NYT Mini Crossword — October 26, 2026
Hints — one at a time
Hint 1 of 5
Today's grid opens across with the crisp sound of walking through fallen autumn leaves, then Santa's signature jolly laugh.
Hint 2 of 5
Continue across with the blockbuster film series featuring blue-skinned Na'vi aliens, a brain cell that transmits signals, and a phrase meaning "I get it, stop explaining."
Hint 3 of 5
Down begins with the martial-arts movie star known for action-comedy films, and a verb for wandering aimlessly from place to place.
Hint 4 of 5
Continue down with a well-known moving-truck rental company, and the famous Parisian cathedral whose name means "Our Lady."
Hint 5 of 5
Down ends with a word for total chaos and disorder, and the hand-gesture battle cry shouted by University of Texas fans.
The answer — spoilers!
Reveal the full answer
- Sound of fall leaves underfoot — CRUNCH
- Santa's laugh — HOHOHO
- Hit film franchise with blue-skinned aliens known as Na'vi — AVATAR
- Brain nerve cell — NEURON
- "Say ___!" ("Alright, I get it") — LESS
- Action star Jackie — CHAN
- Wander this way and that — ROVE
- Big name in moving vans — UHAUL
- ___-Dame Cathedral — NOTRE
- Complete pandemonium — CHAOS
- "Hook 'em ___" (battle cry of the University of Texas) — HORNS
This puzzle by the numbers
- 5 across, 6 down
- CRUNCH (6)
Counted from our own archive of NYT Mini Crossword answers — not published anywhere else.
