3 MA Students To Compete In 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee

MASSACHUSETTS — Three Massachusetts students are set to take the national stage this week at the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.

The 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee runs May 26 through May 28 at DAR Constitution Hall and features 247 spellers from across the country and around the world, according to Scripps.

Adarsh Venkannagari, 12, a seventh grader at Raymond J. Grey Junior High School in Lynn, is sponsored by The REAL Program.

Venkannagari previously competed in 2023, when he tied for 57th place, in 2024, when he tied for 60th place, and in 2025, when he tied for 10th place. Outside of spelling, he enjoys math, chess, pickleball, chemistry, karate, board games and reading. His favorite word is “cwm.”

Aiden Galligan, 13, an eighth grader at West Tisbury Elementary School, is sponsored by The Martha’s Vineyard Times in Vineyard Haven.

Galligan is a hockey player who also enjoys reading, gardening, music, and studying birds. His favorite historical figure is Theodore Roosevelt and his favorite word is “forehead.”

Sanjay Malhotra, 12, a sixth grader at John Eliot K-8 Innovation School in Boston, is sponsored by Boston Centers for Youth & Families.

Malhotra enjoys solving math problems, building LEGO, playing with Pokémon cards, and playing pickleball with his older sister. He also takes part in debates and his school’s annual science fair. His favorite word is “pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis.The three-day competition includes preliminary and quarterfinal rounds before the field is narrowed for the semifinals and finals.

This year, 247 spellers have earned their spots as national competitors. Students represent all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Department of Defense Schools in Europe. Spellers will also represent five countries outside the U.S.: the Bahamas, Canada, Ghana, Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates.

More information about this year’s field and schedule is available through Scripps’ competition page. You can also find out how to watch the Bee here.

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