# National Spanish Spelling Bee

The national Spanish-language orthography championship for bilingual students in grades 4-8, held each July in Albuquerque for spellers who have won a state or regional Spanish bee.

## Key facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Organization | National Spanish Spelling Bee |
| Category | other |
| Cost | Not listed |
| Deadline | Rolling / check official site |
| Eligibility | Grades 6–8 |
| Format | In person |
| Location | Albuquerque, NM |
| Apply | https://nationalspanishspellingbee.com/ |

## About this program

# National Spanish Spelling Bee

The National Spanish Spelling Bee is the country's championship competition in Spanish orthography for bilingual and Spanish-learning students. Spellers advance through campus, district, regional and state Spanish bees before reaching the national stage, which is hosted each July in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Words are drawn from the Real Academia dictionary, the Diccionario abreviado del espanol actual, the Pequeno Larousse Ilustrado and Spanish dictionaries of comparable quality, and spellings must be given orally, correctly and completely - including accents and diacritics.

## What You'll Do

- Qualify by placing in a state or regional Spanish spelling bee during the same school year
- Study from the official study guide, rules booklet and published lista de palabras
- Spell aloud in Spanish across successive elimination rounds before a panel of pronouncers and judges
- Compete alongside bilingual students from across the United States over a two-day national event
- Use the free "How to" booklet the organizers publish for students and coaches new to the format

## Who Should Apply

"The National Spanish Spelling Bee is for students in grades 4 through 8." Middle schoolers in dual-language, bilingual, heritage-Spanish or Spanish-immersion programs are the core audience. Students without a nearby state or regional bee are told to contact the organizers directly about qualifying.

## Outcomes

National spellers earn recognition in the bilingual-education community, a demonstrated command of written Spanish, and, for winners, national press coverage. The bee also gives heritage speakers a competitive venue that rewards literacy in their home language rather than only in English.

## Frequently asked questions

### Who is eligible for National Spanish Spelling Bee?

National Spanish Spelling Bee is open to middle school students in grades 6–8. Some programs have additional requirements (GPA, coursework, essays, or recommendations) — the full criteria are on the official site.

### Is National Spanish Spelling Bee online or in person?

National Spanish Spelling Bee is an in-person program based in Albuquerque, NM.

### How do I apply to National Spanish Spelling Bee?

Apply directly through National Spanish Spelling Bee's official website. ExtracurricularHub links to the official application — we list and verify programs but don't process applications.

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Last updated: 2026-07-28.
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