NYT Connections is a challenging daily puzzle game that gives players 16 words to arrange into four themed sets.
The game presents four distinct themes every day, without any connection between them.
It tests vocabulary skills by requiring players to discover hidden links without the themes initially stated.
NYT Connections September 26, 2026, grid is live with four new themes and 16 connected words. At first glance, the grid seems completely random. Players must discover the hidden links between these words. A glance won’t give you any clues. With careful observation, players can identify the four groups.
The world of word puzzles is massive, but few games compete with those offered by The New York Times. Whether it's NYT Strands, Connections, or Wordle, each web-based word puzzle has its own solving method.
In NYT Connections, the theme isn’t stated initially, but once players guess the right sets, the game reveals the themes:
This puzzle is tricky, but some clues may make things easier for players. Here are some hints to help players solve today’s puzzle. Let’s start with the category-wise hints:
Yellow group: Breath fresheners
Green group: Things done to a dress shirt at the laundry
Blue group: Features of wood
Purple group: "Cool" things, in expressions
If you are still a bit confused about the themes of today’s puzzle, below are the one-word hints. One word from each category is listed below:
Yellow group hint word: GUM
Green group hint word: FOLD
Blue group hint word: BURL
Purple group hint word: BEANS
These hints may help you identify the remaining words in each category.
The hints above have hopefully resolved the confusion and helped players form groups with few errors. However, if that's not the case and you're still trying to figure out today's word groups, here are the solutions to the NYT Connections of September 26, 2026.
Yellow Category (Breath fresheners): GUM, MINT, MOUTHWASH, SPRAY
Green Category (Things done to a dress shirt at the laundry): FOLD, PRESS, STARCH, WASH
Blue Category (Features of wood): BURL, GRAIN, KNOTS, RINGS
Purple Category ("Cool" things, in expressions): BEANS, CAT, CUCUMBER, CUSTOMER
These are the four categories for today’s puzzle, and congratulations to those who have solved it without any help.
Also Read: How to Make Your Own NYT Connections Game?
Check out the image below to learn how to make the sets of today’s puzzle:
NYT Connections’ highlight is its four different themes. Most NYT puzzles have one theme, and the words all relate to that theme. However, NYT Connections is different. Every day, four new themes captivate puzzle enthusiasts worldwide.
Without some knowledge of the connections between words, there’s no way to guess the exact word groups without help. The solution not only provides players with a satisfying experience but also enriches their vocabulary.
Also Read: NYT Connections Hints, Answers for September 22, 2026 (Puzzle #1199)