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1 | Last updated September 2026 Please leave a comment if you have any questions or can't find something you're looking for, and I'll help as soon as I can! — Matthew | Publication updates | Submission Logistics | Puzzle Construction Logistics | |||||||||||||||||||
2 | Editors (*Lead editor) | Full specs | Send submissions to: | Submission limits ("Submissions" = completed puzzles + theme queries where applicable) | Average response time | Average acceptance to publication time | Proof shared before publication? | Title? | Theme queries? | Themeless puzzles? (Max word count) | Asymmetry allowed? | Rebuses? | Circled squares? | 15x rate | 21x rate | Other | Non-standard sizes? | Print/Online | Notes | ||||
3 | Daily | New York Times **Submissions closed until Sept 9** | *Will Shortz Tracy Bennett Sam Ezersky Joel Fagliano Christina Iverson Wyna Liu Ian Livengood | Link | This online submission portal [PDF editor for NYT submissions] | Three puzzles pending review "We count collaborations as half for each byline." "If your collaborator has never been published by the Times, the puzzle will not count toward your total." | 3 months | Yes | Sunday only | No | Yes (72) | Sparingly | Yes | Yes and shaded | $500 if first or second $750 third and onward | $1,500 if first or second $2,250 third and onward | 16x15 and 15x16 are sometimes published, as are 14x15 or 14x16. There should be a theme-specific reason for these dimensions. Any larger is not accomodated in daily puzzles. 21x22, 22x21, 22x22 and other oddly-sized grids are accomodated on Sundays. | Print and online | |||||
4 | UK+AU Outlet TBA | Ali Gascoigne Taylor Johnson | Link | ali.gascoigne@contractor.amuniversal.com | No current limit on number of submissions/queries | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes; symmetry is "preferred, but not required" | No | Yes | $500 | N/A | No | "We are looking for fun and accessible puzzles that will appeal to a wide variety of solvers in the UK and Australia. All puzzles should be accessible to all-comers, ranging from experienced solvers to those who may be trying a crossword for the very first time. Difficulty level will remain consistent throughout the week. All puzzles should strive for an easy difficulty level." | |||||||
5 | Universal | *David Steinberg Aidan Deshong Anna Gundlach Tarun Krishnamurthy | Link | amsxwords@gmail.com | One puzzle at a time between Universal and USun (see below) Collaborations count as half a submission "If we tentatively accept a puzzle, we ask that you refrain from submitting more until the puzzle is finished (aka in our publication queue)." | 1 week | 1.5 months | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (74) | Yes | No | Yes* *editors will help with workarounds for web-based solver that does not support circles | $150 | N/A | No | Print and online | Weekly submission data can be found at this link | ||||
6 | USA Today | Beginning in September, non-roster constructors are invited to submit at any time, with a maximum of one puzzle in the submission queue at a time. Constructors may start a new submission after sending clues for their previous puzzle. | *Amanda Rafkin Amie Walker | Link | usatcrosswords@gmail.com | One submission at a time New submissions only after an existing submission has been accepted or rejected | 2-3 months | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (78) | Yes | No | No | $150 | N/A | No | Weekend puzzles published online only | |||||
7 | Apple News+ | *Erik Agard Anna Gundlach | Link | applenewscrossword@puzzlesociety.com | One submission at a time New submissions only after an existing submission has been accepted or rejected | 2 months | months | Yes | Themed only | No; clued puzzles only | Yes (78) | Yes | No | Yes | $500 | N/A | No | Online only | |||||
