The Boston Globe Mini Crossword is your perfect mind exerciser of daily wordplay, with New England-flavoured brain boost in a compact format! It delivers the same satisfaction of a full-sized puzzle but is perfectly sized for your morning coffee break or a short subway ride. Here are the clues and answers for today’s Boston Globe Mini Crossword for January 2, 2026 .

Today’s Boston Globe Mini Crossword Answers for January 2, 2026
Here are all the answers to the Boston Globe Mini Crossword of Today:
1 Across : Kid around – JOSH
5 Across : Concerning – ABOUT
7 Across : Former First Lady Bush – LAURA
8 Across : Like a gas tank on “E” – EMPTY
9 Across : Votes against – NAYS
Across 1: Painter Picasso – PABLO
Across 6: General Assembly figure, in brief – UNREP
Across 7: Laugh-a-minute types – RIOTS
Across 8 : Rap pioneers Run- _ – DMC
Across 9: Tibetan ox – YAK
1 Down : With 4-Down, Philadelphia quarterback who was M.V.P. of Super Bowl LIX – JALEN
2 Down : Former First Lady Michelle – OBAMA
3 Down : Sentimental – SOUPY
4 Down : See 1-Down – HURTS
6 Down : Longest river in Scotland – TAY
Down 1: See 3-Down – PURDY
Down 2: Inner personality, to Jung – ANIMA
Down 3: With 1-Down, San Francisco quarterback who was the last player selected in the 2022 N.F.L. Draft – BROCK
Down 4: Give permission to – LET
Down 5: Photo _ (media events) – OPS

What do you think of today’s Boston Globe Mini Crossword puzzle? Were you able to guess all the answers?
This crossword offers a neat mix of contemporary references and classic clueing, with entries that feel timely without being gimmicky. The grid balances pop culture, psychology, and sports in a way that keeps solvers engaged, and the clues are generally fair while still requiring a bit of lateral thinking. A couple of entries may slow down newer solvers, but overall the puzzle feels cohesive, approachable, and satisfying to complete. I’d rate the difficulty a solid 4 out of 5 .
You can also checkout today’s answers for other Crossword puzzles below:
- NYT Mini Crossword Hints and Answers
- Washington Post/LA Times Crossword Hints and Answers
- USA Today Crossword Hints and Answers
- LA Times Mini Crossword Hints and Answers
- Washington Post Mini Meta Crossword
- The New Yorker Mini Crossword Answers
How to Play the Boston Globe Mini Crossword
Playing the Boston Globe Mini Crossword is quick and simple:
- The Goal: Your objective is to fill in the small grid with words that correctly fit all the clues, both horizontally (Across) and vertically (Down).
- The Clues: You are given two lists of clues: “Across” clues correspond to the horizontal entries, and “Down” clues correspond to the vertical entries.
- Word Length: The grid itself determines the exact number of letters needed for each answer.
- Intersections: The key to crosswords is that letters you enter for an “Across” word will simultaneously serve as a letter for a “Down” word, and vice-versa. This intersecting structure is what helps you solve the tougher clues.
- Daily Challenge: A new Boston Globe Mini Crossword puzzle is published every day online, giving you a fresh challenge every 24 hours!