V-I-R-T-U-A-L-L-Y | National Spelling Bee to return in mostly virtual format Last year's bee was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. It was the first year without the contest since World War II. Author: BEN NUCKOLS Associated Press Published: 8:42 AM EST February 22, 2021 Updated: 8:57 AM EST February 22, 2021 WASHINGTON — Editor's Note: The video above is from April 2020. The Scripps National Spelling Bee will return this year in a mostly virtual format, with the in-person competition limited to a dozen finalists who will gather on an ESPN campus at Walt Disney World in Florida, Scripps announced Monday. Last year's bee was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, the first time since World War II it had been called off. Organizers said they did not believe a large gathering at the bee's longtime venue — a convention center outside Washington — would be possible this year for the competition's usual date around Memorial Day.