Scripps National Spelling Bee welcomes 247 spellers as it returns to Washington, D.C.
Rhea-AI Summary
Scripps (NASDAQ:SSP) announced the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee will return to Washington, D.C. for the first time in 15 years. The event runs May 26-28 at DAR Constitution Hall with 247 spellers ages 9-15 from all 50 states, D.C. and international regions.
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Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
Sector scanner flags a broader move: 2 peers up and 2 down, including MDIA at +6.75% and UONE at -4.95%. This aligns SSP’s -2.25% move with mixed but active broadcasting-sector dynamics rather than a purely company-specific reaction.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 07 | Q1 2026 earnings | Negative | -3.1% | Quarterly results showed revenue decline and shareholder loss, prompting a modest selloff. |
| May 05 | Spelling Bee host | Positive | +1.2% | Announcement of Mina Kimes as Bee host supported the media franchise’s visibility. |
| Apr 16 | Sports partnership | Positive | -0.6% | Premier Women’s Rodeo rights deal expanded sports content but shares eased slightly. |
| Apr 14 | Earnings date notice | Neutral | +1.9% | Scheduling announcement for Q1 release coincided with a small positive price move. |
| Apr 07 | NHL rights deal | Positive | -1.6% | Multi-year Nashville Predators rights agreement was followed by a modest decline. |
Recent news has produced modest, mixed reactions, with both positive and strategic announcements sometimes followed by small declines.
Over the last two months, SSP has reported Q1 2026 results showing a loss to shareholders alongside a transformation plan targeting $125–$150 million in EBITDA improvement by 2028. It announced sports-rights deals (Nashville Predators, Premier Women’s Rodeo) and media-focused updates like Mina Kimes hosting the 2026 Bee. Today’s Bee venue and field announcement extends this content and brand-building narrative around Scripps’ event properties and networks.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement highlights the Scripps National Spelling Bee returning to Washington, D.C., featuring 247 competitors, expanded international participation, and multi-night coverage on ION and Scripps’ FAST channels. It complements recent sports and content deals that broaden the company’s programming slate. Investors may focus on how marquee events like the Bee support network reach and advertising alongside transformation and leverage objectives outlined in recent earnings and regulatory filings.
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
The 2026 competition will be held in the historic Constitution Hall
CINCINNATI, May 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Scripps National Spelling Bee will return to Washington, D.C. for the first time in 15 years, with 247 spellers earning their place in the 2026 competition, set for May 26-28 at historic Constitution Hall.
This year’s national competition includes six returning top finishers and 72 other veterans of past Scripps National Spelling Bees. More than two thirds of the field – 169 spellers – are making their first appearance on the storied national stage. The national qualifiers advanced through local and regional bees that took place through late March.
“For generations, the Scripps National Spelling Bee was part of the fabric of downtown Washington, D.C., and we are proud to be bringing it back,” said Corrie Loeffler, executive director of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. “Our 247 spellers – from first-time competitors to returning finalists – will be surrounded by monuments, museums and places of learning that embody the spirit of the competition. It’s a fitting stage for such a talented and dedicated group of students.”
Highlights of the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee field:
- The spellers range in age from 9 to 15.
- Three of the nine 2025 finalists are returning to the 2026 national competition: Sarv Dharavane (speller 56) from Dunwoody, Georgia who placed third; Esha Marupudi (speller 5) from Chandler, Arizona who tied for seventh place; and Oliver Halkett (speller 20) from Los Angeles who also tied for seventh place. There are two 2024 finalists in the field: YY Liang (speller 146) from Hartsdale, New York, who tied for seventh place; and Shrey Parikh (speller 29) from Rancho Cucamonga, California, who placed third. There is one returning 2023 finalist: Sarah Fernandes (speller 132) from Omaha, Nebraska, who placed tenth.
- Three spellers are in their fourth consecutive Scripps National Spelling Bee: Siyona Kandala (speller 222) from San Antonio; Sariah Titus (speller 202) from Abilene, Texas; and Adarsh Venkannagari (speller 102) from Acton, Massachusetts.
- There are spellers from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
- 13 national competitors are from outside the 50 United States. Spellers are coming from The Bahamas, Canada, Ghana, Guam, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, the United Arab Emirates and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- 24 spellers have relatives who have participated in a combined 45 Scripps National Spelling Bees.
Find more information on the 2026 national competitors at spellingbee.com.
A new stage for the Bee
All onstage rounds of this year’s national competition – preliminaries, quarterfinals, semifinals and finals – will take place at DAR Constitution Hall, an iconic building near the National Mall that is minutes from the White House. It is just the 10th competition venue in the 101-year history of the Bee. The move comes after more than a decade at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, approximately 11 miles outside of D.C.
New host
Nationally acclaimed ESPN analyst Mina Kimes will host the semifinals and finals alongside Paul Loeffler, a former national competitor who is marking his 20th year as a Bee analyst. The broadcasts will feature a refreshed production vision from Embassy Row, the award-winning company led by 10-time Emmy-winning producer Michael Davies.
Two-night ION special event:
- The semifinals broadcast will air from 8-10 p.m. ET on ION on Wednesday, May 27. (The live semifinals will be streamed on Scripps Sports Network and spellingbee.com from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. earlier that day.)
- The finals broadcast will air live in primetime on ION from 8-10 p.m. ET on Thursday, May 28.
In addition to ION, the finals will air on Scripps’ other popular national entertainment networks and Free Ad-Supported Streaming (FAST) channels: ION Plus, Bounce, Grit, Laff, The Spot, ION, ION Plus, Bounce XL, Grit Xtra, Laff More, Scripps News and Scripps Sports Network. The semifinals will also air on ION, ION Plus, Laff, ION, ION Plus, Bounce XL, Grit Xtra, Laff More, Scripps News and Scripps Sports Network.
For media covering the Bee:
- Media can submit a request for credentials to cover the national competition in person at Constitution Hall here.
- Media interested in following the action remotely should contact media@spellingbee.com to receive updates during the competition.
Learn more: https://www.spellingbee.com/.
Media contact: Molly Miossi, The E.W. Scripps Company, 513-977-3713, molly.miossi@scripps.com
About the Scripps National Spelling Bee:
The Scripps National Spelling Bee is the nation’s largest and longest-running educational program, having launched in 1925. By inspiring the exploration of words, the Scripps National Spelling Bee illuminates pathways to lifelong curiosity, celebrates academic achievement and enriches communities. Visit spellingbee.com for more information about the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which is administered on a not-for-profit basis by The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP).
About Scripps
The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) is a diversified media company focused on creating connection. As one of the nation’s largest local TV broadcasters, Scripps serves communities with quality, objective local journalism and operates a portfolio of about 60 stations in 40 markets. Scripps reaches households across the U.S. with national news outlet Scripps News and popular entertainment brands ION, Bounce, Grit, ION Mystery, ION Plus and Laff. Scripps is the nation’s largest holder of broadcast spectrum. Its Scripps Sports division serves professional and college sports leagues, conferences and teams with local market depth and national broadcast reach of up to
