Word Game Tournaments in 2026 — Major Events Calendar

The competitive word game circuit runs year-round, with events ranging from local club tournaments to national championships that attract hundreds of players. Here is the landscape of competitive word game events in 2026.

The National Scrabble Championship

NASPA's National Scrabble Championship is held annually in late summer. The 2026 event follows the format of recent years: multiple divisions based on player rating, round-robin games over four days, followed by elimination rounds for division leaders. Entry is open to all NASPA members, making it accessible to any rated player willing to travel.

The American Crossword Puzzle Tournament

Held annually in Stamford, Connecticut since 1978, the ACPT is the longest-running and most prestigious competitive crossword event in the country. Players compete across difficulty brackets solving timed crossword puzzles. The top solvers, including multiple-time champion Dan Feyer, complete expert-level puzzles in under three minutes.

Online Tournaments

ISC (Internet Scrabble Club) hosts regular online rated tournaments accessible globally. WordGames.com and Words With Friends host periodic competitive events. Lichess-style online Scrabble with live ratings allows continuous competition without travel.

Finding Local Events

NASPA's club locator lists affiliated clubs and their regular tournaments. Most cities of any size have at least one Scrabble club holding monthly rated games. Crossword tournaments are less geographically distributed but often announce open registration several months in advance.