Who is Shrey Parikh?

Shrey Parikh is a 14-year-old student who won the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee. This competition is one of the oldest school competitions in the US. It's open to students in 8th grade or lower who are not older than 15.

History of the Competition

The Scripps National Spelling Bee has been going on for 98 years. It starts at the local level, where students compete in school competitions. The winners then move on to regional competitions and eventually to the national competition. This year, 247 students from all 50 states, Washington, DC, US territories, and partner regions like Canada, the Bahamas, and Ghana participated in the national competition held in Washington, DC from May 26-28, 2026.

Shrey's Journey

Shrey came in third place in 2024 but lost in the local school competition the following year and couldn't make it to the finals. 2026 was Shrey's last chance to compete, as he was in 8th grade. Shrey worked hard to make the most of this opportunity. In the end, only Shrey and 12-year-old Ishaan Gupta were left in the final round. Both competitors refused to give up, and the competition turned into a rare 'spell-off'.

Spell-Off

This fast-paced tiebreaker is used when only two competitors are left and it's not possible to eliminate one of them in the regular rounds. Each finalist tries to spell as many words as possible in 90 seconds. However, one competitor is taken off stage so they can't hear the other's turn. This fast round was used for only the second time in the competition's history.

Result

Ishaan came in second place, correctly spelling 25 words and winning a silver medal and $25,000 in cash. But this was Shrey's night. In the timed competition, Shrey set a new record by correctly spelling 32 out of 35 words. The previous spell-off record was set in 2024 by Bruhat Soma, who correctly spelled 29 out of 30 words.

Prize

Shrey won the prestigious title, a championship trophy, a gold medal, a trip to Universal Orlando Resort, and $52,500 in cash.

Shrey's Words

'I'm just happy I didn't give up,' said Shrey. 'It all paid off in the end.'

Did You Know?

The Scripps National Spelling Bee has been a tradition for 98 years. The competition helps students improve their vocabulary and grammar skills.

Summary

Shrey Parikh won the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee by correctly spelling the word 'bromocriptine'. This victory is the result of Shrey's years of hard work and determination. Shrey's story can inspire students to improve their vocabulary and grammar skills.