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  "path": "/entertainment/2026/05/27/scripps-spelling-bee-2026/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-27T23:03:32.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.deseret.com",
  "tags": [
    "after 15 years",
    "PBS",
    "the Washington Times",
    "Scripps",
    "Rep. Maloy honors the Utah soldiers behind Korean War ‘miracle’ on 75th anniversary",
    "The two things parents want most",
    "Checking autocorrect to spell ‘bougie’ or ‘ukulele’? You’re not alone"
  ],
  "textContent": "A field of 247 young spellers are taking the stage at DAR Constitution Hall this week for a revamped Scripps National Spelling Bee.\n\nThe three-day competition, which began Tuesday, looks a bit different this year. The bee has moved to Washington’s largest dedicated concert venue after 15 years at a Maryland convention center, and ESPN analyst Mina Kimes is hosting to give the event a “big-game feel,” she told PBS.\n\nKimes said she hopes to get viewers invested in the competition and “place an emphasis on that winning moment at the end.”\n\nShe compared the spelling bee to the Super Bowl, noting that whether someone is a speller or an NFL athlete, both require composure on the big stage and a high level of preparation.\n\nKimes emphasized the idea of “word solving.” While memorization plays a large part in the children’s preparation, she told PBS that spellers must go back and forth with the pronouncer, effectively “solving puzzles on stage.”\n\nThe ESPN analyst is anchoring the broadcast alongside longtime bee analyst Paul Loeffler. The duo was brought in by Scripps and new executive producer Michael Davies — the mastermind behind “Jeopardy!” — as part of an overhaul to reverse a ratings decline, according to the Washington Times.\n\nThe three-day competition began Tuesday and will crown its winner Thursday night.\n\n### Scripps Spelling Bee prizes\n\nThe first-place winner will take home the Scripps Cup — the official trophy of the National Spelling Bee — a commemorative medal and $50,000 in cash, according to Scripps.\n\nSecond place will be awarded $25,000 and third place receives $15,000.\n\nRep. Maloy honors the Utah soldiers behind Korean War ‘miracle’ on 75th anniversary\n\nThe two things parents want most\n\n### How it works\n\nThis year, the bee began with 247 spellers ages 9 to 15 participating. Some were hoping for redemption after dropping out early last year, while others are on the big stage for the first time.\n\nBig names returning include Sarv Dharavane from Georgia, who placed third in last year’s competition, Esha Maraud and Oliver Halkett, according to Scripps.\n\nThe field includes competitors from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Department of Defense schools in Europe. Five international countries are also represented: the Bahamas, Canada, Ghana, Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates.\n\nTo be eligible to participate, students cannot have passed the eighth grade and cannot be older than 15, according to Scripps.\n\nThe journey to the national stage is rigorous. Classroom spelling bees are held from September to December, with winners advancing to regional qualifiers held from February to March. National competitors are selected based on those regional results.\n\nSpellers advance through four segments: the preliminaries, quarterfinals and semifinals, all leading to the finals.\n\nChecking autocorrect to spell ‘bougie’ or ‘ukulele’? You’re not alone\n\n### Are there any Utahns participating?\n\nFour Utah residents competed in the 2026 National Spelling Bee, with three advancing to the quarterfinals: Ashley Bryner of Price, and Roshan Kaushik and Ray Mishra, both of Salt Lake City. However, after the quarterfinal rounds early Wednesday, no Utahns advanced to the semifinals.\n\n### 2025’s winner and the winning word\n\nLast year’s winner was Faizan Zaki, who took home the coveted prize after spelling the word éclaircissement correctly.\n\n### How to watch\n\nThe semifinals and finals will be broadcast live. Here is how to watch (all times MDT):\n\n**Wednesday, May 27** : Semifinals will air from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on ION.\n\n**Thursday, May 28** : Finals will air from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on ION or Scripps Sport Network.",
  "title": "Why ESPN’s Mina Kimes says the National Spelling Bee is like the Super Bowl"
}