8 | Wall Street Journal | *Mike Shenk Joanne Sullivan | Link | wsjpuzzles@mikeshenk.com | Three total puzzles/queries pending review Not including completed puzzles that have been accepted for publication | 8 months Revisions 1 mo. | 3 months | No | Yes | Completed puzzles preferred over theme queries. Clued grids required after themes are approved. | No | No | Sparingly | Yes | $200 | $500 | No | Print and online | No Schrödinger puzzles (in which squares have more than one correct answer) No unsolicited submissions for the Friday meta puzzles | ||||
9 | Los Angeles Times | *Patti Varol Katie Hale | Link | LATCrossword@pattivarol.com | Three unanswered submissions pending review | ~1.5 months | No | Sunday only | Sunday and oddly sized only; completed, clued puzzles preferred otherwise | Yes (72) | No | No | Yes | $150 | $300 | 16x15, 15x14 accepted | Print and online | ||||||
10 | Newsday | Stanley Newman | Link | sngrids@gmail.com | "Newcomers should submit no more than one theme idea at a time." | No | Yes | Yes | Yes (72), inquiry welcome if previously published elsewhere | No | No | No | $100 M-F $150 Sat | $300 | Print and online | ||||||||
11 | Puzzmo **Submissions currently closed** | Brooke Husic | Link | One submission | by February 28 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | N/A | N/A | $150 | Midi puzzles (60-110 white squares) | Online only | Puzzmo's specs are very thorough; I recommend reading them thoroughly before submitting! -M.S. | |||||
12 | Weekly | Defector Monday **Submissions closed until Sept. 20** | *Maitreyi Anantharaman Hoang-Kim Vu | Link | crosswords@defector.com | One puzzle/query at a time | 2 weeks | 3-6 months | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, but run sparingly | Sparingly (see specs) | Yes | $400 | Yes, any rectangular puzzle ≥ 208 squares | Online only | Sports themes encouraged | |||||
13 | AVCX Classic Wednesday **Submissions currently closed** | *Ben Tausig Francis Heaney Wyna Liu Karen Lurie Paolo Pasco Jess Shulman Quiara Vasquez Byron Walden | Link | editor@avxwords.com | One puzzle/query, including those queued for publication | 1 month-6 weeks | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Sparingly | Yes | Yes and shaded | $400 | $500 | Any size | Online only | Accepts submissions December-January, May-June "(Often, when we reach the cap for a given submission period, we close early, so it may be wise to aim for the earlier part of a given submission window)" | |||||
14 | Fireball Wednesday | Peter Gordon | Link | xwords@optonline.net | One puzzle/query at a time No more than one submission per week | Within one week | 4-12 months | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | $451 | "As long as the two numbers [15x15, e.g.] add up to 29 or more, I’ll consider it." | See other | Online only | Very hard puzzles | ||||
16 | Spyscape Friday | Will Nediger | Link | spyscapecrosswords@gmail.com | 1 week | 4-6 months | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | $200 | N/A | Yes | Online only | Spy-themed puzzles | |||||
17 | Atlantic Sunday | Kelsey Dixon | Link | kelseydixon@theatlantic.com | One submission at a time Collaborations count as one submission for each constructor | 6 weeks | Yes | No | N/A | Yes, exclusively | Yes | No | No | $400 | N/A | "Will also consider other sizes such as 14x16, 15x16, etc." | Online only | Midweek difficulty | |||||
18 | Slate Sunday **Submissions currently closed** | Quiara Vasquez | crosswordsubmissions@slate.com | One submission during the open submission period | N/A | Yes | $300 | N/A | No | Online only | |||||||||||||
19 | Universal Sunday Sunday | *Jared Goudsmit Taylor Johnson Amie Walker | Link | amsxwords@gmail.com | One puzzle at a time between USun and Universal Collaborations count as half a submission "If we tentatively accept a puzzle, we ask that you refrain from submitting more until the puzzle is finished (aka in our publication queue)." | 1 month | 1.5 months | Yes | Yes` | Yes | Yes, every once in a while (134) | Yes | No | Yes | N/A | $350 | No | Print only | Weekly submission data can be found at this link | ||||
