The 2026 Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee has reached its State and Territory Finals after a record 98,783 students registered nationwide. The State and Territory Finals begin at 9am AEST on Monday, August 31, and run until 5pm AEST on Friday, September 4, with students competing across Green, Orange and Red levels. The National Finals are scheduled for September 9–10, following the second round.

Introduction

The 2026 Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee is moving into its State and Territory Finals after attracting a record 98,783 registered students across Australia, making this year's competition the biggest in its six-year history.

The State and Territory Finals begin on August 31, 2026, and continue through September 4. Students from Years 3 to 8 who progressed from the School Round will compete in three age-based categories: Green for Years 3–4, Orange for Years 5–6 and Red for Years 7–8.

The scale of participation represents a substantial increase from 2025, when the competition recorded 82,712 registrations. Organisers also expanded the number of students moving through to the second round, with the top 500 students in each category from every state and territory progressing, compared with 200 previously.

What Happened?

The sixth annual Prime Minister's Spelling Bee began with its School Round on July 20 and concluded on August 21. Students competed online under teacher supervision, answering 30 randomly selected spelling words appropriate to their competition level.

The competition is designed to test both accuracy and speed. Students have 25 seconds to type each answer, with the strongest performers progressing to the State and Territory Finals.

This year's participation record means the second round begins with an unusually large field of young Australian spellers.

Queensland produced a particularly strong School Round result. According to Kids News, Queensland students finished first nationally across all three competition levels — a first for the event. New South Wales finished narrowly behind Queensland, with strong performances across the three categories.

The next stage, however, begins with a clean slate. Strong School Round results provide momentum, but students now have to perform again in the State and Territory Finals.

Key Details

• Competition: 2026 Prime Minister's Spelling Bee
• Organiser: Kids News
• Edition: Sixth annual competition
• Record registrations: 98,783 students
• Eligible students: Years 3–8
• School Round: July 20 to August 21, 2026
• State and Territory Finals: August 31 to September 4, 2026
• National Finals: September 9–10, 2026
• Green level: Years 3–4
• Orange level: Years 5–6
• Red level: Years 7–8
• Format: Digital, school-based competition
• Words per student: 30
• Time allowed: 25 seconds per word

Queensland Leads the School Round

Queensland emerged as one of the major stories from the opening round.

Nine-year-old Jared Wei Hao Ooi of Warrigal Road State School in Eight Mile Plains recorded the strongest overall School Round performance. He achieved a perfect 30/30 in 46.617 seconds in the Green category.

Queensland also produced the national leaders in the Orange and Red categories. Anna To from The Cathedral School in Townsville scored 30/30 in 1:12.970 in Orange, while Anna Ponnor from St Thomas More College scored 30/30 in 53.809 seconds in Red.

The results show how closely accuracy and speed are matched in the competition. A perfect score is important, but finishing the words quickly can determine a student's ranking when several competitors achieve the same accuracy.

Other Students to Watch

Queensland is not the only state entering the finals with strong contenders.

In New South Wales, Oliver Lee of Sydney Grammar School's St Ives Preparatory School recorded 30/30 in 49.693 seconds in Green. He was the state's highest-ranked overall performer in the School Round.

Victoria also produced several perfect scores. Liam K of Banyule Primary School led the state's Green category, while Akshara T of Korowa Anglican Girls' School topped Orange and Glorianne T of Lighthouse Christian College Cranbourne led Red.

South Australia has another returning contender in Aidan Leibbrandt, who topped the state's School Round in the Red category for the second consecutive year. He scored 29/30 in 73.77 seconds.

The Australian Capital Territory will also feature Echo Feng, the back-to-back national Green champion from the previous two years. Having moved into the Orange age group, she will attempt to continue her run in the competition at a higher level.

Background: How the Prime Minister's Spelling Bee Works

The Prime Minister's Spelling Bee is a free digital competition for Australian students in Years 3 to 8.

Rather than requiring children to stand on a stage and spell words aloud, the competition is completed digitally at school. Students type their answers, giving the event a format that can be conducted within participating schools.

The three categories are divided according to school year:

Green: Years 3–4
Orange: Years 5–6
Red: Years 7–8

Students receive 30 words and have up to 25 seconds for each response. Accuracy is central to the competition, while completion time is also important when ranking high-performing students.

The expansion in 2026 followed strong participation in 2025. Catholic Schools NSW reported that registrations reached 82,712 last year and noted that the number of students advancing to the second round was increased substantially for 2026.

What Organisers and Educators Said

The competition has been presented as more than a contest over difficult words. Organisers and educators have highlighted spelling, vocabulary and literacy as core skills that students can develop through participation.

At the 2026 launch, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese encouraged students taking part in the competition, while organisers described the event as a way of making literacy engaging and accessible for young Australians.

Teachers have also highlighted the role of regular spelling practice. Educators quoted in the latest coverage said the competition encourages students to explore words, understand vocabulary and build confidence in their literacy skills.

Why This Matters

The record registration figure is significant because it shows continued interest in a competition centred on a basic literacy skill.

Spelling is closely connected to reading and writing. Preparing for a timed spelling competition can also encourage students to encounter unfamiliar vocabulary, pay attention to word patterns and practise proofreading.

The competition's digital format is another important feature. Students can participate through their schools without travelling to a large central venue for the early stages. Several participating students have said they appreciate being able to compete in a familiar school environment.

The increase in participation also means greater competition for places in the later rounds. In 2026, the decision to advance up to 500 students per category from each state and territory gives more students an opportunity to reach the second stage than in previous years.

What Happens Next?

The State and Territory Finals officially begin at 9am AEST on Monday, August 31, and finish at 5pm AEST on Friday, September 4.

Students who perform strongly in this round will progress toward the National Finals, scheduled for September 9 and 10.

The national winners will compete for more than the title. The competition's published prizes include a trip to Canberra to meet the Prime Minister, an iPad, a HarperCollins book pack and a $1,000 voucher for the winner's school.

For now, the focus is on the State and Territory Finals. The School Round leaders may have entered the next stage with impressive scores, but the results from the second round will determine which students move closer to the national title.

FAQs

1. When do the 2026 Spelling Bee State Finals start?

The 2026 Prime Minister's Spelling Bee State and Territory Finals start at 9am AEST on August 31, 2026, and run until 5pm AEST on September 4.

2. How many students registered for the 2026 Prime Minister's Spelling Bee?

A record 98,783 students registered for the 2026 competition across Australia.

3. Which students can participate in the Prime Minister's Spelling Bee?

The competition is open to students in Years 3 to 8. They compete in Green, Orange or Red categories according to their year level.

4. What are the three Spelling Bee categories?

Green is for Years 3–4, Orange is for Years 5–6, and Red is for Years 7–8.

5. How does the Spelling Bee test students?

Students receive 30 spelling words and have 25 seconds to type each answer. Accuracy and speed are used to determine rankings.

6. When are the 2026 Prime Minister's Spelling Bee National Finals?

The National Finals are scheduled for September 9–10, 2026, after the State and Territory Finals.

7. Which state performed best in the 2026 School Round?

Queensland produced a historic clean sweep, with its students topping all three competition levels in the School Round. New South Wales finished narrowly behind with strong performances across the categories.

8. What can national Spelling Bee winners receive?

The national champions are set to receive prizes including a trip to Canberra to meet the Prime Minister, an iPad, a HarperCollins book pack and a $1,000 voucher for their school.

Source note: The latest competition details above are based primarily on Kids News' August 30, 2026 report and 2026 competition information, with the participation and progression details cross-checked against Catholic Schools NSW and launch coverage.