Searching for the NYT Crossword answers today? If today’s New York Times Crossword has a few clues standing in the way, this guide has everything needed to finish the puzzle.
Below, you’ll find a spoiler-light overview, followed by hints for every Across and Down clue before revealing the complete answers. Whether only one square is missing or the entire grid needs solving, today’s guide for September 07, 2026 covers every clue in order.
07 September 2026 – NYT Crossword overview
Today’s crossword offers a balanced challenge with a clever central theme that gradually becomes apparent as more of the grid is completed. Several clues rely on wordplay and misdirection, while a handful of modern abbreviations and pop culture references may slow down even experienced solvers.
The puzzle is approachable for regular crossword players but still contains enough tricky clues to make the final solve satisfying. Looking for hints first? Start with the sections below before scrolling to the complete answers.
NYT Crossword September 7, 2026 Theme: “Elevator Music”
The key revealer is:
15D — ELEVATOR MUSIC — “Uplifting tunes? … or a hint to the circled squares”
The four long Down entries are:
3D — ALL A TINGLE — “Electric with excitement”
7D — ERRAND BOYS — “Some gofers”
29D — CHICK COREA — “Grammy-winning pianist with the Elektric Band”
32D — PIZZA JOINT — “Dive offering slices”
Each of these answers runs vertically through a column containing circled squares. The circles effectively travel up and down, just like an elevator, while the entries themselves can be read as two-word phrases. Crossword Fiend describes the four vertical theme entries as the central mechanism and notes that two are associated with musical ideas while the other two are ordinary phrases.
The theme is especially elegant because ELEVATOR MUSIC works on two levels: it literally suggests music associated with an elevator, while “elevator” tells you what the circled squares are doing—moving up and down. Jim Horne’s note confirms this interpretation.
NYT Crossword Across hints and answers for September 07, 2026
Start with the hint if you’d like to keep solving on your own. The answer is listed directly underneath.
| No. | Clue | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1A | Actress Longoria or Mendes | EVA |
| 4A | Word after op or pop | ART |
| 7A | Jabbers on a plane? | ELBOWS |
| 13A | Hip-hop’s ___ Wayne | LIL |
| 14A | “If I ___ a Carpenter” | WERE |
| 16A | First-year professional athlete | ROOKIE |
| 17A | Illegal | UNLAWFUL |
| 19A | Meal, formally | REPAST |
| 20A | Not working, as a phone | DEAD |
| 21A | Tool for winter fishing | ICE SAW |
| 23A | Affirmative | YES |
| 24A | To be, in Barcelona | ESTAR |
| 26A | Made level | EVENED |
| 28A | Apple all-in-one computer | IMAC |
| 30A | Contribute something more | ADD |
| 31A | Hoppy brews, for short | IPAS |
| 35A | Dependable, upstanding guy | MENSCH |
| 37A | Key often near Caps Lock | TAB |
| 38A | Bog down | MIRE |
| 39A | What a hen lays | EGG |
| 40A | Robes tied with obis | KIMONOS |
| 43A | Bit of acne, informally | ZIT |
| 44A | How Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic in 1927 | SOLO |
| 46A | ___ and Driver (magazine) | CAR |
| 47A | “Holy cannoli!” | YOWZAH |
| 49A | Fret | STEW |
| 50A | Kipling novel or its young hero | KIM |
| 51A | Singer Bareilles | SARA |
| 52A | “Beats me!” | NO CLUE |
| 55A | Indian princes | RAJAS |
| 58A | Rotor speed fig. | RPM |
| 61A | Ordered (around) | BOSSED |
| 63A | Carry | TOTE |
| 64A | Wizard’s mixture | ELIXIR |
| 66A | Not now, but later | IN A WHILE |
| 68A | Cut out | DELETE |
| 69A | List, as in a reference | CITE |
| 70A | Yea’s opposite | NAY |
| 71A | Ukrainian seaport, in an older spelling | ODESSA |
| 72A | “Let’s ___!” (“Dinner’s on!”) | EAT |
| 73A | Org. checking carry-on bags | TSA |
NYT Crossword Down hints and answers for September 07, 2026
| No. | Clue | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | Deftly avoid | ELUDE |
| 2D | Plants with tendrils | VINES |
| 3D | Electric with excitement | ALL A TINGLE |
| 4D | Cry over a newborn | AWW |
| 5D | Home loan overhaul, in brief | REFI |
| 6D | Halt to hostilities | TRUCE |
| 7D | Some gofers | ERRAND BOYS |
| 8D | Handbag fashion label from Madrid | LOEWE |
| 9D | Playful knock on the noggin | BOP |
| 10D | Give the thumbs-up | OKAY |
| 11D | Sagacious | WISE |
| 12D | Divisions in a tennis match | SETS |
| 15D | Uplifting tunes? … or a hint to the circled squares | ELEVATOR MUSIC |
| 18D | President after Washington | ADAMS |
| 22D | Alternative to a convertible or station wagon | SEDAN |
| 25D | Hat holder | RACK |
| 27D | Barely visible, as light from a star | DIM |
| 29D | Grammy-winning pianist with the Elektric Band | CHICK COREA |
| 32D | Dive offering slices | PIZZA JOINT |
| 33D | Puccini’s “Nessun dorma,” e.g. | ARIA |
| 34D | Meyers of late night | SETH |
| 35D | Clutter | MESS |
| 36D | Rare four-award achievement in entertainment, for short | EGOT |
| 41D | Slips in a slot at the post office | MAILS |
| 42D | Fly to new heights | SOAR |
| 45D | Dominate, in sports slang | OWN |
| 48D | “I was angry with my foe: / I told it not, my ___ did grow”: William Blake | WRATH |
| 53D | Passing notices, informally | OBITS |
| 54D | Counting-out rhyme opener | EENIE |
| 56D | Book made obsolescent by GPS | ATLAS |
| 57D | “Buh-bye!” | SEE YA |
| 58D | Attempt anew | REDO |
| 59D | Said “guilty,” say | PLED |
| 60D | One of 26 in a marathon | MILE |
| 62D | Contents of an Excel spreadsheet | DATA |
| 65D | Kisses, symbolically | XES |
| 67D | Like some dog kisses | WET |
Tips for solving the NYT Crossword
Even if today’s crossword proved difficult, a few strategies can make future puzzles much easier.
- Fill in the shortest clues first to build crossing letters.
- Skip clues that seem impossible and return later with more letters in place.
- Watch for question marks, as they often signal puns or wordplay.
- Look for common crossword abbreviations, initials, and shortened forms.
- Don’t ignore theme clues, as they often unlock multiple answers throughout the puzzle.
- Use crossing answers to verify uncertain guesses instead of forcing words that don’t fit.
Consistently solving a few puzzles each week also helps build familiarity with recurring clue styles commonly used in the NYT Crossword.
Final thoughts
The NYT Crossword for September 07, 2026 delivers another enjoyable daily challenge with a satisfying mix of straightforward clues, clever wordplay, and a memorable theme. Whether only a couple of answers were needed or the complete solution was required, hopefully this guide helped finish today’s puzzle.
Be sure to check back tomorrow for another complete set of NYT Crossword hints and answers, including spoiler-free clues followed by the full solution.
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