20 | Twice monthly | AVCX+ Every other Friday **Submissions currently closed** | Max Carpenter Ada Nicolle Sid Sivakumar Hoang-Kim Vu | Link | avcxplus@gmail.com | One puzzle per person during the submission period (collaborations count as a full submission for each author on the byline) | 1–2 months | 3–6 months | Yes | Yes | Yes, but themed puzzles are rarely accepted; themeless submissions are given far higher priority. Responses to theme queries may be slower | Yes | No | Unlikely | Yes and shaded | $300 | N/A | Will consider sizes/shapes other than 15x15 if there is a good reason | Online only | ||||
21 | Cryptic Crossweird 1st and 3rd Mondays | Momes Dob Olino Bob Weisz | Link | cryptics@crossweirdpuzzles.com | One puzzle in the queue at a time | 1-2 weeks | 2-3 months | Yes | No, but grids must be accepted before moving onto cluing | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $100 | ~90 white squares in both blocked and barred cryptics — see specs for more details | Online only | Cryptics | |||||
22 | The Gnomon | Andy Yingst | Link | gnomoncryptics@gmail.com | Yes | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $5 per clue | Online only | Variety cryptics | ||||||||||
23 | ~Monthly | Ariadne's Crossword Library 1st of each month | Emma Oxford | Link | damefoxwords@gmail.com | Yes | Yes | No | N/A | Yes | Yes | $150 first three puzzles $300 subsequent puzzles | See specs for details | Online only | Meta contest crosswords Puzzles by women and woman-aligned constructors | ||||||||
24 | Science News Every other month **Submissions currently closed** | Opening for submissions 9/1–9/30, with responses by 10/31 | *Sid Sivakumar Shannon Rapp | Link | One submission Collaborations count as one submssion for each constructor | Responses by November 30 | Puzzles published throughout 2026 | Yes | No; filled grids | No | No | No | Yes | $500 | N/A | Will consider sizes/shapes other than 15x15 if there is a good reason | Print and online | "All topics covered in the Science News publication, such as science, health, math, nature, and technology, are welcome." | |||||
25 | Yearly | Simon & Schuster Mega Series **Submissions currently closed** | John Samson | jsamson001@gmail.com | One query + one grid | 4+ years | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | $75 | $200 | 17x: $110 19x: $150 | Only those specified in "Other" | Print only | Puzzles are published in an annual 300-puzzle book and paid upon publication; accepted puzzles are already filling the 2030 edition | ||||
26 | Canadian Crossword Open | Tournament puzzle submissions for Canadian constructors, open until December 15 | Elliot Caroll Emma Lawson | Link | This form | One submission | Published at tournament on June 5, 2027 | Yes | Yes, and subtitle | Yes | No | No | 150 CAD | N/A | Print only | ||||||||
27 | Misc. | Crossword Curiosities **Submssions currently closed** | Hannah Binney Madison Shultz | Link | crosswordcuriosities@gmail.com | One puzzle per person | Yes | No; submit a completed grid + title | No | Yes | N/A | $50 | 60–121 white squares | Online only | "We are looking for themed, midi sized crossword puzzles that have a spooky, morbid, or quirky twist." | ||||||||
28 | Midwest Crossword Tournament Tournament Day October 3 | Tracy Bennett Christina Iverson Shannon Rapp Sally Hoelscher | Link | - | One submission | Yes | Yes | Yes — required with filled unclued grid no later than April 24 | Yes | $400 | N/A | "The call is open to constructors currently located in one of the following U.S. states: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio; OR those who are from, or have spent considerable time in the Midwest but currently living elsewhere. Two-person collaborations are welcome if both constructors are Midwestern. Previous Midwest Tournament constructors are not eligible to submit." | |||||||||||
29 | AVCX+ Variety Puzzles **Submissions currently closed** | Max Carpenter Ada Nicolle Sid Sivakumar Hoang-Kim Vu | Link | avcxplus@gmail.com | Two pitches during this open call (between now and June 30) | 1 month | < 9 months | Yes | Yes | Yes; pitch details in spec sheet | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $300 or more | Online only | Existing puzzles such as Rows Garden, Trail Mix, Marching Bands, etc. or original variety formats; see specs for details | ||||||
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