The 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee marks the 101st running of the event and aims to determine the best speller in the country. While the winner will earn bragging rights for the rest of his or her life, a championship also comes with a pretty nice payout.
This year, 247 total contestants will participate in the Spelling Bee, and while each speller is guaranteed a few prizes, only a select few will earn the highest payouts available. In order to receive those payouts, spellers must first make the quarterifinals before working their way up to the finals.
The Spelling Bee will take place throughout the week like from DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., as a champion will be crowned on Friday.
Here’s a look at the entire payout structure for this year’s Scripps National Spelling Bee.
MORE: Every Spelling Bee winner, by year
How much money does the 2026 Spelling Bee champion win?
The Spelling Bee champion will earn $50,000, which has been the same prize for a few years. Besides the money, the champion will also get a commemorative medal given to all finalists and a Scripps Spelling Bee trophy.
In addition to the Scripps prizes, the champion also earns winnings from other organizations. Merriam-Webster will give the winner $2,500 and a reference library, Encyclopedia Britannica will offer $400 in reference works, a 1768 Encyclopedia Britannica set and a three-year membership to Britannica Online. Finally, Delta will give the winner $1,000 in flight credits.
Spelling Bee prizes and payouts 2026
Spelling Bee contestants earn a payout for making it far in the event, starting with quarterfinalists and working all the way up to the champion. Here’s a look at the entire payout for the event.
| Place | Prize |
| 1st Place | $50,000, a commemorative medal and a trophy |
| 2nd Place | $25,000 and a commemorative medal |
| 3rd Place | $15,000 and a commemorative medal |
| 4th Place | $10,000 and a commemorative medal |
| 5th Place | $5,000 and a commemorative medal |
| 6th Place | $2,500 and a commemorative medal |
| Other finalists | $2,000 and a commemorative medal |
| Semifinalists | $500 gift card and a commemorative medal |
| Quarterfinalists | $100 gift card and a commemorative medal |
What does every Spelling Bee contestant get?
Each one of the 247 contestant at the Spelling Bee automatically receives a variety of prizes from a few different organizations. Here’s a look at the prizes that every participant has already earned:
- From the Spelling Bee: prize package including Bee souvenirs and an official certificate of participation
- From Merriam-Webster: one-year subscription to Merriam-Webster Unabridged Online
- From Encyclopedia Britannica: one-year subscription to Britannica Online Premium
- From News-O-Matic: one-year subscription to News-O-Matic for the speller’s school
- From Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex: Two one-day admissions ticket