Meet Bee’s 2026 national finalists from the state and territory round

The beehive is well and truly buzzing as the national finalists in Kids News’ sixth annual Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee head into the third and final stage of the competition.

Last week’s historic State and Territory Finals saw more than 10,700 students advance from a school round that had Queensland claiming a clean sweep across the leaderboard.

But round two certainly stirred the honey pot, with New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia landing a top spot apiece. Students from New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia and the ACT all achieved perfect second round scores in at least one category, while Northern Territory talent remained piping hot on their heels, with two of their three best performers posting 28/30.

The scoreboard is now reset for the National Final that kicks off on Wednesday.

The second qualifying round of the annual spelling challenge run by Kids News saw Victoria lead the competition in the Green level (Years 3-4), taking out first place in the state and territory results. Top of the rankings in the Bee’s most junior category was Coatesville Primary School’s Ethan S, who achieved an unblemished* scorecard in just over minute, clocking out at 1:13.049. Very close behind was Man Yan Cynthia K of Beecroft Public School in NSW, who snatched the number two spot with 30/30 in 1:14.906. Third place went back across the border to Victoria thanks to Jeshuran R of Lighthouse Christian College Cranbourne, whose flawless performance came just under seven seconds later, recording a final time of 1:21.644.

NSW held off its rivals in the Orange level (Years 5-6), with Aarika H of Holsworthy Public School taking just 1:08.795 to claim pole position. That was less than 15 seconds ahead of Queensland’s Will A of Caloundra City Private School. They and the third placegetter, another QLD student, Elijah C of Darling Downs Adventist College, led the 30/30 charge in the upper primary category, with other national finalists from Victoria and WA also achieving 30/30 to take up the top nine positions overall.

South Australia meanwhile produced the national top performer in the Red level (Years 7-8) of the State and Territory Finals rankings. James B of St John’s Grammar School was the only high school competitor in the nation to achieve 29/30 in round two; he did it in 3:36.731. His nearest rival was speedy Sofia Y of Victoria’s Ashwood High School, who competed her round in 1:20.148 but made an additional error. Her 28/30 was matched by third placegetter NSW student Bashayer U of Al-Faisal College Campbelltown, who did it in 1:32.133.

SEE THE FULL HONOUR ROLL OF NATIONAL FINALISTS BELOW

WATCH THE VIDEO

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL STUDENTS WHO ADVANCED TO STATE AND TERRITORY FINALS

The national finals open 9am AEST on Wednesday 9 September and close at 5pm AEST on Thursday 10 September.

For more information visit spelling-bee.com.au or kidsnewscom.au

KIDS NEWS IS VERY PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE FOLLOWING NATIONAL FINALISTS IN EACH CATEGORY, REPRESENTING EVERY STATE AND TERRITORY:

NEW SOUTH WALES

GREEN LEVEL (YEARS 3-4)

1. Man Yan Cynthia K, Beecroft Public School: 30/30, 1:14.906

2. Yanson L, Sydney Grammar School – St Ives Preparatory School: 30/30, 1:25.206

3. Sean N, Georges River Grammar: 30/30, 1:25.368

ORANGE LEVEL (YEARS 5-6)

1. Aarika H, Holsworthy Public School: 30/30, 1:08.795

2. Aydin O, Earlwood Public School: 30/30, 2:42.715

3. Kenneth Z, Sydney Grammar School – St Ives Preparatory School: 29/30, 1:04.046

RED LEVEL (YEARS 7-8)

1. Bashayer U, Al-Faisal College – Campbelltown: 28/30, 1:32.133

2. Milla C, Abbotsleigh Senior School: 27/30, 1:42.917

3. Richie T, Hurlstone Agricultural High School: 27/30, 2:27.254

VICTORIA

GREEN LEVEL (YEARS 3-4)

1. Ethan S, Coatesville Primary School: 30/30, 1:13.049

2. Jeshuran R, Lighthouse Christian College Cranbourne: 30/30, 1:21.644

3. Kingston B, Carnegie Primary School: 30/30, 1:32.895

ORANGE LEVEL (YEARS 5-6)

1. Zubayr K, Minaret College: 30/30, 1:47.142

2. Ryan M, Lighthouse Christian College Cranbourne: 30/30, 2:00.841

3. Alfie M, Caulfield Grammar School – Malvern Campus: 30/30, 2:13.431

RED LEVEL (YEARS 7-8)

1. Sofia Y, Ashwood High School: 28/30, 1:20.148

2. Harriet F, Findlay Homeschool: 27/30, 1:40.036

3. Shreyas T, Bacchus Marsh Grammar – Woodlea: 27/30, 3:05.088

QUEENSLAND

GREEN LEVEL (YEARS 3-4)

1. Jane Y, Citipointe Christian College: 29/30, 1:10.352

2. Baxter C, Lota State School: 29/30, 1:11.170

3. Daphne T, Citipointe Christian College: 29/30, 1:29.874

ORANGE LEVEL (YEARS 5-6)

