In addition to a cash prize, the winner will also receive a trophy, a medal and several other prizes.
WASHINGTON — The winner of the Scripps National Spelling Bee walks away with far more than just a trophy and some bragging rights.
The academic competition that started Tuesday, May 26 and runs through Thursday, May 29, brings together top spellers from across the United States and several other countries. This year’s bee features 247 competitors representing all 50 states, Washington, D.C., U.S. territories and several countries abroad. The finals are being held at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., after the competition returned to the nation’s capital for 2026.
This year, the bee will award more than $50,000 in cash and prizes to its champion, along with other educational awards and sponsorship perks.
According to the official prize structure published by the bee, the champion receives:
- A $50,000 cash prize from the Scripps National Spelling Bee
- The Scripps Cup championship trophy
- A commemorative medal
- A $2,500 cash prize and reference library from Merriam-Webster
- Reference materials and a three-year online membership from Encyclopædia Britannica
- $1,000 in flight credits from Delta Air Lines
The finalists behind the champion also receive significant payouts. Second place earns $25,000, third place receives $15,000, fourth place wins $10,000, fifth place takes home $5,000 and sixth place receives $2,500. Spellers who miss in the first round of the finals receive $2,000 each.
Schools connected to the champion are rewarded as well. The winner’s school receives commemorative plaques, a five-year subscription to News-O-Matic and $1,000 in Scholastic Dollars for educational materials.
Over the decades, the bee’s rewards have evolved dramatically. Earlier champions received smaller cash prizes, savings bonds and educational trips. A past Scripps report noted that co-champions in 2016 each received $40,000 and additional prizes.