CINCINNATI – The 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee brings a field of 245 competitors – the largest since 2019 – to National Harbor, Maryland, from May 28-30, including six former finalists and three four-time national participants.
The national qualifiers advanced through local and regional bees that took place through early April. All rounds of this year’s national competition – preliminaries, quarterfinals, semifinals and finals – will take place at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center.
Highlights of the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee field:
Here is the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee Media Guide.
Find more information on the national competitors at spellingbee.com.
“Each year, I’m moved by the stories I read about our spellers in the leadup to the national rounds of the competition,” Scripps National Spelling Bee Executive Director Corrie Loeffler said. “They are athletes and artists, engineers and entrepreneurs, philanthropists and authors – they are multi-faceted young people. The thing they have in common is a shared love of language and the empowerment that comes from having the words to make connections and express their ideas. That is our mission at the Bee, and I can’t wait to see this year’s group of spellers bring it to life as they impress audiences across the world with their incredible prowess and authenticity.”
The Bee on Scripps Networks:
The Bee will again air on ION this year after a strong first two years on Scripps’ national network. In 2023, the semifinals and finals drew 9.2 million viewers, an increase of 22% over its 2022 debut on ION. The 2023 finals (live and immediate encore) on June 1 reached its largest audience since 2012 – 6.1 million viewers, an increase of 30% over 2022.
The 2024 broadcast/livestream of onstage competition follows this schedule (all times Eastern and end times approximate):
In addition to ION, the finals will also air on Scripps’ other popular national entertainment networks, Bounce, Grit, ION Mystery, Laff and Defy TV, as well as its free, ad-supported streaming channels ION Plus, Bounce XL, Grit Xtra and Laff More. A rebroadcast of the finals will be available on Scripps News on May 31 from 10 p.m. to midnight and again June 1 from midnight to 2 a.m. The Scripps Networks can be found free over-the-air as well as on cable, satellite and streaming platforms.
If you are watching the Bee over the air with an antenna, check out Tablo, which allows you to record over-the-air programs.
The 2024 Bee also will celebrate three special recognitions:
For media covering the Bee:
Media contact: Becca McCarter, 513-410-2425, [email protected]
About the Scripps National Spelling Bee:
The Scripps National Spelling Bee is the nation’s largest and longest-running educational program, having launched in 1925. By inspiring the exploration of words, the Scripps National Spelling Bee illuminates pathways to lifelong curiosity, celebrates academic achievement and enriches communities.
Visit spellingbee.com for more information about the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which is administered on a not-for-profit basis by The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP).
About Scripps
The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) is a diversified media company focused on creating a better-informed world. As one of the nation’s largest local TV broadcasters, Scripps serves communities with quality, objective local journalism and operates a portfolio of more than 60 stations in 40+ markets. Scripps reaches households across the U.S. with national news outlets Scripps News and Court TV and popular entertainment brands ION, Bounce, Defy TV, Grit, ION Mystery and Laff. Scripps is the nation’s largest holder of broadcast spectrum. Scripps is the longtime steward of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Founded in 1878, Scripps’ long-time motto is: “Give light and the people will find their own way.”