NYT Midi Crossword Answers for Thursday, October 1, 2026: “Close Encounters of the Crossword Kind”

Thursday, October 1, 2026 · Today's NYT Midi Crossword answers

OCT1

NYT Midi Crossword

Thursday, October 1, 2026

10×10“Close Encounters of the Crossword Kind”By Ian Livengood

36 clues. Tap Reveal on any clue for just that answer, or open the full solution at the bottom.

This Midi was titled “Close Encounters of the Crossword Kind” — the title hints at the theme. Clues that point at it: 19A.

Across

  1. 124-hour source of $$$ (3)
    RevealATM
  2. 4Undergarment purchase (3)
    RevealBRA
  3. 719th-century German composer Robert ___ (8)
    RevealSCHUMANN
  4. 9Quick nibble (9)
    RevealBITETOEAT
  5. 10Good bud (3)
    RevealPAL
  6. 11Size larger than small: Abbr. (3)
    RevealMED
  7. 12On top of (5)
    RevealABOVE
  8. 14Shade of light brown, from the French (4)
    RevealECRU
  9. 18Flat-topped hill common in the Southwest (4)
    RevealMESA
  10. 19With 20-Across, feature of many a sci-fi film ... and a hint to this puzzle's shaded squares (5)
    RevealALIEN
  11. 20See 19-Across (7)
    RevealCONTACT
  12. 22Health insurance giant (6)
    RevealHUMANA
  13. 25Luau necklace of flowers (3)
    RevealLEI
  14. 26Helps with a crime (5)
    RevealABETS
  15. 27South Bend's state: Abbr. (3)
    RevealIND
  16. 28Basic unit of heredity (4)
    RevealGENE
  17. 29Muddy home for pigs (3)
    RevealSTY

Down

  1. 1Perform in a play (3)
    RevealACT
  2. 2Party planning committee's concern (5)
    RevealTHEME
  3. 3TV remote button (4)
    RevealMUTE
  4. 4Sweetheart, slangily (3)
    RevealBAE
  5. 5Molecule involved in protein synthesis (3)
    RevealRNA
  6. 6Dracula ___, insect known to drink the blood of its own larvae (3)
    RevealANT
  7. 7Grain towers (5)
    RevealSILOS
  8. 8Car that was "large enough for the family but small enough for the individual," per Henry Ford (6)
    RevealMODELT
  9. 9Yankee great Ruth (4)
    RevealBABE
  10. 10Cooking spray brand (3)
    RevealPAM
  11. 13Move out (6)
    RevealVACATE
  12. 15Alternative to Viagra (6)
    RevealCIALIS
  13. 16Newish (6)
    RevealRECENT
  14. 17In need of cleaning up (6)
    RevealUNTIDY
  15. 19Actress de Armas (3)
    RevealANA
  16. 21Carry-___ (unchecked bags) (3)
    RevealONS
  17. 22Witch (3)
    RevealHAG
  18. 23Purple yam used in Filipino cuisine (3)
    RevealUBE
  19. 24Chess pieces (3)
    RevealMEN
Crossword regulars in this grid (spoilers)

Answers in this NYT Midi Crossword that had shown up before, counted over the 218 puzzles since February 2026:

LEI ×7ANT ×6ATM ×6ACT ×5BAE ×5BRA ×5MED ×4MEN ×4

Show all 36 answers and the solved grid

Across: 1A ATM4A BRA7A SCHUMANN9A BITETOEAT10A PAL11A MED12A ABOVE14A ECRU18A MESA19A ALIEN20A CONTACT22A HUMANA25A LEI26A ABETS27A IND28A GENE29A STY

Down: 1D ACT2D THEME3D MUTE4D BAE5D RNA6D ANT7D SILOS8D MODELT9D BABE10D PAM13D VACATE15D CIALIS16D RECENT17D UNTIDY19D ANA21D ONS22D HAG23D UBE24D MEN

About This NYT Midi Crossword

The NYT Midi for Thursday, October 1, 2026 was a 10×10 grid by Ian Livengood, titled “Close Encounters of the Crossword Kind”, with 36 clues; the longest answer ran 9 letters. That is 3 more than the average Thursday before it (33.5).

Also on Oct 1: the NYT Mini Crossword and the NYT Crossword.

Earlier October 2026 NYT Midi Crossword Answers

Oct 1

Every earlier puzzle is in the NYT Midi Crossword archive. For the newest one, see today's NYT Midi Crossword answers, which switch to the next puzzle as soon as it's released.

Unofficial fan guide — not affiliated with or endorsed by The New York Times. Clues are quoted for reference.