The Scripps National Spelling Bee has returned to Washington, D.C. for the first time in 15 years, with the finals of the prestigious competition scheduled for tonight at historic DAR Constitution Hall.

A total of 247 spellers earned spots in this year’s national bee, which began Tuesday and concludes Thursday evening. Contestants, ranging in age from 9 to 15, advanced through local and regional competitions held across the country earlier this year.

The return to the nation’s capital marks a significant moment for the century-old event. All onstage rounds — including preliminaries, quarterfinals, semifinals and finals — are being held at Constitution Hall, located near the National Mall and the White House. The move ends more than a decade at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.

“Our 247 spellers — from first-time competitors to returning finalists — will be surrounded by monuments, museums and places of learning that embody the spirit of the competition,” said executive director Corrie Loeffler.

The field includes contestants from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, along with 13 international competitors representing places including Canada, Ghana, Nigeria, Puerto Rico and the United Arab Emirates.

Several top finishers from previous years have returned, including 2025 third-place finisher Sarv Dharavane of Georgia and finalists Esha Marupudi of Arizona and Oliver Halkett of California. Three students are appearing in their fourth consecutive national bee.

This year also brings a new broadcast team and production format. ESPN analyst Mina Kimes is hosting the semifinals and finals alongside longtime Bee analyst Paul Loeffler, himself a former national competitor.

The finals will air live tonight from 8 to 10 p.m. ET on ION and several affiliated streaming and broadcast platforms.

More information on competitors and coverage is available at [spellingbee.com](https://www.spellingbee.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com).

Source: scripps.com