Need a hint for the September 28, 2026, NYT Strands puzzle? Game #939 has the theme “A form of art.” Start with the clue below, then use the spangram hint or reveal the full answer list when you’re ready.
What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands?
The theme is “A form of art.” Think of materials that can be shaped into sculpture. The answer set below is for Monday, September 28, 2026, game #939; if you meant a September 28 from another year, the puzzle will be different.
Need another hint?
Optional words to find first
TechRadar suggests looking for these off-theme words to unlock in-game hints: TALES, SPOT, TONE, SUGAR, BRAG, and POSTAL. These are published suggestions, not independently tested gameplay instructions. A third-party rules explainer says three valid off-theme words unlock a hint that highlights a theme word; it is not affiliated with The New York Times. Read its Strands rules explainer.
Spangram positioning
The spangram is nine letters long. TechRadar reports that its path touches the bottom edge at column 3 and the top edge at column 5. Use those positions as a further clue before opening the answers.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteFull NYT Strands answers for September 28
Spoiler warning: the spangram and all theme words are below.
- Spangram: SCULPTURE
- Theme words: BRONZE, CLAY, GLASS, MARBLE, SOAPSTONE, STEEL, WOOD
There is a discrepancy between published answer lists: TechRadar includes SCULPTURE and six theme words but leaves out STEEL. StrandsGuide lists all seven theme words and reports that its solution paths cover all 48 cells of the 6-by-8 board. NYT Game Solver’s monthly archive independently corroborates the date, theme, and spangram.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.
