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One of the oldest and most beloved traditions in the U.S. is taking place this week, with the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee competition.
The annual event, which has been held since 1925, brings together 247 of the best young spellers in the country for three days of intense, high-pressure face-offs in front of judges and a live audience. The winning contestant takes home a $50,000 cash prize, a commemorative medal, and gets to hoist the Scripps Cup, the official championship trophy of the National Spelling Bee tournament.
Want to watch the Scripps Spelling Bee? This year’s event takes place from Tuesday, May 26, to Thursday, May 28 at the DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, DC. The competition begins with the preliminary rounds and the quarterfinals, followed by the semifinals and finals, which will air on the ION television network.
Viewers can watch the Scripps National Spelling Bee on TV with any cable package that includes ION. You can also stream the 2026 Spelling Bee online without cable through a live TV streamer like DirecTV, which includes ION Television as part of its “MyEntertainment Genre Pack” offering.
