WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Scripps National Spelling Bee moved in 2026 from the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Oxon Hill, Maryland, to Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., after 15 years at the suburban venue. The competition was held at various Washington hotels from its inception in 1925 until it relocated to the suburbs in 2011.

Constitution Hall, built in 1929 by the Daughters of the American Revolution, is located a few blocks from the Washington Monument and the White House. Spellers and their families are staying at the nearby J.W. Marriott hotel, requiring transportation between lodging and the competition venue. Security was increased at Constitution Hall, with guards, metal detectors at every entrance, and explosive-sniffing dogs patrolling the hallways. The heightened measures followed a shooting three blocks away three days before the bee began, when a man opened fire at a White House security checkpoint, injuring a bystander before being fatally shot by Secret Service officers.

At the previous venue in Oxon Hill, participants could move freely between hotel rooms, the competition ballroom, and a large food court—all under one roof. Some spellers expressed disappointment with the new arrangement. "I feel like they should not have moved it. The old venue was better. Because it's a bit of a hassle, getting on the bus and going there and then coming back," said Yahya Mohammed. He added, "The old venue was more spacious, and it feels kind of isolated in the hotel." Another speller, Arpit Aggarwal, remarked, "Last year was better. Everything was in one place."

Other competitors welcomed the shift to the historic downtown location. "I just love being here, right next to the National Mall. You can see the Smithsonian, you can see the Jefferson Memorial. It's such a lively and unique city and I love being in the heart of it," said Oliver Halkett. He added, "There's so much history, there's so much culture. The memorials and the museums are fascinating to go to."