- Sunday Challenge: The February 1, 2026, puzzle features a moderate difficulty curve with a focus on culinary treats and geographic trivia.
- Key Highlights: Solvers must identify a popular Japanese dessert and the smallest U.S. state to unlock the 5×5 grid.
- Benchmark: The average completion time for this specific Sunday Mini is currently tracking at 1 minute and 12 seconds.
Waking up on a crisp Sunday morning usually demands two things: a strong cup of coffee and a swift victory over the official NYT Mini Crossword. Today’s puzzle for February 1, 2026, offers a delightful linguistic sprint that bridges the gap between high-brow musical references and everyday comfort foods. Whether you are aiming for a personal record or simply trying to keep your streak alive, we have the precise breakdown you need to clear the board.
Hints for the February 1, 2026 Mini Puzzle
Before jumping straight to the solutions, you might want to test your knowledge with these targeted clues. Today’s layout relies heavily on intersecting vowels in the center of the grid, making the 1-Across and 5-Across clues critical for momentum.
Across Clue Hints
- 1-Across: Think of a suffix often attached to “K” or “Wal” when referring to a large retail space.
- 5-Across: A trendy, chewy Japanese treat made from pounded glutinous rice.
- 7-Across: A word used to describe a suspicious or rundown establishment.
- 8-Across: The darker half of a famous literary “Strange Case.”
Down Clue Hints
- 1-Down: According to Cabaret, this is what “makes the world go ’round.”
- 3-Down: This state might be small, but it is the “Island” that anchors the New England coastline.
- 5-Down: What you do to potatoes to make them fluffy and ready for gravy.
Pro-Tip: Sunday Minis often feature slightly more obscure proper nouns. If you’re stuck on 6-Across, look for the intersections with 3-Down and 1-Down first to reveal the name.
Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for 1 February 2026
If you have hit a wall and the timer is ticking, here is the full solution set for the 5×5 grid. If you are looking for puzzles later in the year, you can always check our archive of NYT Mini Crossword Answers for 11 May 2026 for future reference.
| Direction | Clue Number | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Across | 1 | MART |
| Across | 5 | MOCHI |
| Across | 6 | ANTON |
| Across | 7 | SEEDY |
| Across | 8 | HYDE |
| Down | 1 | MONEY |
| Down | 2 | ACTED |
| Down | 3 | RHODE |
| Down | 4 | TINY |
| Down | 5 | MASH |
Visual Grid Replica
Visualizing how the words interlock can be just as helpful as the list itself. Here is how the February 1 board should look upon completion:
| M | A | R | T | |
| M | O | C | H | I |
| A | N | T | O | N |
| S | E | E | D | Y |
| H | Y | D | E |
Leveling Up Your NYT Game Strategy
Mastering the Mini is often the gateway to more complex challenges like the Wordle or the daily Strands. Many players who solved today’s Mini have also been looking ahead to NYT Mini Crossword Answers for 14 May 2026 to prepare for future difficulty spikes.
The beauty of the 5×5 format lies in its speed. In 2026, the NYT puzzle community has shifted toward “speed-solving,” where finishing in under 30 seconds is the gold standard. To achieve this, try to read the 1-Across clue as the page loads and enter it immediately—this provides the crucial first letters for all five Down clues simultaneously. Happy solving!
