NYT Mini Crossword hints & answers: Monday, September 21, 2026

Updated: Monday, September 21, 2026 · Hints reviewed by Omer Liban · New puzzle at 10pm ET the night before (6pm ET on weekends). · Puzzle editor: Joel Fagliano.

This page has every level of help for the NYT Mini Crossword puzzle of Monday, September 21, 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.

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.

Mini hints (September 21, 2026)

1Today's Mini, spoiler-free

5×6 grid · 5 Across and 6 Down clues · by Joel Fagliano.
The longest answer today is 6 letters (6-Across).

Mini answers — September 21, 2026

★Two answers to get you moving

1A — Appropriate shoes to wear on moving day?: VANS
1D — Ballot caster: VOTER

★All the Across answers, explained

1A — Appropriate shoes to wear on moving day?: VANS
5A — Optimists keep them high: HOPES
6A — Baked entree with a flaky crust: POTPIE
7A — Appropriate gas station to find by the beach?: SHELL
8A — Days of old: YORE

★All the Down answers, explained

1D — Ballot caster: VOTER
2D — Appropriate store beside a farmer's market?: APPLE
3D — Actor ___ Patrick Harris: NEIL
4D — Opposite of NNW: SSE
5D — Appropriate snack for Santa?: HOHO
6D — "Gangnam Style" rapper: PSY

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.

More of today's puzzles

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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.

Previous Mini puzzles

Full Mini archive (46 puzzles) → · How to play the Mini (and get faster) →