Shrey Parikh, a 14-year-old from San Bernardino, California, won the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee, marking a significant achievement in a competition rich with Indian heritage.
Shrey Parikh, a 14-year-old speller from San Bernardino, California, has emerged victorious at the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee, becoming the 31st champion of Indian heritage in the past 37 years. His win came after a thrilling third Spell-off in the history of the Bee, a format introduced in 2022.
In a remarkable display of skill, Shrey correctly spelled 32 words in just 90 seconds during the final round. His winning word, “bromocriptine,” is defined as “a polypeptide alkaloid that is a derivative of ergot and mimics the activity of dopamine.” This victory not only earned him the prestigious trophy, crafted by Rookwood Pottery in Cincinnati, Ohio, but also a cash prize of $52,500 along with a package of other rewards.
Reflecting on his achievement, Shrey expressed a mix of joy and relief. “Right now I’m probably the happiest I’ve ever been. I’m just so happy and relieved, and just such a flood of emotions,” he said. “At my school bee last year, I was really dejected and just very upset. It didn’t even sink in until the next day. I had a really tough time, but I’m glad I was able to bounce back.”
His father, Guarav Parikh, praised his son’s competitive spirit, stating, “When it comes to competition, he goes all the way.” Shrey previously competed in the National Bee in 2024, where he tied for third place, and in 2022, where he placed 89th.
Shrey’s favorite word is “muntjac,” which refers to a genus of small deer found in southeastern Asia. In addition to his spelling prowess, he is also a talented musician, playing various instruments including the snare drum, bass drum, timpani, toms, break drum, triangle, glockenspiel, and marimba.
To prepare for the spelling bee, Shrey dedicated five hours each day to practice. He credited his “amazing community” for his success, saying, “They really motivated me and pushed me to become better, and I’m really just thankful for that,” while acknowledging the support of his family and coaches.
This year, Shrey also qualified for the California state Mathcounts, a mathematics competition designed for middle school students. The Scripps National Spelling Bee took place at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., on May 28, marking the first time the event was held in the nation’s capital in 15 years.
Nine finalists competed for the title, including Oliver Halkett from Los Angeles, Zwe Spacetime from Washington, D.C., Kushi Gottimukkala from Charlotte, North Carolina, Avishka Dudala from Dallas, Aiden Meng from Danville, California, Sarv Dharavane from Tucker, Georgia, and Logan Bailey from Houston. Notably, eight of the nine finalists had participated in previous Scripps National Spelling Bees, with three having advanced to the finals in earlier competitions.
The competition began with Aiden Meng, who opened with the word “essoinee” but was eliminated in the third round after stumbling on “catometope.” The eliminations continued with Oliver, Zwe, Avishka, Logan, and Kushi, leading to a final showdown between Shrey and Ishaan, a 12-year-old seventh-grader from Jersey City, New Jersey.
Shrey Parikh’s victory not only highlights his individual talent but also continues the legacy of excellence among Indian American spellers in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, a tradition that began with Nupur Lala’s win in 1999.
According to Scripps, Shrey’s achievement adds to the rich history of the competition, showcasing the dedication and hard work of young spellers across the nation.