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The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you love a hot cuppa.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. 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 today's 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?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. 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: NYT Pips hints, answers for June 13, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: A good cuppa

• Green: Top tune

• Blue: Film FXs

• Purple: Classic films

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Seen at a tea service

• Green: Enduring song

• Blue: Used in movie practical effects

• Purple: Words before "Story" in movie titles

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 #1097 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Seen at a tea service: SAUCER, SPOON, TEACUP, TONGS

• Enduring song: CLASSIC, HIT, OLDIE, STANDARD

• Starting with Synonyms for "Repeat": COPY EDITOR, ECHO PARK, MIRROR SELFIE, QUOTE UNQUOTE

• Starting with Parts of a River: BANK TELLER, BED HEAD, DELTA AIRLINES, MOUTH GUARD

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 13, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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 yesterday's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you love to sing.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 13, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Track event

The words are related to music.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe singing.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Karaoke.

NYT Strands word list for June 13

• Queue

• Song

• Music

• Karaoke

• Loudspeaker

• Lyrics

• Microphone

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and 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 yesterday's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're always holding it in.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. 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 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for June 13, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for June 13, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To suppress.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter L appears twice.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter Q.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

QUELL

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle 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.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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 yesterday's Wordle.

When you buy a new car today, you're not just buying a vehicle. You're signing up for something closer to a subscription surveillance service, except you don't get a discount for participating, and nobody asks for your permission.

The state of the web these days is abysmally noisy and divisive. Every day, it bombards our fragile minds with absurd and horrific things, yet an abundance of constructive content is widely available. The algorithms that power social media emotionally bait us to ignore the positive stuff and consume the garbage instead. To clear our minds and calm our lives, we need to cut them out.

I've been building PCs for almost two decades, and I've yet to use an AIO liquid CPU cooler in any of my builds. The thing is, I won't, ever. Here's why.

Your computer probably isn't as fast as it should be, and the reason usually isn't the hardware. Windows ships with defaults that make sense for someone, somewhere, but not necessarily for the way you actually use your machine. None of these are hard problems to fix, and there are three changes that you could make that take maybe ten minutes total and cost nothing. However, you'll see the difference immediately.

At a glance

• Project Ire identifies a LOTUSLITE variant that shares TTPs (tools, tactics, procedures) with the public family but none of its indicators of compromise (IOC). 
• The LLM-driven agent produces a function-by-function behavioral report on the sample without any user interaction to determine whether it is malicious.
• The binary names a threat actor in cleartext; the agent declines to attribute and instead focuses on statically analyzing the behaviors.

We pointed Project Ire, Microsoft’s autonomous malware-classification agent, at a malware sample—blind—and asked for a verdict. The sample is a variant of LOTUSLITE, a Windows DLL backdoor recently documented by Acronis. Our copy’s hash isn’t in their IOC list, and as of June 4, most major EDRs (CrowdStrike Falcon, SentinelOne, Sophos, Trellix, Palo Alto, ESET) still don’t flag it as malware. Ire produced a function-by-function behavioral report—install routine, C2 packet layout, command IDs, persistence mechanism, obfuscation—that lines up with Acronis’s published analysis. One decompiler-based run, no human priors.

This is what behavioral, agentic reverse engineering can achieve when signature matching and manual inspections fall short. Variants that share TTPs but not indicators of compromise (IOC) get caught instead of slipping past signature lists. Novel malware classification is a domain with no automatic validator, requiring in-depth investigation and holistic understanding of the software’s behaviors to surface and determine intent. Ire operates without context: no origin metadata, no telemetry, no analyst prompt. It invokes decompilers and binary-analysis tools, builds an auditable chain of evidence, and reaches a malicious-or-benign verdict.

