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We know you've only just got over the excitement of National Bagel Day, but there's no rest when it comes to free or heavily discounted food deals that celebrate a somewhat silly occasion. We're all about making the most of these events, and that means the schedule is pretty packed. Don't like free food? Get out of here.

The good news for anyone keen to properly celebrate National Popcorn Day is that there are already a bunch of confirmed promotions. We've lined up some of the best freebies and discounts below. We'll be updating this list with any new deals that drop as we approach Jan. 19.

National Popcorn Day dealsAMC Theatres

With the AMC Popcorn Pass, members can save 50% on large popcorn every day through 2026.

Cinemark

On Jan. 18-19, Moviegoers can bring their own bucket on National Popcorn Day. For $5, customers can get up to 400 ounces of popcorn. The only exception to this rule is if you bring a 5-gallon Lowe's bucket as your container. Cinemark has teamed up with Lowe's and agreed that you can fill the whole thing up (approximately 650 ounces of popcorn).

City Pop

Sspend $50 or more through Jan. 19 and get a free 32-cup Butter Popcorn bag.

Doc Popcorn

Get a free 12-ounce serving of Better Butter popcorn at participating locations on Jan. 19 — no purchase necessary.

Emagine Theaters

Get $5 popcorn buckets of any size on National Popcorn Day.

Evo Cinemas

Customers can get a free regular sized popcorn when they buy a movie ticket on National Popcorn Day.

Marcus Theaters

Ticket holders can pick up a free large popcorn on National Popcorn Day.

NCG

Reward members can get a free 46 ounce popcorn on National Popcorn Day.

Popsmith

Get 30% off Cream and Butter Poppers between Jan. 16-31.

Regal

Score one large popcorn serving for free on National Popcorn Day. There's only one catch. To qualify for this freebie, you need to arrive in costume. Tell someone at the concession stand what you're dressed as and you'll get free popcorn as a reward.

Showcase Cinemas

Starpass Members get a free small popcorn with any purchase on National Popcorn Day.

Most smart home sensors are designed for use inside the house, which is where their presence is most useful. But there’s no reason the data they gather and triggers they enable can’t have utility outside, too. Here are a few all-weather examples of outdoor sensors that you might have overlooked.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Monday, Jan. 19, 2026:

AcrossCrab's grabber

• The answer is Claw.

"Giant" fruit in a Roald Dahl novel

• The answer is Peach.

Prefix similar to mega-

• The answer is Ultra.

Fast and nimble

• The answer is Fleet.

"Fantastic" animal in a Roald Dahl novel

• The answer is Fox.

DownLarge stringed instrument

• The answer is Cello.

Balloon material

• The answer is Latex.

1/640th of a square mile

• The answer is Acre.

Just ___ the doctor ordered

• The answer is What.

Small bit of wind

• The answer is Puff.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.

In a behind-the-scenes clip from The Daily Show, Jon Stewart is asked by an audience member whether or not he'd consider running for office — and he kind of evades the question. But his answer is interesting nonetheless.

"This is a question that comes up a lot, and I think it speaks to — if I may, and I don't know the motivation — it speaks to this desperation and dissatisfaction that we have with the status quo," Stewart says. "You see somebody on television who's saying some of the things that resonate with you, and you think, 'Well f*** it'. 'I think you should be president' is the line that comes right after 'F*** it.'"

Well, that's not technically a "no" though, is it?

For a long time, I thought I was losing my mind. Sometimes, when I open the Duolingo app, the number of Quest Points is lower than I remember having the day before. I was convinced I must be imagining things, but it turns out that this is happening to other people, too.

SAVE $60: The DJI Mini 4K drone is on sale at Amazon for $239, down from the list price of $299. That's a 20% discount that matches the record-low price at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 4K $239 at Amazon
$299 Save $60   Get Deal

DJI is not having a quiet start to the year. The brand has been all over the news this winter with the FCC placing a ban on foreign drones. But there's a slight workaround to this which is that all foreign-made drones already in the country are exempt from the ban. That means if you find a model in stock at Amazon, it's best to hop on it before it sells out. That's even more true if the model is on sale.

