The Week in Puzzles!

For today’s post, I’ve gathered a few tidbits from around the world of puzzles to keep you informed. We’ve got puzzles to solve, a discount code, a new crossword tournament in 2027, and more!


This past weekend, I shared a puzzle in honor of several celebrities who passed away last week. But I wasn’t the only constructor who made a puzzle to celebrate the life of a beloved icon.

George Barany constructed a super-sized puzzle (23×22) in honor of music icon and humanitarian Dolly Parton.

You can click here to solve the puzzle, entitled “Bidding Bye Bye Backwoods Barbie.”

It’s a multi-page printout because the puzzle is loaded with trivia and references to her life, career, and accomplishments. It was clearly a labor of love, one that George kindly allowed me to share with all of you.


A new crossword tournament has been announced for 2027, as crosswords are coming to Canada!

The Canadian Crossword Open will be held on June 5th in Toronto! And they’ve already got constructors announced for the event.

Emma Lawson, Will Nediger, Ada Nicolle, Jess Shulman, and Nam Jin Yoon are all constructing for the tournament.

Not only that, but they’re hosting an open submission contest for Canadian constructors to contribute a puzzle to the inaugural tournament. Click here for more details!


Did you know that September is Sudoku Month? (At least, according to one calendar I saw.)

Well, apparently it is, and our friends at Penny/Dell Puzzles are running a promotion all month!

They’re offering a 15% off discount code on all Sudoku magazines, subscriptions, and value packs.

Just use the code “ilovesudoku” on their website to receive your discount and indulge in some Sudoku solving!


It’s always important when a constructor identifies a gap in the market or a group that is being underrepresented in puzzles.

Construct Robin Stears (a previous contributor to The Inkubator, Women of Letters, and several These Puzzles Fund Abortions collections) recently lamented the lack of an outlet featuring women-focused crosswords.

So she decided to create one herself.

Go to her Patreon to sample her Midi puzzles highlighting the accomplishments of women. You can download PDFs or solve digitally with puz versions of these 9×9 crosswords.

It’s a worthwhile endeavor to be sure, so please check it out.


Were there any stories or puzzly promotions this week that I missed? Let me know in the comments section below! I’d love to hear from you.