Acronis’s Threat Research Unit (TRU) published a writeup (opens in new tab) on LOTUSLITE, a DLL backdoor delivered through a politically themed ZIP, sideloaded through a renamed Tencent KuGou launcher. They attribute it to Mustang Panda at moderate confidence based on infrastructure overlap and the loader/DLL split. Hunting on VirusTotal for samples whose behavior matched the report, we surfaced one whose SHA-256 doesn’t appear in Acronis’s IOC list.

The sample: 47e51e82229e80a387c3cb100d39d3705e6360bbf9bfa1601dbc484e8d02e653 (opens in new tab). When we picked it up on May 28, VirusTotal showed 1 of 72 vendors flagging it.

Figure 1. File Sample 47e51e82229e80a387c3cb100d39d3705e6360bbf9bfa1601dbc484e8d02e653 detection state on VirusTotal on May 28, 2026.

A week later, that rose to 7 of 70. The cluster: Microsoft Trojan:Win32/Malgent!MSR, Kaspersky HEUR:Trojan-Dropper.Win32.Dorifel.gen, Rising Dropper.Dorifel!8.31E (CLOUD), Cynet (score 100), Elastic (moderate confidence), Kingsoft, TrendMicro-HouseCall. With Microsoft now flagging, VT’s popular threat label has shifted to dropper.dorifel / malgent. CrowdStrike Falcon, SentinelOne, Sophos, Trellix, Palo Alto, and ESET still miss it. VT lists the file type as pedll (PE DLL) and the filename as SmartPrintScreen.Print.

Figure 2. File Sample 47e51e82229e80a387c3cb100d39d3705e6360bbf9bfa1601dbc484e8d02e653 detection state on VirusTotal on June 4, 2026.

We analyzed the sample with Ire, using only its decompiler-based tools through a single tool call. Ire’s verdict was “malicious”; you can review the complete report on Github (opens in new tab).

On Ire’s calibration

One noteworthy observation in Ire’s report (opens in new tab) is worth highlighting first. Ire flagged the nfapi::nf_unRegisterDriver and NetFilter naming as suspicious but explicitly did not claim active packet interception. The function in question writes the Run key; it does not install a driver. This is where LLM-driven analysis can go wrong: suggestive strings can steer the verdict. A function called nf_unRegisterDriver sounds like it does kernel-level work, and a less thorough agent would write that into the report. Downstream defenders would then chase a phantom, building detection rules for behavior that may or may not be there. Ire flagged the misleading name and considered the behavior as one piece of the evidence during its final adjudication of malice.

Comparing the two reports Acronis specimenOur sampleSample typeloader EXE + kugou.dllthe malicious DLL itself: AMPV.dll (VT type pedll)Install dirC:\ProgramData\Technology360NB\C:\ProgramData\SmartPrint\Installed exeDataTechnology.exeSmartPrintScreen.exeRun-key valueLite360DadaBankMarker arg–DATA–DaDaBarC2 magic0x8899AABB0xB2EBCFDFLurepolitically themed ZIP, Venezuela-themed launcherfake “PDF corrupted” message boxMustang Panda linkinfra and TTP overlap, moderate confidence (Acronis’s call)not independently assessed; binary contains the literal string BelievemeIamMustang-Panda

Comparing Ire’s output with Acronis’ report, the sample we analyzed matches the behavioral profile of the LOTUSLITE family of malware. Both show a loader/DLL split, HTTPS C2 carrying a custom binary protocol with a magic DWORD, interactive shell over pipes, directory enumeration, file primitives, chunked upload, HKCU persistence, and traffic camouflaged as Google and Microsoft services. The surface details differ—filenames, paths, magic value—but the underlying behaviors align. Ire correctly identified this sample as part of the same family of malware because of the behaviors it was able to identify through decompilation and reverse engineering, not on string match alone.

Because the sample is a DLL (pedll per VT), the sample’s install routine reads differently than it might look at first. The DLL copies two files into C:\ProgramData\SmartPrint\: the loader EXE that sideloaded it (its host process, obtained via GetModuleFileName(NULL), written as SmartPrintScreen.exe) and itself (AMPV.dll, the analyzed sample). The Run key points at the loader with –DaDaBar. On the next logon, the loader runs and sideloads AMPV.dll from the install path. This is the same Acronis-identified pattern but with different filenames.

