If you’re reading this, you’re looking for some help with Strands, the New York Times’ innovative word-search challenge.

Strands pushes players to reimagine the classic word search. Words can be created from adjoining letters — upward, downward, sideways, or diagonally, and they can shift direction, forming distinct shapes and arrangements. Each letter in the grid contributes to a solution. There’s always a theme linking each response, along with the “spangram,” a unique word or phrase that embodies the day’s theme and stretches across the grid either horizontally or vertically.

By providing an ambiguous clue and omitting the word list, Strands offers a mind-bending experience that may require more time than other games like Wordle and Connections.

If you find yourself at a standstill or don’t have 10 minutes or more to tackle today’s puzzle, we have all the NYT Strands hints you require to advance at your own pace.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: A lively good time

The words relate to celebrations.

Today’s NYT Strands theme clearly outlined

These words refer to various enjoyable gatherings.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today’s NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today’s spangram is Parties.