Indian-American Teen Wins 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee

An Indian-American teenager has won the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee, taking home the championship trophy and a cash prize of $50,000. The final round, held in National Harbor, Maryland, featured 11 spellers after two days of competition.

The winner, a 14-year-old from Texas, correctly spelled the word 'cacography' to secure the title. The runner-up, a 13-year-old from California, misspelled 'phthisis' in the 18th round.

This marks the 14th consecutive year that an Indian-American has won the Scripps National Spelling Bee, continuing a dominant streak since 2013. The bee saw 245 spellers from across the country compete, with the final round broadcast live on ESPN.