This also explains the binary’s strange export surface. The DLL exports a long list of banking and QR-themed names (Query_Bank, BankSepah_Iran, BankToman_BMI, BankofChina, qrBankInit, JpgSymbolToBMP, and others), most of which resolve to a message box or ExitProcess. The shape suggests a hijacked banking/QR SDK shell, repurposed so the host EXE can call any one of those exports via GetProcAddress and reach the LOTUSLITE entry point. Acronis names theirs DataImporterMain. The Ire report does not surface a matching entry-point name, but it identifies that the behavioral shape is the same.

Acronis attributes the malware family to Mustang Panda at moderate confidence based on infrastructure and TTPs we don’t have access to, while our sample directly contains a literal actor-name string “BelievemeIamMustang-Panda” with no obfuscation. A string isn’t direct proof of authorship; it could be a developer artifact, a trophy, or a deliberate plant. While we are not making an attribution call, we note that the binary names the same actor that Acronis named through other means, and we leave the question open. Another consideration to make for this finding: a string like this can function as adversarial input to LLM-driven analysis, biasing the verdict.

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Ire statically reverse-engineers binaries and identifies the behavior from the function to the system level to describe what the software does and determine a verdict. The verdict of this sample came from a single Ire run because of the specific detail Ire was able to surface: function roles, packet layout, command IDs, persistence registry keys, and decoy strings. Ire never named LOTUSLITE in its report or chain of evidence. The family mapping is ours, after the fact, comparing Ire’s report against Acronis report. Ire described the behavior precisely enough to make the mapping straightforward of this sample to LOTUSLITE.

Stay up to date on the latest findings and other interesting sample detections from Project Ire by following along on our project page.

View Ire’s system output report Opens in a new tab

The post Ire identifies another LOTUSLITE specimen appeared first on Microsoft Research.

Amazon Prime Day season is upon us, and the mega-retailer isn't waiting until the sale proper to drop the best pair of AirPods down to their best price ever.

While Prime Day usually takes place in mid-July, it got bumped up in the schedule this year: the four-day sale will now take place from June 23 to June 26. With a little over a week to go until the sale, Apple products are starting to get marked down, but the AirPods Pro 3 are by far the standout.

SEE ALSO: Prime Day is less than 2 weeks away: Here are 20+ early deals to start shopping now

That's due to their price dropping to $179 — their lowest price to date — on a random Thursday ahead of the sale. We'll have more info on just how good a deal this is below, but the bottom line is, we wouldn't be surprised if this is the best, or nearly the best, price you can grab these earbuds at during Prime Day.

It makes up for a somewhat lackluster showing from other AirPods models. As of June 12, the AirPods Max 2 are down to $499.99 in select colorways. It's not a bad price, but as Senior Shopping Reporter Haley Henschel wrote in her guide to finding the best Apple deals on Prime Day, the first-gen USB-C Maxes got a $100 markdown on their first Prime Day, so we're hoping to see Amazon follow its own precedent. The AirPods 4 are in a similar situation: We've seen them as low as $69 in the past, and so far, they're only down to $99. Not bad, but we can do better.

Below, find all the best early AirPods deals ahead of Prime Day 2026.

Best early AirPods deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 3 $179 at Amazon
$249 Save $70   Get Deal Why we like it

The AirPods Pro 3 have a lot going for them. They're a good $50 cheaper than other flagship noise-canceling earbuds, they come with live translation and heart rate monitoring features, and of course, they sound great and have some of the best noise cancellation available. Then there's the top-tier Apple integration, which makes these some of the best earbuds for anyone who's deeply invested in the fruit brand's ecosystem. Major cons of these earbuds come in the form of no companion app — that means no manually adjustable equalizer or ANC, but for what you do get, and for under $200, those are flaws worth living with.

