Thursday’s NYT Mini Crossword: Hints, Clues, and Solutions for March 26, 2026

Filmogaz.com breaks down the NYT Mini Crossword for Thursday, March 26, 2026. This guide supplies hints, clues, and solutions without spoilers up front.

What the Mini looks like

The Mini is a compact 5×5 puzzle. It normally contains five Across and five Down entries.

Saturdays use a larger grid. New Mini puzzles appear at 10 p.m. EST on weekdays and Saturdays.

Quick facts about today’s puzzle

• Grid size: 5×5
• Total clues: 11 (5 Across, 6 Down)
• Theme: none — general knowledge mix
• Trickiest clue (per quick scan): the Italian cooking phrase for penne vodka
• Gimme clue: a simple synonym for conceal

Hints and short clue guide

Below are brief nudges to help solve the grid. These hints avoid giving full answers first.

Across hints

• 1 Across: Four letters for business school credentials often held by executives.
• 5 Across: Four letters that finish the lyric “___ want for Christmas …”.
• 6 Across: Five letters for the prop Hamlet brandishes in the famous speech.
• 7 Across: Five letters meaning wild or untamed, used for animals.
• 8 Across: Three letters for a round object or globe.

Down hints

• 1 Down: Five letters for a word that follows “match” or “mischief.”
• 2 Down: Five letters for the short promotional text on a book jacket.
• 3 Down: Four letters — a common Italian culinary term found in pasta dishes.
• 4 Down: Four letters for the bottom part of a window frame.
• 5 Down: Four letters for a basic synonym of “conceal.”
• 6 Down: Three letters — the Bay Area airport code.

Answers and explanation

Scroll only when ready for full solutions. These entries fill the full grid.

• Across: 1 MBAS, 5 ALLI, 6 SKULL, 7 FERAL, 8 ORB.
• Down: 1 MAKER, 2 BLURB, 3 ALLA, 4 SILL, 5 HIDE, 6 SFO.

Notable clues and solving tips

The Hamlet prop clue stands out for referencing classic literature. It rewards specific Shakespeare knowledge.

The dual-meaning clue that yields MAKER plays neatly on compound words. And HIDE remains a fast, helpful fill.

Speed solvers should watch for common crossword staples. Italian cooking terms like ALLA and abbreviations like MBAS appear often.

Timing and mechanics

The Mini includes a built-in timer and finishes with a chime when complete. There is no streak tracker in the Mini interface.

Sunday puzzles are released earlier than other days. Check schedule notes for exact drop times.