- Daily Theme: The January 24, 2026, puzzle is themed “A work of art,” requiring players to identify iconic painting titles and artistic movements.
- Spangram Mastery: The 14-letter spangram “FAMOUSPAINTING” starts at Row 4, Column 1 (the ‘F’) and snakes across the grid to the right.
- Strategic Pairs: Success today relies on connecting paired words like STARRY/NIGHT and WATER/LILIES to clear the board.
There is a specific kind of quietude that comes with the morning coffee and the first glance at the NYT Strands grid. It’s a moment where letters stop being a jumble and start whispering secrets. Today, those secrets are splashed with color and historical weight. As we step into the gallery of the January 24, 2026, puzzle, the theme invites you to trade your cursor for a paintbrush. If you find yourself staring at the screen and seeing only a “blue period” of confusion, don’t worry—we have the hints to help you finish your masterpiece.
Thematic Hint: Imagine you are walking through the MoMA or the Musée d’Orsay. What iconic titles would you see on the plaques?
Strategic Hints for Today’s Puzzle
In Strands, your first goal is always to fill your hint meter. You can do this by finding any valid words that aren’t part of the final theme list. For today’s grid, look for three-letter or four-letter fillers to gain momentum. If you’re looking for a comparison to previous challenges, you might find our breakdown of the NYT Strands #868 Big Talk grid helpful for understanding how the game snaking patterns evolve.
Try searching for these “bonus” words to clear your head:
- FINS, FINE, or FINES
- GATE, GATES, or GARB
- STAR, PAINT, and SILL
If you are a fan of other NYT daily rituals, don’t forget to check the Wordle Solution #1860 for today as well to keep your streak alive across all platforms.
Visual Grid Starting Points
Stuck on where a specific word begins? Use the coordinates below (Row R, Column C) to find the first letter of each thematic answer:
| Answer Word | Starting Coordinate |
|---|---|
| STARRY | Row 1, Column 1 (S) |
| NIGHT | Row 1, Column 7 (N) |
| WATER | Row 8, Column 1 (W) |
| LILIES | Row 6, Column 4 (L) |
| BOATING | Row 2, Column 2 (B) |
| PARTY | Row 5, Column 8 (P) |
The Spangram: FAMOUSPAINTING
The spangram is the backbone of the grid, touching two opposite sides and describing the overall theme. For January 24, the spangram is FAMOUSPAINTING. To find it, look for the ‘F’ on the far-left vertical row, about four letters down. From there, trace the letters as they flow toward the center and down toward the bottom right. This word elegantly connects the various masterpieces scattered throughout the board.
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” — Today’s puzzle reminds us of that creative spark.
NYT Strands Answers for January 24, 2026
If you’ve run out of hints and just want to see the completed canvas, here are the official answers for today’s NYT Games Strands challenge:
- 🎨 STARRY
- 🌙 NIGHT
- 💧 WATER
- 🌸 LILIES
- ⛵ BOATING
- 🥳 PARTY
- ⭐ FAMOUSPAINTING (Spangram)
Completing today’s puzzle is as much about cultural literacy as it is about word-finding. By pairing “STARRY” with “NIGHT” (Van Gogh) and “WATER” with “LILIES” (Monet), you aren’t just solving a game; you’re tracing the history of Impressionism and beyond. Whether you found the Spangram first or stumbled upon “BOATING PARTY” while looking for “BOAT,” every connection made is a win for your vocabulary. We’ll see you tomorrow for another round of mental gymnastics!