As of Jan. 19, the DJI Mini 4K drone is in stock and on sale at Amazon for $239, marked down from the standard price of $299. That's a 20% discount that shaves $60 off the usual price. It also matches the lowest on record at Amazon.

If you're familiar with the content-creator sphere, you know how much everyone loves DJI. From the brand's drones to mini mics and even portable power stations, DJI knows how to make products that work really well for creating content. The DJI Mini 4K drone proves itself to be an excellent model for both beginners and advance drone fliers.

SEE ALSO: The DJI Osmo Mobile 7 has never been this affordable — upgrade your content creation with this $30 savings

DJI equipped this drone with plenty of attributes like one-tap takeoff and landing, a simple return-to-home button, and tutorials for beginners. This Mini 4K drone comes with one battery which will earn you a 31-minute flight with wind resistance up to about 23 miles per hour. Plus, its brushless motor is capable of taking off at altitudes that reach up to about 13,000 feet.

Keep in mind today's deal on the DJI Mini 4K comes from a third-party seller. Typically, Mashable doesn't recommend buying from these sellers on Amazon, but since DJI is no longer able to sell drones directly in the U.S., third-party is the best option for now. Hibikin-US, the listed seller at Amazon, has a solid positive performance rating over the last year, and you're still in line for Amazon's 30-day return policy.

While it's still in stock and on sale, upgrade to the DJI Mini 4K drone. You'll be in good hands with one of the most loved content-creator brands.

SAVE OVER $20: As of Jan. 19, Soundcore Q30 by Anker headphones are on sale for $53.99 at Amazon. This is $26 off their list price of $79.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore Q30 by Anker Headphones $53.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $26.00   Get Deal

Investing in new headphones doesn't need to break the bank. If you've been looking to buy a more budget-friendly option, the Soundcore Q30 by Anker headphones are worth a look.

As of Jan. 19, the Soundcore Q30 by Anker headphones are marked down to $53.99 at Amazon. Usually they retail for $79.99, so this deal saves you $26. Not to mention, these models are incredibly close to their lowest-ever price of $49.99, so why not grab them if they've been on your radar? And if you're not interested in the black headphones, you can also save on the other available colors (Beige, Blue, and Pink) for a couple of dollars more at $55.99.

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No matter if you're looking to have headphones for long trips or casual listening at home, the Soundcore Q30s boast hybrid active noise cancellation that can keep you focused on what you're listening to without any interruptions. They also feature 40mm drivers that offer up crisp, clear sound quality and a battery life of up to 50 hours in noise cancelling mode.

Amazon has the Soundcore Q30 by Anker headphones marked as a limited-time deal. Be quick to scoop them up at this discounted price.

If you're curious about other budget-friendly headphones that are worth a look, check out our breakdown of the best budget headphones to see some of our favorites.

TL;DR: The Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box is now just $26.99 at Amazon. That's the best-ever price for this product.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering | Avatar: The Last Airbender Beginner Box $26.99 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $8.00 Get Deal

The Avatar: The Last Airbender expansion is one of MTG’s best of 2025, and newcomers can't get started with the trading card game in a better way. As of Jan. 19, Magic: The Gathering’s Avatar: The Last Airbender Beginner Box is at a new low price of $26.99 on Amazon — that’s a 23% cut from its current $34.99 list price. 

This MTG beginner box is not only at its best-ever price (confirmed by price tracker camelcamelcamel), but is also one of the best ways to get into the game. Here’s everything that’s included in the Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box:

• Two 20-card starter decks — themed around Aang and Zuko

• Eight themed Avatar: The Last Airbender decks, 20 cards each

• Two playmats

• Two Spindown Life Counters

• Two Learn-to-Play Guides

• Five double-sided tokens

• Rules Reference booklet

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This deal almost brings this Beginner Box down to market value vs. TCGplayer. Whether you’re an Avatar fan wanting to give Magic: The Gathering a try or you’re an MTG veteran wanting to dive into one of the most popular franchises, this is definitely the best deal going. 

