newsfilter
← Latest News
GlobeNewswire·

Emmy Award-winning ESPN analyst Mina Kimes to host the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee

  • ESPN senior writer & Emmy Award-winning analyst Mina Kimes will host the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee televised semifinals & finals.
  • The semifinals broadcast airs 8-10 p.m. ET on ION on Wednesday, May 27, with a live stream on spellingbee.com from 2:30-6:30 p.m.
  • The finals broadcast airs live 8-10 p.m. ET on ION on Thursday, May 28.
  • Embassy Row, led by 10-time Emmy winner Michael Davies, has taken over production to refresh the broadcast vision for the competition's next century.
  • Kimes is a three-time school spelling bee champion & brings her background as an NFL analyst & business journalist to the event.
  • Davies previously produced iconic quiz shows such as "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?", "Jeopardy!", & "Watch What Happens Live".
  • The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) serves as the steward of the competition & owns the ION network, which reaches 128 million households.
  • The Scripps National Spelling Bee began in 1925 as the nation's longest-running educational competition to promote literacy & learning.