Familiar words like Cup, Medal, and Ring make the opening category approachable before the puzzle gradually shifts into more deceptive territory.
The blue category rewards movie lovers with references to classic 1980s comedy films hidden among otherwise ordinary-looking words.
Today’s purple group delivers the toughest twist, challenging players to spot anagrams formed from identical letters arranged differently.
The NYT Connections May 26 puzzle is live with a new set of 16 words. Interestingly, a casual glimpse at the grid full of words like Cup, Focus, Clue, Listen, Ring, etc., won’t reveal anything specific. Most importantly, some of these words fit more than one category.
In NYT Connections, players are tasked with identifying four groups of four words that share a common theme. Now, the twist is that the theme is not stated in the beginning. Once players choose the four right words, the game will reveal the theme of that set.
This puzzle is tricky, but some clues may make things easier for gamers. Here are some hints to help players solve today’s puzzle. Let's start with the hints category-wise:
Easiest Group (Yellow): Today’s yellow group words refer to terms that indicate prizes you will get when you win a match.
Moderate Group (Green): The green group contains words that are associated with focusing on the topic.
Challenging Group (Blue): The blue group words are related to old films that you must have heard of.
Most Difficult Group (Purple): Finally, the words in the purple category have the same letters. So, look for words that have the same letters in a different sequence.
The given hints have hopefully resolved the confusion and helped players form the groups without many errors. However, if that’s not the case and some are still trying to figure out today's word groups, here are the solutions to the NYT Connections for May 26, 2026.
Yellow Category (CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS): CUP, MEDAL, PENNANT, RING
Green Category (MATTER AT HAND): CONCERN, FOCUS, POINT, SUBJECT
Blue Category ('80S COMEDIES): AIRPLANE, BIG, CLUE, TWINS
Purple Category (ANAGRAMS): ENLIST, LISTEN, SILENT, TINSEL
These are the four categories for today’s puzzle, and congratulations to those who have solved it without any help.
Also Read: Today’s NYT Strands Hints and Answers for May 25, 2026
Check out the image below to know how to make the sets of today’s puzzle:
If you have solved today’s puzzle but missed out on a few of the previous week’s, below are the answers to all the previous week's NYT Connections:
| Date | Puzzle # | Yellow Group | Green Group | Blue Group | Purple Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 2026 | #1079 | CAP, PIN, SHIRT, STICKER | JOT, SCRAP, SHRED, WHIT | ATM, CYA, LOL, TIA | BALL, BROW, LASH, LID |
| May 24, 2026 | #1078 | COOP, PEN, SHED, STABLE | MARCH, PICKET, RALLY, STRIKE | DRUM, MASK, RATTLE, STAFF | HERB, HISS, ITSY, MYA |
| May 23, 2026 | #1077 | BEEHIVE, BOUFFANT, CHIGNON, POMPADOUR | FIRST, PREFERABLY, RATHER, SOONER | DAREDEVIL, HAWKEYE, NIGHTCRAWLER, WOLVERINE | EMPIRE, FORCE, LAST, PHANTOM |
| May 22, 2026 | #1076 | CHECK IN, FOLLOW UP, RECONNECT, TOUCH BASE | CONVENTION, CUSTOM, SOCIAL NORM, UNWRITTEN RULE | ASSEMBLY LINE, BAGGAGE CLAIM, CHECKOUT LANE, REVOLVING SUSHI BAR | CARRY-ONE, L NIÑO, LOOSEY-GOOSEY, TAILOR-MADE |
| May 21, 2026 | #1075 | CHESS, PECAN, PUMPKIN, SHOOFLY | CABOOSE, CAN, MOON, PEACH | ADVANTAGE, DEUCE, FORTY, LOVE | COLONEL, HONEY, HOT, YELLOW |
| May 20, 2026 | #1074 | HIGH, MEDIUM, OFF, SIMMER | CONCENTRATION, FORCE, INTENSITY, MIGHT | INTERVAL, KEY, MODE, SCALE | GROUNDHOG, INDEPENDENCE, THE LONGEST, TRAINING |
| May 19, 2026 | #1073 | BABBLE, CRY, NURSE, TEETHE | ALTER, COOK, DOCTOR, FUDGE | BLUBBER, DEENIE, FOREVER, SUPERFUDGE | FOUNDER, SALON, SURGEON, TROT |
| May 18, 2026 | #1072 | PAIR, PARE, PEAR, PÈRE | BLOW, CRACK, POP, SPLIT | PADRE, RED, ROYAL, TWIN | CHEAP, EARP, LUMP, WIKI |
NYT Connections is unique, and its multiple themes in a single puzzle feature make it captivating. Though the words initially look isolated and unrelated, they are all specifically related to certain themes, ranging from food-producing methods to different types of civic duty.
Without a sound knowledge of the connection between words, there’s no way one can 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 Wordle Answer Today for May 25, 2026: Hints and Expert Walkthrough Revealed