2026 CBS Lake Charles Regional Spelling Bee Competition

Mar 19, 2026 03:32PM ● By Kelsey Swire

CBS Lake Charles is the Official Regional Partner for the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The 2026 regional competition, presented by Merchants and Farmers Bank, took place on Saturday, February 28, 2026. Fourteen students from around Southwest Louisiana gathered at Southlake Theater to compete for the chance to advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee competition in Washington, D.C. in May 2026. T.S. Cooley Elementary Magnet School 5th Grader Paranika Ethakota has earned that spot for the second time. She won the title of Regional Champion for the first time in 2024.

Once all regional competitions across the country have concluded, the CBS Lake Charles Regional Spelling Bee will air on CBS Lake Charles on Sunday, April 5 & 12 at 11 PM and Saturday, April 18 & 25 at 11 AM. You can also watch the full competition below.

Follow us on Facebook & Instagram and stay tuned to cbslakecharles.com for local spelling bee updates.

Since 1925, children across America have participated in classroom, school and regional spelling bees with the hope of making it to the Scripps National Spelling Bee. In 2025, the Bee will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the very first National Spelling Bee. While only 9 spellers participated in that first competition, their legacy lives on in the millions of students who compete at all levels of the spelling bee program today.

If you want to learn more about the Scripps National Spelling Bee Program, visit spellingbee.com.

2026 CBS Lake Charles Regional Spelling Bee [30 Images] Click Any Image To Expand