Past puzzleJun 13, 2026Puzzle #1009

Strands hints: Jun 13, 2026

Revisit the NYT Strands puzzle from Jun 13, 2026 (2026-06-13) with the theme clue, deeper hints, the spangram, and the solved grid all in one place.

Puzzle #1009 · 2026-06-13

Step through today’s Strands hints

Today's grid has 6 theme words and a 7-letter spangram. Category signal: Pop Culture. Difficulty signal: Medium.

Layer 1

Hint 1 – theme clue

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Track event

6 theme wordsSpangram 7 lettersMediumPop Culture

Layer 2

Hint 2 – board structure

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This board is built around 6 themed answers plus a 7-letter spangram that ties the whole set together. Touches the left and right edges.

6 theme wordsSpangram: 7 lettersDifficulty: MediumTheme: Pop Culture

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Layer 3

Hint 3 – starting letters

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Here are the opening letters and broad board regions for each hidden answer, plus the opening letter of the spangram.

Theme word 1

Starts with L • bottom-left quadrant

Theme word 2

Starts with L • top-right quadrant

Theme word 3

Starts with M • bottom band

Theme word 4

Starts with M • top-right quadrant

Theme word 5

Starts with Q • top-left quadrant

Theme word 6

Starts with S • top-left quadrant

Spangram

Starts with K • Touches the left and right edges

Layer 4

Hint 4 – theme words

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Here are the exact theme answers without the board paths yet.

LOUDSPEAKERLYRICSMICROPHONEMUSICQUEUESONG

Layer 5

Hint 5 – spangram

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KARAOKE

Path: (4, 1) → (4, 2) → (4, 3) → (3, 3) → (3, 4) → (3, 5) → (3, 6)

Layer 6

Hint 6 – solved grid

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Blue cells = theme wordsGold cells = spangram

LOUDSPEAKER

(5, 3) → (5, 2) → (5, 1) → (6, 1) → (7, 1) → (8, 1) → (8, 2) → (8, 3) → (8, 4) → (8, 5) → (8, 6)

LYRICS

(4, 4) → (4, 5) → (4, 6) → (5, 6) → (5, 5) → (5, 4)

MICROPHONE

(6, 3) → (6, 2) → (7, 2) → (7, 3) → (7, 4) → (7, 5) → (7, 6) → (6, 6) → (6, 5) → (6, 4)

MUSIC

(1, 5) → (1, 6) → (2, 6) → (2, 5) → (2, 4)

QUEUE

(2, 1) → (1, 1) → (1, 2) → (1, 3) → (1, 4)

SONG

(3, 1) → (3, 2) → (2, 2) → (2, 3)

Theme clue

Track event

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