Everything you thought you knew about the New York Times Strands puzzle might be about to change. If you're staring at the January 6, 2026, Strands board with the theme "Look Up!" and feeling a bit lost, you've come to the right place. We're here to provide today's NYT Strands hints, guiding you toward the solution without giving it all away at once. Whether you need a gentle nudge or the full answer, we've got you covered.
Today's NYT Strands Hints and Clues
For those seeking today's NYT Strands hints, the puzzle for Tuesday, January 6, 2026, revolves around a celestial or atmospheric theme. The overarching concept is "Look Up!" - inviting players to consider things that ascend, soar, or are visible in the sky. Think about objects that defy gravity or are commonly associated with the vast expanse above us. This theme can encompass natural phenomena as well as man-made inventions that take flight.
To make your daily return to our Strands hints easier, consider bookmarking this page. You can also find archives of past hints, perfect for catching up on any puzzles you might have missed. If you enjoy other NYT Games, such as Wordle or Connections, we offer hints and solutions for those as well.
Spangram Hint for Today's Strands
The spangram, the word that unlocks the puzzle's central theme, is a direct nod to a very famous song title from the musical Wicked. It's a phrase that encapsulates the idea of overcoming limitations and reaching new heights, fitting perfectly with the "Look Up!" theme. This specific hint should help narrow down the possibilities significantly for today's NYT Strands hints.
Theme Words Hint
The theme words for today's Strands puzzle are all items that fly or float. Consider the diverse ways things achieve lift, from natural buoyancy to powerful propulsion. This category can include both simple recreational items and complex technological marvels. For instance, think about a child's simple toy that dances in the wind, a common mode of modern transportation, or even a creature that navigates the air naturally.
BEWARE: Spoilers follow for today's Strands puzzle!
The Solution to Today's Strands
Here are the answers to the January 6, 2026, NYT Strands puzzle.
The Spangram
The spangram for today's puzzle is DEFYINGGRAVITY.
The Theme Words
The theme words you need to find are: BALLOON, DRONE, BIRD, KITE, AIRPLANE, ROCKET.
When solved, the board will connect these words, illustrating the "Look Up!" theme with the spangram running across the entire grid.
Credit: Strands/NYT
How to Play NYT Strands
The New York Times Strands game is accessible via their website and the NYT Games app. Each day presents a new puzzle board filled with letters, accompanied by a thematic clue. Your objective is to locate hidden words on the board that align with this theme.
The key to Strands is identifying the spangram - a word or phrase that explicitly defines the puzzle's theme and spans the entire board horizontally or vertically. Finding the spangram, highlighted in yellow, typically simplifies the process of discovering the remaining theme words. Unlike some other word games, Strands doesn't have a penalty for incorrect guesses; you simply won't find the word, or the letters will shake to indicate an invalid entry. You win by finding all the theme words and the spangram, using every letter on the board.
If you get stuck, you can submit any valid four-letter or longer word that isn't part of the theme. Accumulating three such submissions unlocks a hint, which highlights the letters of one of the theme words. You still need to connect these highlighted letters correctly. For example, finding a 'BALLOON' might be straightforward, but correctly identifying 'DEFYINGGRAVITY' requires careful scanning across the grid. Mastering today's NYT Strands hints can significantly improve your game.
The game concludes when all letters are used, signifying a complete solution. A shareable card displays your progress, with blue dots for found theme words, a yellow dot for the spangram, and a lightbulb icon for words found via hints. It's a satisfying way to end your daily puzzle challenge.
