If you’re hooked on the daily NYT Strands puzzle, you’re not alone. It’s a fresh word game from the New York Times that combines elements of a word search with clever, theme-based twists.

21 October 2025 NYT Strands Theme: “Banding Together”

Today’s Strands went full front-row: lights, amps, and that delicious post-show buzz. The theme “Banding Together” centers on the live-music experience — the people, the place, the merch — everything that makes a concert feel electric.

21 October 2025 NYT Strands: Hints

  1. Live Event Vibes: Think what happens before, during, and after a show.
  2. Backstage & Onstage: Some words point to the performers’ space, others to the crowd-facing side.
  3. Encore Energy: One word is what fans beg for when the show’s too good to end.
  4. Merch Table: One answer lives on T-shirts and tote bags.
  5. Headliner: Look for the big name on the poster.
  6. Doors & Lobby: A practical word—where everyone gathers before the set.
  7. Reopening Venues: One word hints at bringing venues back to life.
  8. Spangram: Two words that describe the whole noisy, glorious event.

21 October 2025 NYT Strands: Answers

  • REOPEN – bring the venue back into action
  • STAGE – where the performers do their thing
  • MERCHANDISE – tees, posters, and tour souvenirs
  • ENCORE – the call for just one more song
  • HEADLINER – the act at the top of the bill

Spangram

LIVE CONCERT — the phrase that threads the grid together: lights up, crowds in, music loud.

How Strands works

Strands is a daily word search puzzle with a twist:

  • You’re given a theme.
  • The grid is packed with hidden words tied to that theme.
  • Words can run in any direction, including diagonals.
  • Once you find all the theme words, you’re done!

Each puzzle usually has around 6–8 theme words.

How to get and use hints

Hints are built right into Strands, and they’re super useful if you’re stuck:

  • To earn a hint, find any non-theme word of at least four letters in the grid.
  • Each valid extra word gives you one hint.
  • When you use a hint, one of the theme words will be revealed automatically, helping you move forward.

Pro tip: Don’t just burn hints — use them strategically when the grid feels impossible. Sometimes a single revealed word unlocks the entire board.

Tips to become a NYT Strands pro

  1. Start with obvious words. Look for clear connections to the theme first.
  2. Scan diagonals early. Strands loves to hide words at an angle.
  3. Build around found words. Once one word is cleared, the leftover letters often point to the next.
  4. Use hints wisely. Earn them steadily by spotting extra words, then save them for when you’re truly stuck.
  5. Think about synonyms. The theme clue isn’t always literal — broaden your thinking.

Final Thoughts

October 21’s Strands captured the thrill of a night out at a show: anticipation, merch runs, and that collective roar when the headliner steps on stage. A satisfying, loud, and fun solve.