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September 24’s NYT Mini Crossword features 10 clues across Broadway, food, politics, and everyday life.
Key answers include CATS, BASIL, OBAMA, BIDET, CABIN, TIMER and SLATE.
The compact 5x5 puzzle offers a quick challenge with a few clues requiring specific knowledge.
The NYT Mini Crossword welcomes another fresh set of clues on Thursday, September 24, 2026. A new grid arrives daily, and this one blends Broadway trivia, food references, a former president, and a bathroom fixture into one tidy puzzle.
The small format keeps solving quick. Most players finish within a couple of minutes. A single tricky clue can still slow things down, especially when a word carries more than one meaning.
Today's puzzle holds 10 clues in total. Five run across and five run down. Answers stretch from a hit Broadway musical to a common roofing material.
Solvers stuck on a tough square can check every clue and matching answer below.
The across section opens with theater trivia, then shifts through food, politics and household items.
1A: Attendees of the Jellicle Ball, on Broadway
CATS
The answer is CATS. The long-running Broadway musical centers on a tribe of cats gathering for their annual Jellicle Ball. The clue points straight at the show's most famous event.
5A: Topping on a pizza margherita
BASIL
The answer is BASIL. A classic margherita pizza carries fresh basil leaves alongside tomato and mozzarella. The herb gives the dish its signature aroma and its place in the clue.
6A: President who said "The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something"
OBAMA
The answer is OBAMA. Former President Barack Obama shared that message during a period of public unrest. The quote reflects his familiar call toward action over despair.
7A: Feature of many a smart toilet
BIDET
The answer is BIDET. Modern smart toilets often include a built-in bidet function for cleaning. Bathroom technology has adopted the feature widely in recent years.
8A: Rattling kind of drum
SNARE
The answer is SNARE. A snare drum produces its sharp rattle through wires stretched across the bottom head. Drummers rely on it for sharp, percussive accents.
Also Read: NYT Mini Crossword Answers for September 23, 2026: Pop Culture, Fashion, Geography
The down clues move through shelter, food, technology, roofing, and swimming.
1D: House in the woods
CABIN
The answer is CABIN. A cabin describes a small, simple home usually built in a rural or forested setting. The clue stays direct, giving solvers an easy entry point.
2D: Carne ___ (beef dish)
ASADA
The answer is ASADA. Carne asada refers to grilled, sliced beef common in Mexican cooking. Tacos and burritos frequently feature the dish as a filling.
3D: Function in the Clock app
TIMER
The answer is TIMER. Smartphone clock apps include a timer function for counting down set periods. Cooking, workouts, and daily tasks often rely on it.
4D: Rock used in roofing
SLATE
The answer is SLATE. Slate is a fine-grained rock split into thin, durable sheets for roof tiles. Builders favor it for its long lifespan and clean finish.
5D: Moves up and down in the water
BOBS
The answer is BOBS. Something that bobs rises and falls repeatedly on the surface of water. Buoys, boats and swimmers all bob with passing waves.
Thursday's puzzle covers unusual ground for such a small grid. Broadway enters through CATS. Food shows up twice, first through BASIL and again through ASADA. Politics brings OBAMA into the mix, while home technology appears through BIDET and SLATE.
The down clues add variety of their own. CABIN offers a simple shelter reference. TIMER pulls from everyday phone use. BOBS closes the grid with a light, physical image of movement in water.
The NYT Mini Crossword keeps its signature 5x5 layout. Small size does not always mean simple answers. Short clues often carry double meanings, and today's grid uses that trick sparingly but effectively.
The OBAMA clue stands out most. Recognizing a specific quote takes more than definition-based guessing. It rewards solvers who follow current events and public speeches closely.
The puzzle refreshes daily, offering a small mental workout that fits into any short break. September 24 brings a mix of theater, food, politics, and home life into a single five-by-five grid. Another set of clues returns tomorrow, continuing the daily challenge that keeps solvers coming back.