Read our full review of the Apple AirPods Pro 3.

More AirPods deals

• Apple AirPods 4 — $99 $129 (save $30)

• Apple AirPods Max 2 — $499.99 $549 (save $49.01)

Now that the dust (and tears) have settled from the conclusions of Euphoria and Hacks, and we now turn our attention to House of the Dragon in a couple of weeks, now might be a good time for some documentaries! Luckily, HBO Max has some excellent new and new-ish options at the moment.

TL;DR: Live stream Qatar vs. Switzerland in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage is now well underway, with a string of high-profile games for fans to enjoy.

Qatar vs. Switzerland is an interesting matchup from Group B. Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina make up the rest of this ultra-competitive group. It's difficult to predict which teams will advance, but what's obvious is that every side will be desperate to make a strong start.

If you want to watch Qatar vs. Switzerland in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Qatar vs. Switzerland?

Qatar vs. Switzerland in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on June 13. This fixture takes place at the Levi's Stadium.

How to watch Qatar vs. Switzerland for free

Qatar vs. Switzerland in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Qatar vs. Switzerland for free 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 the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch Qatar vs. Switzerland 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 most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Qatar vs. Switzerland (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and 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 Qatar vs. Switzerland in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

Best early Prime Day Ninja deals Best Ninja Deal Ninja Foodi DT251 10-in-1 Smart XL Air Fryer $249.98 (Save $130.01) Get Deal Best Ninja blender deal Ninja Blast Max Portable Blender $69.99 (Save $30) Get Deal Best grilling deal Ninja ProChef Wireless Meat Thermometer $69.95 (Save $30.04) Get Deal

Ninja makes some of our favorite kitchen appliances. The Creami is the buzziest of Ninja's appliances, but the brand also makes top-notch espresso machines, air fryers, blenders, and cookware. With Prime Day coming June 23 to 26, we're looking out for all the best home and kitchen deals, and Ninja has some standout early deals.

We're still a couple of weeks out from Prime Day, but right now you can save over $100 on Ninja appliances. The big stuff like the Ninja Creami and Slushi aren't on sale yet, but if you want an air fryer, you've got plenty of options. Here are all the best early Prime Day deals on Ninja appliances.

Best early Prime Day Ninja deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Foodi DT251 10-in-1 Smart XL Air Fryer $249.98 at Amazon
$379.99 Save $130.01   Get Deal

Your air fryer should be doing a lot more than air frying. With a combo machine like the Ninja Foodi DT251 10-in-1 Smart XL Air Fryer, you're basically getting a second oven. In addition to air frying, you can bake, broil, toast, and roast all in one machine, plus it comes with a built-in thermometer so you always know when your food is done — aka no more undercooked meat anxiety.

Ahead of Prime Day, the Ninja Foodi DT251 10-in-1 Smart XL Air Fryer is the best Ninja deal to shop. Normally $379.99, get it for just $249.98, saving you $130.01. And there are plenty of other great deals, including 30% off the Ninja Blast Max Portable Blender and Ninja ProChef Wireless Meat Thermometer.

Early Prime Day Ninja blender deals

• Ninja Blast Max Portable Blender — $69.99 $99.99 (save $30)

• Ninja UltraCrush Professional Blender — $89.98 $109.99 (save $20.01)

Early Prime Day Ninja air fryer deals

• Ninja DZ071 Foodi 6-in-1 Air Fryer — $159.98 $199.99 (save $40.01)

• Ninja DZ550 Foodi 6-in-1 DualZone Air Fryer — $199.99 $249.99 (save $50)

• Ninja SL451 DoubleStack XL Smart Air Fryer —$229.98 $269.99 (save $40.01)

Early Prime Day Ninja coffee maker deals

• Ninja PB051ST Single Serve Coffee Maker — $99.98 $129.99 (save $30.01)

More early Prime Day Ninja deals

• Ninja ProChef Wireless Meat Thermometer — $69.95 $99.99 (save $30.04)

• Ninja Ceramic Pro 10-Piece Cookware Set — $239.99 $299.99 (save $60)

• Ninja EverClad 12-Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set — $279.98 $329.99 (save $50.01)

• Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL Outdoor Grill — $399.99 $499.99 (save $100)

My smart home knows a lot about me, and not all of it is good. It knows how long I’ve spent sitting in my office chair, how few steps I’ve taken, how little exercise I’ve done, and more. In an effort to shame myself into doing better, I decided to use a local AI model to generate a snarky report card every day.

