NYT Mini Crossword Answers Today: Saturday, September 26, 2026

Updated: Saturday, September 26, 2026 · Hints reviewed by Omer Liban · New puzzle at 10pm ET the night before (6pm ET on weekends). · Puzzle editor: Sam Ezersky.

This page has every level of help for the NYT Mini Crossword puzzle of Saturday, September 26, 2026: 1 spoiler-free hint tier that narrow things down step by step, followed by the complete answers with explanations — each behind its own tap-to-reveal card.

In a hurry? Jump straight to today's answers ↓

One clue holding your Mini streak hostage? Check just that answer — every clue below is explained and hidden behind its own reveal.

The Mini is the NYT's free pocket crossword — usually 5×5, solvable in a minute or two. Answers below are hidden until you open them, so you can check just the one clue that's stumping you.

Today's Mini hints (September 26, 2026)

1Today's Mini, spoiler-free

7×7 grid · 7 Across and 11 Down clues · by Sam Ezersky.
The longest answer today is 7 letters (1-Across).

Mini answers — September 26, 2026

★Two answers to get you moving

1A — Alphabet song lyric before "Now I know my ABCs": WXYANDZ
1D — Shake, like a dog's tail: WAG

★All the Across answers, explained

1A — Alphabet song lyric before "Now I know my ABCs": WXYANDZ
8A — Sea creature whose name sounds like "Ah, baloney!": ABALONE
9A — Skin markings after a sunny day on the links: GOLFTAN
10A — Gen ___ (member of the "MTV generation"): XER
11A — Medieval weapon: POLEAXE
15A — Fasting intermittently, say: ONADIET
16A — Phrases differently: REWORDS

★All the Down answers, explained

1D — Shake, like a dog's tail: WAG
2D — Gaming console with a number in its name: XBOXONE
3D — Prestigious J.D. program in New Haven, Conn.: YALELAW
4D — Creamy pasta sauce: ALFREDO
5D — "Believe it or ___ ...": NOT
6D — Double-helix molecule: DNA
7D — Buddhism branch associated with gardens: ZEN
11D — "___ favor" (basic Spanish phrase): POR
12D — What snowboarders try to catch: AIR
13D — Crossed (out): XED
14D — Creatures on U.F.O.s, for short: ETS

Yesterday's Mini answers

★ Yesterday's answers (Sep 25)

1A — Dogs and cats ... or less commonly, frogs and rats: PETS
1D — Fruit on a Georgia license plate: PEACH
1A — Dogs and cats ... or less commonly, frogs and rats: PETS
5A — Highway off-ramp: EXIT
6A — Chance to hit a homer: ATBAT
8A — Largest island of Greece: CRETE
9A — Strongly disliked: HATED
1D — Fruit on a Georgia license plate: PEACH
2D — The "E" of ESP: EXTRA
3D — Region on the north side of Mount Everest: TIBET
4D — Governor's responsibility: STATE
7D — Danson of "The Good Place": TED

Missed it? Yesterday's Mini hints & answers (Sep 25) →

Next in today's routine: Sports Connections → · every game's answers on one page. New puzzle at 10pm ET the night before (6pm ET on weekends). Bookmark this page for tomorrow's hints. Or play Mini on the official site.

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Mini — common questions

What time does the NYT Mini come out?

Unusually early: the next day's Mini is released at 10pm Eastern the evening before on weekdays, and 6pm Eastern on weekends — so 'today's' Mini has usually been available since the previous evening.

Is the NYT Mini Crossword free?

Yes — the daily Mini is free to play, unlike the full NYT Crossword which needs a Games subscription. Only the Mini archive is subscriber-gated.

How big is the Mini Crossword?

Usually a 5×5 grid with around ten clues, taking most solvers under two minutes. Saturday Minis are often larger — typically 7×7 — with a few more clues.

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