1. Will A, Caloundra City Private School: 30/30, 1:23.165

2. Elijah C, Darling Downs Adventist College: 30/30, 1:45.025

3. Rory F, Kawana Waters State College: 29/30, 1:22.067

RED LEVEL (YEARS 7-8)

1. Micah W, Concordia Lutheran College: 27/30, 2:00.479

2. Avanti D, Moreton Bay College: 26/30, 1:45.644

3. Evie C, Glasshouse Christian College: 24/30, 2:59.250

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

GREEN LEVEL (YEARS 3-4)

1. Anna Y, Yu Homeschool: 30/30, 1:36.371

2. Name withheld pending review

3. Aarav P, Trinity College Gawler River: 29/30, 3:07.279

ORANGE LEVEL (YEARS 5-6)

1. Jack P, Westport Primary School: 29/30, 1:11.587

2. Jamesho H, Mitcham Primary School: 29/30, 2:30.388

3. Sara A, Elizabeth Vale Primary School: 28/30, 1:03.690

RED LEVEL (YEARS 7-8)

1. James B, St John’s Grammar School: 29/30, 3:36.731

2. Karim Khelwaty K, Garden College – Modbury Campus: 27/30, 2:48.942

3. Mason Y, St John’s Grammar School: 27/30, 5:37.412

TASMANIA

GREEN LEVEL (YEARS 3-4)

1. Hamish F, St Anthony’s Catholic School: 30/30, 2:01.484

2. Oswald S, Mowbray Heights Primary School: 29/30, 1:32.109

3. Arabella M, Montello Primary School: 29/30, 2:32.197

ORANGE LEVEL (YEARS 5-6)

1. Yannick K, Lindisfarne North Primary School: 28/30, 1:44.691

2. Eli A, Launceston Church Grammar School – Junior Campus: 28/30, 2:21.752

3. Louie B, Lenah Valley Primary School: 28/30, 2:59.637

RED LEVEL (YEARS 7-8)

1. Charlotte E, Leighland Christian School: 27/30, 1:47.512

2. Jonah S, The Friends’ School: 27/30, 2:18.973

3. Beatriz N, Sacred Heart College: 24/30, 5:59.192

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

GREEN LEVEL (YEARS 3-4)

1. Jennifer F, Mandurah Catholic College: 30/30, 2:05.486

2. Chloe C, Bull Creek Primary School: 29/30, 1:45.897

3. Takshhay C, Riverton Primary School: 29/30, 1:52.131

ORANGE LEVEL (YEARS 5-6)

1. Asees S, Harrisdale Primary School: 30/30, 2:00.330

2. Jayan G, Burrendah Primary School: 30/30, 3:27.262

3. Hope H, St Paul’s Primary School: 29/30, 1:11.273

RED LEVEL (YEARS 7-8)

1. Rhea B, John Curtin College Of The Arts: 28/30, 4:16.954

2. Una S, Kolbe Catholic College: 26/30, 1:36.131

3. Alex L, Applecross Senior High School: 26/30, 3:32.894

NORTHERN TERRITORY

GREEN LEVEL (YEARS 3-4)

1. Hannah G, Haileybury Rendall School: 28/30, 2:36.335

2. Xander C, Haileybury Rendall School: 28/30, 3:14.362

3. Elliot M, Haileybury Rendall School: 27/30, 1:45.372

ORANGE LEVEL (YEARS 5-6)

1. Kristofe A, Larrakeyah Primary School: 28/30, 1:10.998

2. Samuel M, Haileybury Rendall School: 28/30, 2:04.534

3. Emily C, Haileybury Rendall School: 27/30, 2:22.247

RED LEVEL (YEARS 7-8)

1. Penelope S, St John’s Catholic College: 24/30, 4:52.808

2. Ellie N, Marrara Christian College: 23/30, 4:16.554

3. Loc P, Haileybury Rendall School: 22/30, 2:17.295

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY (ACT)

GREEN LEVEL (YEARS 3-4)

1. Elena H, Canberra Girls Grammar School – Junior School: 30/30, 2:52.943

2. Liam G, Trinity Christian School: 30/30, 3:09.845

3. Chloe S, St Bede’s Primary School: 30/30, 3:38.000

ORANGE LEVEL (YEARS 5-6)

1. Lucas G, Forrest Primary School: 29/30, 1:56.783

2. Echo F, Brindabella Christian College: 29/30, 2:23.612

3. James W, Ainslie School: 29/30, 2:25.403

RED LEVEL (YEARS 7-8)

1. Safiya Y, Taqwa School: 24/30, 5:27.108

2. Tara N, Burgmann Anglican School – Forde Campus: 23/30, 1:42.926

3. Hannah M, Burgmann Anglican School – Forde Campus: 23/30, 1:49.207