If you've ever wanted to meet your favorite creator, attend a live podcast, learn how influencers make money online, or get a glimpse into the future of the creator economy, that's exactly what VidCon is for.

The annual convention has become one of the largest gatherings for internet culture, bringing together creators, fans, platforms, brands, and industry professionals under one roof. What started as a YouTube-focused event has evolved into a three-day celebration of the creator economy, spanning everything from TikTok and Snapchat to podcasts, gaming, AI, and digital entrepreneurship.

SEE ALSO: The biggest panels and events scheduled for VidCon 2026

This year's event takes place June 25–27, 2026, at the Anaheim Convention Center in California. Here's what you need to know.

What is VidCon?

VidCon is an annual convention dedicated to online creators and the communities that surround them. Founded in 2010 by brothers John and Hank Green, the event brings together digital creators, fans, industry leaders, and technology companies to celebrate and discuss internet culture.

Over the years, VidCon has grown alongside the creator economy itself. While early editions were heavily centered on YouTube personalities, today's convention reflects a much broader creator landscape that includes TikTok stars, livestreamers, podcasters, educators, entrepreneurs, and independent media companies.

When is VidCon 2026?

VidCon Anaheim 2026 takes place June 25–27 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Registration and some pre-event activities begin on June 24.

The convention is celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2026 and features three days of panels, meet-and-greets, live shows, workshops, networking events, and industry programming.

Who attends VidCon?

VidCon attracts three primary groups:

Fans

For many attendees, VidCon is a chance to meet creators they've followed online for years. Fan-focused programming includes creator panels and games, meet-and-greets, live podcasts, performances, community meetups, and interactive experiences.

Creators

Aspiring and established creators attend to learn about audience growth, monetization, content strategy, production, and brand partnerships. Creator-focused programming often includes workshops, networking opportunities, and discussions with successful influencers and industry experts. If you're looking for tips on breaking through the internet noise, VidCon is for you.

Industry professionals

Brands, platforms, talent managers, marketers, agencies, and media executives use VidCon to track trends in the creator economy and build partnerships. In fact, the convention has increasingly become a major business event for the digital media industry.

What happens at VidCon?

VidCon's schedule includes a mix of entertainment, education, and networking.

Attendees can expect:

• Creator panels and Q&A sessions

• Meet-and-greets with featured creators

• Live podcast recordings

• Workshops and educational sessions

• Expo hall activations and brand experiences

• Industry keynotes and presentations

• Community meetups

• Evening events and performances

The event also features an opening celebration and the VidCon Hall of Fame ceremony, which honors creators who helped shape internet culture.

As creator businesses become increasingly sophisticated, VidCon's 15th anniversary event will be sponsored by POP.STORE, a creator monetization platform that plans to unveil ECHO-ME, an AI-powered commerce platform designed for creators. The sponsorship marks a notable change from last year, when the convention's title sponsor was YouTube, underscoring how conversations around creator industry infrastructure and monetization have become increasingly central to the event.

Who is attending VidCon 2026?

