Today's NYT Strands is live for Monday, October 26, 2026 (Puzzle #967). Stuck on today's Strands? We've got progressive hints, from gentle nudges to full solutions, so you can solve at your own pace.
How Strands Works (New Players Start Here)
Strands hides themed words inside a 6x8 letter grid. Your mission: find every word connected to the day's theme. Letters link in any direction (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) and words can twist and turn. Every letter gets used exactly once.
The spangram is the key word or phrase that captures the theme and stretches across the entire board, touching opposite edges.
Need a boost? Find any 4+ letter word (even non-theme words) three times, and the game reveals a hint highlighting theme word letters.
Theme Decoder
Today's Theme Prompt: "Please, be my guest!"
What It Really Means
Look for verbs describing what you do before and during someone's visit, from asking them over to making them feel at ease.
Think About...
- Arranging for friends to come over.
- The first exchange at the front door.
- Keeping company happy throughout an evening.
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Top to bottom down the board
Letter Count: 11 letters
Starting Zone: Row 1, letter 4
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): Think about the way you treat someone visiting your home.
Hint 2 (Warmer): You're after the broad concept of treating guests generously and making them comfortable.
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is H, last letter is Y
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HOSPITALITY
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: Keep company pleasantly occupied.
Closer: Amuse your dinner guests with stories, music, or games.
Letter Clue: Starts with E, 9 letters total
Answer
ENTERTAIN
Word 2
Vague: Take charge of a social occasion.
Closer: Provide the place and take responsibility for a dinner party.
Letter Clue: Starts with H, 4 letters total
Answer
HOST
Word 3
Vague: Give someone a reason to put a date on their calendar.
Closer: Ask someone to join you for dinner or attend your party.
Letter Clue: Starts with I, 6 letters total
Answer
INVITE
Word 4
Vague: Come face to face with someone.
Closer: Be introduced to someone for the first time.
Letter Clue: Starts with M, 4 letters total
Answer
MEET
Word 5
Vague: Admit arriving visitors into your company.
Closer: A formal verb for admitting guests, also used when accepting a parcel.
Letter Clue: Starts with R, 7 letters total
Answer
RECEIVE
Word 6
Vague: Make an arrival feel like a happy occasion.
Closer: Greet someone warmly, as a doormat's friendly message encourages you to do.
Letter Clue: Starts with W, 7 letters total
Answer
WELCOME
Full Answers
Spangram: HOSPITALITY
Theme Words:
- ENTERTAIN
- HOST
- INVITE
- MEET
- RECEIVE
- WELCOME
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Medium, with a clear social theme but closely related verbs that take some sorting out.
Trickiest Word: RECEIVE is the likeliest sticking point because its sense of accepting an object can overshadow its more formal use for admitting guests.
Our Take: The prompt points neatly toward HOSPITALITY, and the word list turns that broad idea into actions before and during a visit. INVITE and HOST anchor the dinner-party setting, while RECEIVE adds a formal note beside the warmer WELCOME. That overlap gives this friendly theme its bite.