Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
Today’s NYT Strands puzzle is pretty fun, especially if you’re a fan of its topic, which will make itself clear pretty quickly. If you need hints and answers, read on.
I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.
If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
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Hint for today’s Strands puzzle
Today’s Strands theme is: Grape expectations
If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Cheers!
Clue words to unlock in-game hints
Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:
- DALE, DEAL, LETS, BELT, LACE, LAME, CABLE, CLOT, BARD, NOTE, LEND, TENT, HARD, FLAN
Answers for today’s Strands puzzle
These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:
- MALBEC, ZINFANDEL, MERLOT, SHIRAZ, CHARDONNAY
Today’s Strands spangram
The completed NYT Strands puzzle for Jan. 26, 2026.
Today’s Strands spangram is BYTHEBOTTLE. To find it, count three rows over from the left, and go down seven letters to the B. Then go down, over and up.
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