VidCon has announced hundreds of featured creators for its 2026 event across gaming, comedy, lifestyle, education, and entertainment. The official creator lineup continues to expand leading up to the convention. Here are the featured creators attending this year's VidCon:

• Aaron Burriss

• ACookieGod

• Adam McIntyre

• Adrian Vazquez

• aimsey

• Alberta Tech

• Alex Ojeda

• Alex Wassabi

• Allen Pan

• Andrew Wassabi

• Andrew Wave

• Anna DeGuzman

• Anna G

• Anna McNulty

• Annoying Orange

• Anthony Gomes

• anthpo

• AnythingAlexia

• Audity

• Auntie Charli

• Austin Evans

• Austin Sprinz

• Bailey Sarian

• Beth Cast

• Blaza Plays

• Brandon Rogers

• Brianda Deyanara

• BrodyAnimates

• Carter Sharer

• Cash

• Caylus

• Cenk Uygur

• Chad Wild Clay

• CheapPickle

• Cheeky Boyos

• Christina&Amber

• CircleToonsHD

• Cory Siu

• Coy Piso

• Creebus

• cuptoast

• Doyeong

• DangMattSmith

• Death Battle

• Derek Xiao

• Dimucc

• Doris Jocelyn

• Drex Lee

• Elliott

• Emmy Combs

• Eret

• estabr0k

• Fiizy

• Foltyn

• FunkyFrogBait

• Gabee Girl

• Gianna Marie (@G.Wizzle)

• GingerPale

• GloZell

• Gohar’s Guide

• Haminations

• Hannahxxrose

• Harley Morenstein

• Hew Moran

• IBella

• Inbora

• Infamous Swoosh

• itsjamesseo

• Jeyu

• JT Casey

• Jalin Siu

• Jeffrey Bui

• Jenny Hoyos

• Jeremiah Brown

• Jeremy Hutchins

• Jessica McCabe

• jmancurly

• Joely Live

• John Casterline

• Juju Wonder

• Kaido Lee Roberts

• Kasey Esser

• Kat Buno

• Katarina Mogus

• Kelsi Davies

• Kenzie Yolles

• Kina Siu

• Kyland Young

• LOL Podcast

• Lana’s Life

• Law by Mike

• Let Me Explain Studios, Rebecca Parham

• Lisi Shops

• Lyanna Kea

• MOVIEKIM

• Manny

• Matthew Beem

• McKenzi Brooke

• MeganPlays

• Mellomelt

• Merrick Hanna

• Mikey Angelo

• Muffin Juice

• Nathan Kessel

• Nevaaadaa

• NichLmao

• Nick Kosir

• Nick Wilkins

• Nico

• Nico Grigg

• Nicole O'Rourke

• Old Ball

• Paco de Miguel

• Paultooreall

• Peet Montzingo

• Prajakta Koli

• RJ Siu

• Rachel OCool

• Rae Plays

• Rebecca Zamolo

• Reza & Puja Khan

• Rosanna Pansino

• SML

• SSSniperWolf

• Sambucha

• Samuel Donner

• Sava

• Shut Up I'm Talking

• Siow Wei

• Socksfor1

• Sophi Balerdi

• Stanzi Potenza

• Steak

• Steven He

• Sydney Morgan

• Tayla Santos

• The Aspie World

• The Besties

• The Goddess Boys

• The Mannii

• The Professor

• The Valentine Brothers

• The Yuh Family

• TheOneShu

• Tonio Guajardo

• Tony Talks

• Trixshot

• Tubbo

• Tubby Nugget

• Unsighted

• uwucutesingle

• VMT

• Valerie Lepelch

• Vy Quaint

• Wallibear

• Yikes

• yoangelolo

• ZHC

• Zach Justice

• al1craft

• jacknjellify

• tinymacdude

Among this year's biggest attractions is the second class of VidCon Hall of Fame inductees, which includes creator pioneers Markiplier, Philip DeFranco, Michelle Phan, and Cassey Ho.

Why does VidCon still matter?

The creator economy has changed dramatically since VidCon launched in 2010, but the convention remains one of the few places where the internet exists in physical form.

Creators who spend most of their careers communicating through screens get to meet their audiences face-to-face. Fans who spend years participating in online communities can experience those communities in real life. And industry leaders gather to discuss where digital culture is heading next.

