NYT Strands Hints and Answers for January 29, 2026 (#697)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of January 29, 2026: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of January 29, 2026? Start with the theme, take one rung at a time, and stop as soon as the grid opens up. Nothing below is revealed until you tap it.
Hints for January 29, 2026, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
Talk of the town
The puzzle calls today’s theme “Talk of the town”. Read it loosely: the 5 answers are examples of it, not synonyms for it.
Hint 2First letters
The theme words begin with C, H, I, P, S.
Hint 3Word lengths
By length, the answers run 4, 4, 9, 9 and 11. The shortest is 4 letters, the longest 11.
SpangramThe spangram
CLAIMTOFAME
11 letters, a single word, running from one edge of the grid to the opposite edge.
Starts with C, ends with E.
AnswersAll theme words
- HERO4 letters
- ICON4 letters
- CELEBRITY9 letters
- SUPERSTAR9 letters
- PERSONALITY11 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.