For more MTG bargains, you can also pick up the Avatar The Last Airbender Jumpstart Booster Box at a price closer to market value on Amazon. You can also master the One Piece TCG with its Learn Together Deck Set for $36.99 — a great way to get into another rising trading card game. 

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG 151 Booster Bundle is now $108.87 at Amazon. That's $12 off and below market value.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Scarlet & Violet 151 Booster Bundle $108.87 at Amazon
$120.79 Save $11.92 Get Deal

There’s no better example of short-supply Pokémon TCG expansions jumping up in price than the Pokémon TCG Scarlet & Violet 151 Booster Bundle. So any sort of discount is more than welcome.

As of Jan. 19, the Pokémon TCG 151 Booster Bundle is now $108.87 at Amazon — with a rare 10% chopped off its original $120.79 price tag. Including six booster packs from the original 151 Kanto Pokémon, this collection is popular for a reason. And this new price brings the booster bundle below its market value of $109.51 on TCGplayer.

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Released in 2023, the Pokémon TCG 151 expansion was one of the most popular selections due to its massive nostalgia power, dedicated to the original 151 Pokémon and packed with gorgeous illustration rares of the various Pocket Monsters. With such high demand and more priority being given to newer sets, getting 151 at a half-decent price is incredibly rare.

For more Pokémon TCG deals, the Mega Kangaskhan ex Box is almost at market price at 37% off on Amazon. What’s more, the Fall 2025 Edition of the Pokémon TCG: Collector Chest is on sale at over $20 off.  

SAVE OVER $150: As of Jan. 19, Amazon has marked the Roborock Q10 S5 robot vacuum and mop down to $229.99. This is 43% off its list price of $399.99, saving you $170.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Q10 S5 Robot Vacuum and Mop $229.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $170   Get Deal

A robot vacuum can be helpful to have at home, especially if you're hoping to get a headstart on spring cleaning this year. At the moment, quite a few are on sale, so it's a good time to shop around. If you're not looking to invest in one of the super pricey models, the Roborock Q10 S5 robot vacuum and mop is a more budget-friendly option that's worth a look, especially now that it's back to its lowest-ever price.

As of Jan. 19, the Roborock Q10 S5 robot vacuum and mop has dropped back to its lowest-ever price of $229.99 at Amazon. Usually it's listed for $399.99, so you'll be able to pocket $170, which is a pretty sweet deal. Act fast, as it may not stay at this price for long.

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Whether you're dealing with dirt, crumbs, or pet hair, the Roborock Q10 S5 features 10,000 Pa suction power to clear up your floors. There's no need to worry about hair slowing it down either, as it has a JawScrapers Comb main brush and an anti-tangle side brush that help to reduce tangles and keep it running smoothly. It even features obstacle avoidance technology that detects obstructions and helps the robot navigate around any items in its way as it cleans.

On top of that, the Roborock Q10 S5 has a VibraRise 2.0 Vibrating Mop System, which cleans up stains on harder surfaces as well. The mopping system even automatically lifts when it detects carpet, so you can get a full clean done around your home without having to manually adjust the vacuum.

Again, keep in mind this is a limited-time deal. Now is a great time to make a move on the Roborock Q10 S5 robot vacuum and mop while it's still on sale. Curious what other options are worth your time and money? Have a look at our roundup of the best robot vacuums to see some of our favorite picks.

Threads is winning the mobile war against X.

New data from Similarweb (via TechCrunch) indicates that Meta's short-form social network is winning over X when it comes to daily active users on iOS and Android.

In January, Threads had 141.5 million daily active users on mobile, compared to X's 125 million daily active users on the two major mobile platforms.

