Yellow group
Straightforward
Gentle hint
A flourish when the surprise is finally unveiled.
Show one word
BEHOLD belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
"THERE YOU HAVE IT!"
Reveal all four words
- BEHOLD
- PRESTO
- SHAZAM
- VOILÀ
A little help. Your own aha.
Connections #1172
hints & answers for August 26, 2026
Keep the satisfaction of the solve. Get a nudge for one group, reveal a category, or check the answers at your own pace.
#1172
This reference always shows August 26, 2026. It is released in at least one timezone; every answer stays closed until you reveal it.
Which group has you stuck?
Pick a colour. Reveal one step at a time.
1/4
Green group
A little trickier
Gentle hint
Something you seem naturally good at.
Show one word
FORTE belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
KNACK
Reveal all four words
- FORTE
- GIFT
- STRENGTH
- TALENT
Blue group
More challenging
Gentle hint
A single capital letter can represent all four in different settings.
Show one word
PAGE belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
WHAT "P" MIGHT STAND FOR
Reveal all four words
- PAGE
- PARK
- PHOSPHORUS
- PIANO
P can mean page, a parking or gear position, phosphorus, or the musical instruction piano.
Purple group
Wordplay & surprises
Gentle hint
One short word can introduce all four.
Show one word
CHAIN belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
KEY ___
Reveal all four words
- CHAIN
- LARGO
- LIME
- SIGNATURE
KEY CHAIN, KEY LARGO, KEY LIME and KEY SIGNATURE all begin with KEY.
Show categories only
- Yellow: "THERE YOU HAVE IT!"
- Green: KNACK
- Blue: WHAT "P" MIGHT STAND FOR
- Purple: KEY ___
Ready for the full solution?
All four categories and their words, together.
Reveal all four answers
Yellow
"THERE YOU HAVE IT!"
BEHOLD · PRESTO · SHAZAM · VOILÀ
Green
KNACK
FORTE · GIFT · STRENGTH · TALENT
Blue
WHAT "P" MIGHT STAND FOR
PAGE · PARK · PHOSPHORUS · PIANO
Purple
KEY ___
CHAIN · LARGO · LIME · SIGNATURE
This puzzle’s recorded solution
The date and puzzle number identify this exact board. Use the individual group controls to compare its recorded categories and words, then return to the archive to find another puzzle.
Continue from this date
About the answers and hints
Categories and answers follow the recorded NYT puzzle. Our hints are independent: some are original category clues, while others give the first letters of the four words. Each hint is labelled so you can choose how much help to take.
Group colours follow the puzzle’s yellow, green, blue and purple order, from the most straightforward to the trickiest. Your own experience may differ. The reference tiles may appear in a different order from your game. Picture puzzles have separately hidden descriptions, since a description can give away the wordplay.
The daily page starts with the UTC puzzle date and, with JavaScript enabled, checks the puzzle for your local time zone. Every reveal starts closed when the date changes. Play Connections at The New York Times or contact us about a correction.