Shrey Parikh Of Inland Empire, CA, Wins 2026 National Spelling Bee
WASHINGTON, DC – Teenager Shrey Parikh of California won the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee at DAR Constitution Hall here, correctly spelling 32 words in a spell-off to claim the championship and set a new competition record.
The 14-year-old eighth grader secured the title with the word “bromocriptine,” defined by organizers as “a polypeptide alkaloid that is a derivative of ergot and mimics the activity of dopamine.”
His total of 32 correctly spelled words established a new spell-off record. The bee concluded with tiebreaker against Ishaan Gupta, a 12-year-old seventh grader from New Jersey, who had a splendid run himself beating those with more experience than him.
Sarv Dharavane, a 12-year-old sixth grader from Dunwoody, Georgia, placed third for the second year in a row.
Parikh, a student at Day Creek Intermediate School in Rancho Cucamonga, entered this year’s contest with considerable experience on the national stage. According to his official Scripps National Spelling Bee biography, he first competed in the national Bee in 2022, when he tied for 89th place. He returned in 2024 and finished tied for third place before capturing the championship this year.
Outside spelling, Parikh enjoys tennis, reading, mathematics, chess, and playing percussion in his school band. He also recently qualified for the California state Mathcounts competition.
Founded in 1925, the Scripps National Spelling Bee brings together top young spellers from across the United States and beyond after they advance through local and regional competitions. (IANS)