SEE ALSO: Threads will let users speak to the algorithm

It's not some sort of short-term fluke, either. The daily active users count has steadily increased over the last year for Threads, while slowly declining for X over the same time period. The two social networks were neck and neck last fall, but now Threads has clearly taken over.

Threads didn't achieve this overnight; the long-term trend is clear. Credit: Similarweb

Threads has been helped out by its parent Meta pushing users from Facebook and Instagram towards Threads. I've personally ended up on Threads numerous times without any intention to do so; I merely clicked a link on one of Meta's other social platforms.

The daily active user count trend is still meaningful, especially when compared to X, which is steadily losing users. The list of reasons why people would want to leave X is long and includes such issues as Grok-generated deepfakes, X owner Elon Musk's politics, and privacy issues.

On the web, however, it's a very different picture. Threads is growing there as well, but it only had 8.5 million daily web visits in January, compared to X's 145.4 million daily web visits.

Things have started off fairly gently for Dunk (Peter Claffey), but it looks like the stakes are going to get higher pretty soon.

HBO's "weeks ahead" trailer above for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms teases Dunk getting in the bad books of Prince Aerion Targaryen (Finn Bennett), ending with a trial by combat that sees him on a misty battlefield.

Hopefully we'll still get plenty more phlegm-based humour too, though.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is streaming on HBO, with new episodes dropping Sundays at 10 p.m. ET.

Though open earbuds share the common feature of sitting on the exterior of the ear, they come in many shapes and sizes, from clip models to ear hook models. Some are more geared toward working out, while others are better for everyday use. The Bose Ultra Open earbuds are an especially popular pick thanks to their sound quality and many colorways, but they're far from your only option (or the most affordable, at $299).

SEE ALSO: We've found the 9 best headphones of 2025 after extensive testing

Below, we've compiled some of the best open earbud models available in 2026.

Note: This guide is a work in progress, so we'll possibly be shifting (or expanding) our recommendations as we continue to test pairs, including those that were announced at CES 2026.

What are open earbuds?

Open earbuds allow you to get as close as you possibly can to the feeling of not wearing earbuds at all. Unlike in-ear earbuds which sit in your ear canal (as the name states), open earbuds sit just outside your ears. Some models hold the speaker component in place with an ear hook while others opt for an ear cuff.

SEE ALSO: We tested the top fitness trackers of 2025: See our favorite wearables and smart rings

People generally opt for open earbuds for three main reasons:

1. They provide a private listening experience while leaving you almost completely aware of the world around you. It's like the best transparency mode you've ever used.

2. For some people, not having an earbud physically in their ear is generally more comfortable.

3. The hooks and cuffs (along with the general awareness of your surroundings) make them a great option for keeping them in place, and keeping you alert, while you're working out.

What are the drawbacks of open earbuds?

As you may have gathered from the section above, open earbuds don't generally come with active noise cancellation. That's mostly thanks to how much sound they let in (by design) and the difficulty of cancelling out sound without having the device covering your actual ear canal.

Also thanks to the whole open ear-canal situation, these aren't going to be the earbuds for audiophiles. That's not to say open earbuds sound bad — if you've never tried them, we promise they sound much better than you're imagining — but you will lose out on some of the nuance of a song without having the earbud actually in your ear.

SEE ALSO: I tested sleep earbuds for over a month: Here are the 3 I'd buy

That said, many pairs still have equalizers on their companion apps to help you make them sound their best. Our upgrade pick, the Bose Ultra Open earbuds, even have a spatial audio feature that worked surprisingly well.

Most open earbuds will also boast some form of special technology that keeps them from leaking too much sound. While these pairs do pretty well in keeping the sound just to you, most pairs (including our picks) while be prone to some leakage, especially at higher volumes.

Finally, some open earbuds — mainly those with ear hooks — tend to have slightly bulkier cases. If you like to travel light, it's something to be aware of.

What about bone conduction headphones?

