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Indian-origin teen Shrey Parikh, 14, wins 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington after record spell-off, beating Ishaan Gupta with 32 words in 90 seconds.
E.W. Scripps Company president and CEO Adam Symson, right, holds the trophy over winner of the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee, Shrey Parikh, 14, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., at DAR Constitution Hall, Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)
Indian-origin teenager Shrey Parikh, a 14-year-old from Rancho Cucamonga, California, has won the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee after a dramatic lightning-round spell-off in which he correctly spelled 32 difficult words in just 90 seconds, setting a new competition record.
The prestigious competition, held at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, DC, came down to a tense final showdown between Parikh and fellow Indian-origin contestant Ishaan Gupta, a 12-year-old from New Jersey.
After both competitors survived 18 rounds without making a mistake, organisers activated the Bee’s rapid-fire tiebreaker format known as the “spell-off.”
During the 90-second challenge, Parikh raced through a series of highly complex and obscure words, correctly spelling 32 out of 35 words. Gupta managed 25 correct spellings, handing Parikh the national title.
The performance also broke the previous spell-off record in the competition.
What Was The Winning Word?
The official championship-winning word was “bromocriptine.”
According to the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary, bromocriptine is a dopamine-mimicking polypeptide alkaloid derived from ergot and is commonly used in medicine.
The word proved to be the final hurdle before Parikh was crowned champion.
Other Difficult Words He Nailed
Throughout the competition, Parikh successfully navigated a series of exceptionally difficult words, including:
- Philepitta
- Go to sleep
- Cywydau
- Taurocataphsis
His consistency across multiple rounds made him one of the standout performers of the tournament.
A Journey Years In The Making
The victory marked the culmination of several years of preparation and perseverance.
Parikh finished 89th in the competition in 2022 and improved dramatically to finish third in 2024 before finally capturing the title this year.
In the lead-up to the national championship, he had already established himself as one of the strongest young spellers in the country through multiple regional and national-level successes.
Speaking after his victory, Parikh said he entered the competition aware of the expectations surrounding him but gained confidence as he progressed through familiar words and challenging rounds.
Continuing Indian-Origin Dominance
Parikh’s triumph also extended the extraordinary success of Indian-origin contestants at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Contestants of Indian heritage have now won 31 of the last 37 editions of the competition, one of the most remarkable winning streaks in American academic contests.
The Prize
For his record-breaking performance, Parikh received the iconic Scripps Cup trophy along with more than $50,000 in cash and prizes.
His victory will be remembered not only for the winning word but also for a spell-off performance that rewrote the record books.
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