The New York Times’ daily word game, Connections, continues to challenge players with its clever groupings. Today’s puzzle, released on February 26, 2026, offers a mix of straightforward and more elusive categories. If you’re stuck, or just want to see how you fared, here’s a breakdown of the hints and solutions for Connections #991.
For those who enjoy a bit of post-game analysis, the Times now offers a Connections Bot, similar to the one available for Wordle. This tool provides a numeric score and analyzes your solving process, appealing to players who like to track their progress. Registered users of the Times Games section can also monitor their overall stats, including puzzles completed, win rate, perfect scores, and win streaks.
Connections Hints for February 26
Here are four hints, progressing from the easiest to the most challenging category, to assist you crack today’s puzzle. The yellow category is often the most accessible, while the purple can be particularly tricky.
- Yellow Group Hint: Iconic moment.
- Green Group Hint: Color of this group.
- Blue Group Hint: Try the fish, I’m here all week.
- Purple Group Hint: Polite request.
Connections Answers for February 26
Ready to reveal the solutions? Here’s a breakdown of each category and its corresponding words:
Yellow Group: Pivotal Point
The theme for the yellow group is “pivotal point.” The four words that fit this category are: crossroads, landmark, milestone, and watershed.
Green Group: Green Things
This group centers around “green things.” The answers are grasshopper, shamrock, Statue of Liberty, and wasabi. The Statue of Liberty’s green patina, resulting from copper oxidation, makes it a fitting inclusion.
Blue Group: Elements of Joke-Telling
The blue group focuses on “elements of joke-telling.” The words that connect are callback, punchline, setup, and timing.
Purple Group: “____ Please”
The most challenging category, the purple group, revolves around the phrase “____ please.” The solutions are attention, check, drumroll, and pretty.
Toughest Connections Puzzles to Date
The New York Times Connections has presented some particularly challenging puzzles since its launch. Some of the most difficult, as noted by players, have included:
- #5: Things you can set (mood, record, table, volleyball)
- #4: One in a dozen (egg, juror, month, rose)
- #3: Streets on screen (Elm, Fear, Jump, Sesame)
- #2: Power ___ (nap, plant, Ranger, trip)
- #1: Things that can run (candidate, faucet, mascara, nose)
These past puzzles demonstrate the game’s ability to challenge players with unexpected connections and require creative thinking. Successfully navigating the daily Connections puzzle requires a blend of vocabulary, pattern recognition, and a little bit of luck.
As Connections continues to evolve, players can expect more inventive and thought-provoking puzzles. The game’s popularity shows no signs of waning, and the daily challenge remains a favorite pastime for word game enthusiasts.
What was your experience with today’s puzzle? Share your thoughts and strategies in the comments below!