Bone conduction earbuds work exactly like the name implies they do — they use your skull to conduct sound waves, instead of projecting the sound into your ear, like most of the picks are on list. Typically, a band runs from either side of the users head to help hold the headphones in place.

Shokz, the brand behind our top pick, is a popular maker of these kinds of headphones. While we do consider them open earbuds, we have yet to test any bone conduction earbuds — look out in the future for that update. On that note:

What's next in our testing pipeline

The open earbuds market is rapidly expanding, so we'll be testing more as we can get our hands on them. Up next, we'll be trying out budget pairs of open earbuds under $100, as well as more pairs from Shokz.

In addition to the earbuds that made our final guide in May 2025, we tested out the Nothing Ear (Open) earbuds ($149), the Sony Linkbuds Open ($199.99), the Anker Soundcore AeroClip earbuds ($169.99), and the Shokz OpenFit Air ($119.95). While none of the above were bad earbuds by any means, we found our picks to outshine them in their comfort and sound quality, especially when considering their respective prices.

TL;DR: Stop renting your cloud storage and switch to this lifetime subscription to Drime Secure Cloud Storage for just $129.97 (reg. $299) through Feb. 15.

Opens in a new window Credit: Drime Drime Secure Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription $129.97
$299 Save $169.03   Get Deal

If you’re looking for wiggle room in your monthly budget, it might be time to cut the cord with your current cloud storage setup. Drime Secure Cloud Storage offers a more permanent option, letting you pay once and enjoy 2TB of space for life.

Right now, this lifetime subscription is even on sale for just $129.97 (reg. $299) through Feb. 15.

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Have you ever totaled up how much you spend on cloud storage in a year? Cloud storage doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg, and Drime Secure Cloud Storage proves that. With this European-based cloud storage provider, you pay one time and receive 2TB of storage space for life.

Since Drime Secure Cloud Storage is a European company, it’s GDPR-compliant, meaning your data is hosted in Europe and never routed through the United States. This allows you to enjoy serious security, and the end-to-end encryption means your files will be inaccessible to anyone but you.

Drime Secure Cloud Storage offers an easy-to-use interface, making it straightforward to upload, sync, and share from all your devices. You can also organize and manage files, clients, and projects within Drime’s collaborative workspaces.

This lifetime subscription gives you 2TB of storage. You’ll have a 90-day file history, password-protected links for file sharing, custom expiration dates, and unlimited signature requests. You can also add 15 members or workspaces with this plan.

Secure this lifetime subscription to Drime Secure Cloud Storage for just $129.97 (reg. $299) now through Feb. 15.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: MS Visual Studio Professional 2026 delivers faster coding, smarter AI assistance, and better collaboration — for $49.99 instead of $499.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 $49.99
$499.99 Save $450   Get Deal

At some point, every developer hits the same moment: the tools that once felt fast start feeling heavy. Projects get bigger, codebases get messier, and collaboration gets harder than it needs to be.

That’s the space Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 is designed for — and why this release feels like a thoughtful upgrade rather than a flashy overhaul.

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Available for just $49.99 (reg. $499.99), Visual Studio Pro 2026 builds on what developers already like and quietly makes it better. The 64-bit IDE is built to handle large solutions and complex workloads without slowing you down, making it easier to stay focused even when projects scale.

You’ll also get huge performance boosts (faster loads and builds), and a streamlined, modern Fluent UI with updated themes and settings.

Cross-platform development is front and centre. You can build mobile and desktop apps with .NET MAUI, create modern web interfaces in C# with Blazor, and develop, debug, and test .NET and C++ apps targeting Windows, Linux, and containers — all from one environment.

Hot reload across .NET and C++ lets you apply changes instantly, keeping your workflow moving instead of constantly restarting builds.

AI-powered assistance is woven into the experience rather than bolted on. IntelliCode understands your code context and offers ranked suggestions based on your existing codebase, helping you write cleaner code faster. Built-in AI-assisted refactoring reduces repetitive work and helps catch issues before they become problems.

