spelling his word.
The competition’s field reaches beyond one state or region. Minna Danziger, 13, of Suttons Bay, Mich., and Keona-Dannette Osae-Twum, 13, of Waldwick, N.J., took part in the preliminary round on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, showing how quickly the event moves from early rounds into the later stages.
Washington Quarterfinals
Zwe Spacetime, 14, of Fort Washington, Md., competed during the quarterfinals on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. That puts a local Maryland competitor in the same round as spellers traveling from Florida and Tennessee, with the Washington event drawing students from across the country and abroad.
For readers following the bee, the practical detail is simple: the competition is already underway, and the opening rounds have moved from preliminary spelling to quarterfinals in Washington. The roster spans a wide geographic field, so every correct word advances a student in a competition that now includes competitors from all 50 states, D.C., three U.S. territories and five other countries.
Century-old Scripps Bee
The century-old bee remains centered on a single stage in Washington, where young spellers are being tested in front of the event’s judges and audience at DAR Constitution Hall. The photos from the competition capture the round-to-round progression, from preliminary appearances on May 26 to quarterfinal reactions on May 27.
That leaves the simplest takeaway for families and followers: the national spelling bee 2026 field is broad, the Washington rounds are active, and each correct word is now pushing spellers closer to the next stage.
