Stuck on the July 12, 2026 NYT Strands puzzle? Here are progressive hints and the full answer for the “In the Big Apple” puzzle (Strands #552 of 552 in our archive). Every reveal is hidden by default — click to open the ones you need.
The theme for the July 12, 2026 NYT Strands puzzle is “In the Big Apple”. Every theme word and the spangram connects back to this phrase, so think about what related words might fit a 6×8 grid of 48 letters before you start scanning.
The spangram for the “In the Big Apple” puzzle is 11 letters long and starts with the letter E. It touches two opposite edges of the grid, as every NYT Strands spangram does.
Besides the spangram, the July 12, 2026 NYT Strands puzzle has 7 theme words. Together with the spangram, they use every letter on the 6×8 grid exactly once.
The spangram for the July 12, 2026 NYT Strands “In the Big Apple” puzzle is EMPIRESTATE. It spans two opposite edges of the 6×8 grid and captures the theme directly.
Here are the 7 theme words for the July 12, 2026 NYT Strands “In the Big Apple” puzzle:
Plus the spangram EMPIRESTATE, that’s every word on the grid — all 48 letters accounted for.
Answers for the July 12, 2026 NYT Strands puzzle. Strands Unlimited is an independent fan archive — today's NYT Strands is free on nytimes.com/games/strands.
"In the Big Apple" is the kind of Strands theme that makes you smile once you figure it out. The phrase works on two levels, and the spangram clarifies which one the puzzle is actually about. This science & technology puzzle is built around wordplay, so approach the grid with an open mind — the theme words might not be what you first expect from reading the title alone.
At 7 theme words, this is one of the denser puzzles in the archive. The grid is packed, so words will be closer together. The 11-letter spangram is notably long, consuming a good chunk of the grid's 48 letters. Its size makes it easier to find if you focus on the grid's edges. Originally published on a Sunday, Puzzle #552 is a more recent addition to the 552+ puzzle archive.