SEE ALSO: Why VidCon still matters in 2026

In many ways, VidCon serves as an annual snapshot of the internet itself, revealing which creators are breaking through, which platforms are gaining influence, and what trends will shape online culture in the year ahead.

How can you attend VidCon?

Tickets for VidCon Anaheim 2026 are available through the convention's official website. Pass options range from fan-focused experiences to creator- and industry-access tiers, depending on what attendees hope to get out of the event.

For the latest information on featured creators, schedules, and ticket availability, attendees can visit VidCon's official website ahead of the big weekend.

Mashable will be on the ground at VidCon 2026, covering the creators, trends, and conversations driving internet culture, from breaking news and creator interviews to industry insights and live updates.

Netflix hosts a large library of award-winning movies, but finding the right one for your weekend streaming can sometimes feel harder than it should. While the latest trending titles may be all over your Netflix home, there are plenty of acclaimed films that are worth searching for.

When it comes to reliability, Toyota and Lexus tend to dominate the conversation. However, another Japanese automaker has quietly built an equally impressive reputation for dependability. Subaru consistently ranks among the most reliable brands in the industry, and one of its most popular SUVs combines that long-term durability with a level of capability that many rivals simply can't match.

When building a robust home Wi-Fi network, there are universal rules we all should follow. They make logical sense, help you create a seamless network, and can instantly remedy the issues plaguing your current setup.

Some SpaceX launches have failed, some have succeeded — and the company's IPO certainly fell into the latter category Friday, turning CEO Elon Musk into the world's first trillionaire.

The company began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday, and SpaceX shares (the official shortened form, in case you were wondering, is SPCX) quickly rocketed upwards from the initial price of $135 a share. At time of writing, shares had reached the stratospheric heights of $170 — making it the biggest IPO in history.

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk seemingly found the cheat code for capitalism. The SpaceX IPO proves it.

That values SpaceX, which recently merged with Musk's xAI, at above $2 trillion. To put that in perspective, the New York Times reports that's more than Walmart and General Motors combined, though both Google and Nvidia have surpassed the $4 trillion threshhold. And so long as SpaceX trades above $138 per share, Musk is officially the world's first trillionaire — with none of his former peers in the billionaire category coming anywhere close.

It may be the largest IPO in terms of money, but not in terms of the number of shares offered: 555.5 million. That's a relatively small number, which means the stock is getting a bump from investors who are all in on Musk and willing to offer higher prices.

The price is expected to rise and fall as the market absorbs SpaceX and ponders whether its merger with xAI — the reason the combined company has recorded $5 billion in losses so far this year — is worth it. The SpaceX IPO literature promised the company would make money from AI data centers in space, admitting it was a completely unproven concept.

SEE ALSO: The AI vibe shift is real: Why the backlash is growing

Musk, who has not steered away from political controversy during the so-called quiet period, needs the stock to stay above $138 to retain his trillionaire status. (He already has an unusual amount of control over SpaceX, with more than 80 percent of voting shares.)

That looks simple now — but the ongoing AI backlash, which has finally reached Silicon Valley, could complicate matters. As the first major AI company to IPO, SpaceX is uniquely exposed to shifts in the AI wind.

We'll know more about the way it's blowing when Anthropic has its IPO later this year — and we see what the market thinks about an AI company when it comes without Musk's star power.

Microsoft Excel handles temporal data effectively if you know which formulas to use. The problem is that Excel includes over 20 date and time functions, but most people only ever need a small core set to build powerful, self-updating workflows. These essential date functions turn messy timelines into automated systems you can actually rely on.

Even though I prefer GNOME over KDE, I have made a habit of installing KDE Connect on all of my Linux PCs. Yet for the primary task of sending files between my PC and my phone, KDE Connect is no longer necessary. There's an app in Flathub that takes advantage of Android's built-in Quick Share feature, making KDE Connect redundant for those who are only using the app for sending files.