NYT Strands Hints October 21: Today’s Puzzle Answers and Spangram Revealed (#597)

Today’s NYT Strands puzzle for October 21, 2025 (#597) is here, and it’s a treat for music lovers. The theme is “Banding together,” and while some clues are straightforward, others may have left even seasoned players scratching their heads. If you’re stuck and need help finding all the answers — including the tricky spangram — we’ve got everything you need below.

The Strands puzzle is part of The New York Times’ growing family of daily word games, challenging players to find theme-related words hidden in a grid. As always, the goal is to uncover every theme word and the spangram that ties the puzzle together. Let’s break down today’s hints, solutions, and the word that connects it all.

NYT Strands Hints for October 21 – Theme and Clues Explained

Today’s puzzle is built around the theme “Banding together,” with the clue hint “Rock out.” As that suggests, the answers are all terms connected to live music, concerts, and the experience of attending a performance. If you found yourself stuck, unlocking a few smaller words like POLE, LOPE, RATS, GATE, or LINE might have helped reveal the bigger theme words automatically.

The spangram — a special word or phrase that stretches across the board and connects the theme — is key to solving the entire puzzle. For puzzle #597, the spangram ties everything together perfectly.

Today’s NYT Strands Answers – October 21, 2025 (#597)

Here’s the full list of answers for today’s puzzle. If you were missing just one or two, check below to complete your board:

• STAGE
• ENCORE
• OPENER
• HEADLINER
• MERCHANDISE

Spangram: LIVECONCERT

To locate the spangram, start with the “L” three letters down on the far-left column and trace across. Once placed correctly, it will connect the puzzle’s theme and use up the remaining letters on the board.

Breaking Down Today’s Strands Puzzle

Today’s puzzle leaned heavily on music terminology, from the structure of live performances to the fan experience. “OPENER” and “HEADLINER” reference the lineup of a concert, while “STAGE” and “ENCORE” capture the performance itself. “MERCHANDISE” ties in the fan aspect, reflecting the broader concert-going culture.

The spangram “LIVECONCERT” is a clever encapsulation of the theme “Banding together.” Not only does it reference where these elements come together, but it also embodies the communal energy of live music events — a central idea of the puzzle.

As always, Strands challenges players not just to find words but to think about the relationships between them. Today’s edition reminded players how different aspects of music culture fit together to create the live experience fans cherish.

Strands continues to evolve into one of the most popular daily challenges for word lovers. Today’s puzzle shows why: it’s clever, thematic, and rewarding to solve — especially when that satisfying spangram finally clicks into place.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: What is the theme for NYT Strands on October 21?

The theme is “Banding together,” focused on live music and concerts.

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

The spangram is “LIVECONCERT.”

Q3: How many main answers are there in today’s puzzle?

There are five main theme words: STAGE, ENCORE, OPENER, HEADLINER, and MERCHANDISE.

Q4: What clue hint was given for today’s puzzle?

The clue hint was “Rock out,” pointing toward a music-related theme.

Q5: Where can I find more NYT puzzle hints?

You can check the daily hints for Wordle, Connections, Mini Crossword, and more on major news sites like CNET and CNN.