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11h ago

Nine Finalists Named for 101st Scripps National Spelling Bee

The finalists’ contrasting preparation—from multi-coach, paid and AI-assisted programs to solitary dictionary study—frames who may have the edge in Thursday’s live final.

Parents in the audience watch closely during the quarterfinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)
Sanil Thorat, 10, of Shreveport, La., reacts after answering correctly during the quarterfinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)
Anay Mahesh, 13, of Orlando, Fla., reacts after answering incorrectly during the quarterfinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)
Shrey Parikh, 14, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., competes during the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

Overview

  • The Bee announced nine finalists who will compete in the live final: Oliver Halkett, Zwe Spacetime, Kushi Gottimukkala, Avishka Dudala, Aiden Meng, Shrey Parikh, Sarv Dharavane, Ishaan Gupta and Logan Bailey.
  • The field began with 247 entrants at DAR Constitution Hall and was whittled to 54 semifinalists before Wednesday’s rounds reduced the group to the nine finalists after two spelling rounds plus a vocabulary round.
  • Finalists show sharply different study styles: some rely on multi-coach regimens, paid lists and online competitions while at least one top contender, Sarv Dharavane, trains alone using only Merriam‑Webster’s Unabridged dictionary.
  • This year’s coverage highlights growing commercial prep tools, including Onyma, an AI-assisted study platform launched this month by prominent coaches, and long-standing services like SpellPundit that many top spellers use.
  • The final will air on ION at 8 p.m. Thursday and reporting differs on the winner’s cash prize, with outlets listing either $50,000 or $52,500 alongside The Scripps Cup and other awards.