NYT Strands Hint October 26: Today’s Theme, Spangram and Answers for Puzzle #602

The New York Times Strands puzzle for October 26 (No. 602) brings a crisp seasonal vibe with its theme “Fall-ing.” Today’s challenge celebrates the spirit of autumn with clues and answers inspired by the fall season. Whether you’re a seasoned word-game fan or a newcomer, here’s everything you need to know — including the theme explanation, full list of answers, and the spangram for today’s puzzle.

The NYT Strands series continues to grow in popularity alongside Wordle and Connections, giving players a daily mental workout through clever word associations and hidden themes. Today’s edition, published on October 26, 2025, offers a cozy mix of autumn references and timely vocabulary that reflects the changing season.

Today’s NYT Strands Theme and Clues Explained

The official theme for October 26’s puzzle is “Fall-ing.” As hinted by CNET’s daily Strands coverage, the theme relates to the fall season — from harvests and orchards to football and pumpkins. The clue “Crisp season” was a clear nudge toward autumn-inspired words.

To reveal theme words in Strands, players must find at least three unrelated words with four or more letters. Each set of qualifying words unlocks one hidden theme word. Some of the in-game words used to reveal clues today included: HARD, DUST, MORN, LOOT, HAVE, GALE, LOAF, TOOL, VEST, BUMP, DOUBT, BALE, BALL, FOOT, and CHARD.

Full List of NYT Strands Answers for October 26

Once all the clues were uncovered, today’s Strands puzzle revealed six nonspangram answers and one spangram that tied everything together. Each answer reflects an element of the fall season or activities tied to it.

• CORN
• FOLIAGE
• HARVEST
• FOOTBALL
• ORCHARDS
• PUMPKINS

The spangram — the word stretching across the board — was AUTUMN. It perfectly connects all the fall-themed answers, symbolizing the broader season that ties each clue together. To find it, players had to start from the “A” five rows down on the far-left side and trace across the board.

Seasonal Connections and Puzzle Appeal

Today’s puzzle reflects why Strands has become a fan favorite among word-game enthusiasts. It merges logic and creativity, while its daily themes add a fresh cultural or seasonal twist. For fall fans, the “Fall-ing” puzzle serves as a warm nod to the season’s traditions — from crisp leaves to football weekends and pumpkin patches.

Publications such as CNET and The New York Times continue to emphasize how Strands offers a deeper layer of engagement than simpler daily puzzles. It rewards both word knowledge and theme recognition, making it an evolving favorite alongside Wordle and Connections.

In summary, today’s NYT Strands puzzle No. 602 celebrates fall with a clever lineup of autumn-inspired words and the fitting spangram “AUTUMN.” If you’ve been struggling with today’s challenge, you’re now fully equipped to complete it — and ready for whatever clever theme awaits tomorrow.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: What is the NYT Strands theme for October 26?

The theme for the October 26 Strands puzzle is “Fall-ing,” inspired by the fall season.

Q2: What is the spangram for today’s Strands puzzle?

The spangram for October 26’s puzzle is “AUTUMN.”

Q3: What are today’s NYT Strands answers?

The answers are CORN, FOLIAGE, HARVEST, FOOTBALL, ORCHARDS, and PUMPKINS, with AUTUMN as the spangram.

Q4: Where can I play the NYT Strands puzzle?

The Strands puzzle is available daily on The New York Times Games platform alongside Wordle and Connections.

Q5: When was today’s NYT Strands puzzle published?

Puzzle No. 602 was released on October 26, 2025.