Collaboration gets a meaningful upgrade, too. Live Share lets teammates edit and debug together in real time without requiring everyone to clone repos or match local setups. CodeLens surfaces key insights — recent changes, authors, tests, and commit history — directly in the editor, so you can make informed decisions without breaking concentration.

With deep integrations for Azure, GitHub, and modern DevOps workflows, this version is designed to support how development actually happens today.

Get lifetime access to Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 for just $49.99 (reg. $499.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Live stream Rybakina vs. Juvan in the 2026 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 Australian Open is now well underway, with numerous top names — including Sabalenka and Gauff — advancing to the women's singles second round.

No. 5 seed Elena Rybakina, is yet to punch her ticket to the next round. The Kazakhstani dynamo is facing unseeded Slovenian Kaja Juvan. Tennis fans will expect Rybakina to advance — she's a former Wimbledon winner, after all — but anything can happen on the court.

If you want to watch Rybakina vs. Juvan in the 2026 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Rybakina vs. Juvan for free

Rybakina vs. Juvan in the 2026 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2026 Australian Open by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

4. Visit 9Now

5. Watch the 2026 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Rybakina vs. Juvan without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $59.88 and includes an extra three months for free — 69% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Rybakina vs. Juvan in the 2026 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream the 2026 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

It feels like we're inundated with tennis tournaments over the summer months, and then nothing. After the US Open, tennis fans have a painful wait for the next Grand Slam.

The wait is almost over. The 2026 Australian Open looms on the horizon, promising epic contests between the best players in the world. It's the first chance to see the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka, and Iga Świątek on the biggest stage.

If you want to watch the 2026 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Australian Open?

The Australian Open is a tennis tournament held annually at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia. It's the first of the four Grand Slam tennis events held each year, followed by the French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open.

The current singles champions are Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys.

When is the 2026 Australian Open?

The 2026 Australian Open is the 114th edition of the tournament. This year's event will take place from Jan. 18 to Feb. 1.

How to watch the 2026 Australian Open for free

The 2026 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2026 Australian Open by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

4. Visit 9Now

5. Watch the 2026 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the 2026 Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

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TL;DR: Live stream Martinez vs. Djokovic in the 2026 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The first Grand Slam of the year is here, with the world's top tennis stars taking to the courts of Melbourne Park for the 2026 Australian Open.

This first round match sees No. 4 seed Novak Djokovic face unseeded opposition in the form of Spanish 28-year-old Pedro Martinez. We're expecting a dominant showing from Djokovic, but anything can happen on any given day. Djokovic is a 10-time winner of the Australian Open, though he hasn't won it — or any Grand Slam competition — since 2023. Is the Serb's time up as a top contender? Or can he challenge defending champion Jannik Sinner in Melbourne?

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Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 18, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for January 18, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 19 Pips

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 2-0, placed horizontally; 1-1, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed vertically

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 4-2, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 19 Pips

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this green space must be equal to 2. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically; 5-3, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this red space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically; 5-1, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 6. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically; 6-5, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 1-4, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 19 Pips

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this red space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically; 2-1, placed vertically; 2-6, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically; 0-1, placed horizontally; 0-2, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this orange space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically; 0-1, placed horizontally; 1-1, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you remember your childhood games.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Children's games

• Green: Movies

• Blue: Famous Raven

• Purple: Gold

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Playground Games

• Green: One-Word Sports Movies

• Blue: Associated with Ed Reed

• Purple: Golden_____

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #483 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Playground Games - FOUR SQUARE, HOPSCOTCH, KICKBALL, TAG

• One-Word Sports Movies - HOOSIERS, INVICTUS, RUDY, SEABISCUIT

• Associated with Ed Reed - HALL OF FAME, HURRICANES, RAVENS, SAFETY

• Golden_____ - BOOT, GOAL, KNIGHTS, SOMBRERO

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Connections.