Need a nudge before the solution? The February 22, 2026, NYT Strands theme is “Olympics wrap-up.” The spangram is CLOSING CEREMONY, and the six other theme words are FLAME, ATHLETE, PARADE, MEDAL, FLAG, and ANTHEM.
Hints for the February 22 Strands puzzle
The published theme clue is “Olympics wrap-up.” A supplemental clue is “Elements of the final celebration.”
If you want a smaller nudge, the answers begin with these letter pairs: FL, CL, AT, PA, ME, FL, and AN. The order can vary between guides, so use them as starting-letter clues rather than a sequence.
Full solution
Spoilers below: The complete answer set has seven entries, counting the spangram.
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- Spangram: CLOSING CEREMONY
- Other theme words: FLAME, ATHLETE, PARADE, MEDAL, FLAG, ANTHEM
The spangram visually resembles an Olympic torch, an observation about its arrangement on the board rather than an official explanation of the puzzle.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How Strands works
Strands is a word-search-style game played on a six-by-eight letter grid. Connect letters to find words related to the daily theme. The spangram describes the theme and stretches between two opposite sides of the board, though it does not have to start or end at those edges. Every three valid non-theme words you find earns a hint that reveals letters from a theme word.
NYT Strands can be played on the NYT website and in the NYT Games app.
Quick Recap
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