Indian Americans Dominate 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee as Shrey Parikh Captures Championship Title
- Among the nine finalists at the 98th Scripps National Bee, five spellers were from Indian immigrant families.
Shrey Parikh, a 14-year-old eighth-grader from Rancho Cucamonga, California, won the 98th Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., continuing a three-decade reign of dominance by Indian American spellers in the prestigious national competition.
Parikh clinched victory in a rapid-fire spell-off against 12-year-old Ishaan Gupta of Jersey City, New Jersey, correctly spelling 32 words in 90 seconds compared to Gupta’s 25 words.
“Shrey will take home a cash prize of $52,500, along with the reference works from Encyclopaedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster, a custom trophy and commemorative medal, and $1,000 in flight credits from Delta Air Lines,” according to CBS News.
The 2026 bee underscores the extraordinary dominance of Indian American students in national spelling competitions. According to NBC Washington, “Thirty of the past 36 champions have been of Indian heritage, including last year’s winner, Faizan Zaki.”
Among the nine finalists at the 98th Scripps National Bee, five spellers were from Indian immigrant families.
The 2026 competition drew 247 spellers representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, three U.S. territories, and five other countries: The Bahamas, Canada, Ghana, Nigeria, and the United Arab Emirates, according to NBC Washington.
Among the prominent Indian American finalists were:
Sarv Dharavane, 12, Dunwoody, Georgia: The top returning finisher from 2025, Dharavane finished third last year as an 11-year-old fifth-grader. According to NBC Washington, “Sarv Dharavane of Dunwoody, Georgia, who finished third last year as an 11-year-old fifth-grader” entered the competition “more determined and better prepared for the 2026 Scripps Spelling Bee trophy than the last year.”
Kushi Gottimukkala, 7th Grade, Raleigh, North Carolina: He is a 7th grader at Carnage Magnet Middle School in Raleigh who made it to the finals by correctly spelling ‘Chelicerata’. Apart from being a speller, Kushi takes part in Math and Science Olympiad.”
Ishaan Gupta, 12, Jersey City, New Jersey: The runner-up who faced Parikh in the final spell-off. Gupta’s strong performance placed him as the second-best speller in the 2026 competition.
Shrey Parikh’s Path to Victory
Parikh’s victory continues a remarkable trajectory in competitive spelling. According to NBC Dallas-Fort Worth, “Shrey Parikh, who finished third in 2024,” had “dominated the bee circuit in the past year, winning the South Asian Spelling Bee, the SpellPundit National Spelling Bee and the Words of Wisdom Spelling Bee.”
Prior to his 2026 victory, Parikh “tied for 89th place in the 2022 Scripps Spelling Bee and tied for 3rd place in 2024,” according to NBC26. Beyond spelling, Parikh’s interests are diverse. According to NBC Washington, “14-year-old Parikh attended the bee from Day Creek Intermediate School in Rancho Cucamonga, California. Parikh’s hobbies outside of spelling include tennis, reading, math and chess. He is a percussionist in his school band.” The report added that “He also qualified for the California state Mathcounts competition in 2026.”
This year’s competition introduced changes in both venue and presentation. According to NBC Washington, “After a long run at a convention center in suburban Maryland, the bee returns to the nation’s capital this year at Constitution Hall, a few blocks from the White House.”
The broadcast also saw a notable change in hosting. ESPN NFL analyst and recent ‘Celebrity Jeopardy!’ champion Mina Kimes has joined the bee as its television host.
The spell-off format, which has become increasingly important in recent years, proved decisive once again. According to CBS News, “Although this was the 98th bee, Shrey is the 111th champion because the bee ended in a two-way tie several times, and an eight-way tie in 2019.”
The competition was broadcast and streamed extensively.
The prize structure reflected the competition’s prestige. According to NBC: “First place: $52,500 in cash, reference works from Encyclopedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster, a custom trophy and commemorative medal, and $1,000 in flight credits from Delta Air Lines. Second place: $25,000. Third place: $15,000. Fourth place: $10,000. Fifth place: $5,000. Sixth place: $2,500. All other finalists: $2,000.”
The 2025 Champion
Last year’s champion, Faizan Zaki, holds the distinction of being the first Muslim to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee. According to Wikipedia, Zaki “is an Indian-American spelling bee contestant known for winning the 97th Scripps National Spelling Bee that marks the 100th anniversary of the Scripps National Spelling Bee.”
The prominence of Indian American spellers reflects a broader cultural and pedagogical approach within many Indian American families that emphasizes linguistic precision, rigorous preparation, and competitive excellence. The demographic success is particularly notable when compared to the Indian American population’s representation in the broader U.S. population.
For spellers like Parikh, Dharavane, Gottimukkala, and Gupta, the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee represented the culmination of years of preparation, linguistic study, and intellectual discipline. Their performances underscore not only individual achievement but also the continuing dominance of Indian Americans in one of the nation’s most prestigious and demanding academic competitions.