American Crossword Puzzle Tournament Plans Final Stamford Edition Before 2027 Move

Fall is when many solvers check the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament calendar and local library event boards. The 48th ACPT has a confirmed Stamford date, but public materials do not yet show a 2027 registration window, so the practical move is to lock in the 2026 edition and track the library events that are already published. Here is what the listings show for the months ahead.

The 48th ACPT in Stamford before the move

The annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament returns to the Stamford Marriott Hotel for what founder Will Shortz announced as the “last time” in Connecticut, according to CT Insider. The 48th edition is set for April 10 through 12. Registration opens Jan. 1, 2026 for former contestants and Jan. 8, 2026 for first-timers. The tournament has been held at the Stamford Marriott for several years, and CT Insider reports that Shortz made the announcement during a livestream on Boswords’ Twitch. The 2027 location, dates, and registration window are not yet published in the available event listings.

Library crossword events from coast to coast

The Westport Library in Connecticut has scheduled its 28th Annual Crossword Puzzle Contest for Saturday, Feb. 6, 2027, from 1 to 4:30 p.m. The fee is $35, and tickets go on sale Monday, Dec. 1, 2026, at 10 a.m. Participants solve three puzzles during a set time for a chance to compete in the final round, and seats are limited. The library has run this contest with Will Shortz in past years; the upcoming edition is the 28th annual.

On the West Coast, the Highland Sam J. Racadio Library in San Bernardino County hosts “Conversations and Crosswords” on Oct. 15, 2026, from 10 to 11 a.m., an adult social hour with a mystery-themed crossword. The Osceola Library System in Florida runs a Winter Crossword Puzzles day on Dec. 1, 2026, with winter-themed grids in celebration of National Crossword Puzzle Day. In Missouri, the St. Louis County Library’s Crossword Club meets at the Daniel Boone Branch on selected Mondays through Dec. 21, 2026; there is no registration and no cost.

Digital tools for solving and sharing

If a group uses a shared digital grid or a chat thread for quick answers, symbols often come in handy. You can copy and paste emoji from Emoji Directory by name, symbol, or code point, and create a small set of reactions for a library crossword club or online solving group. This is especially useful when a clue requires a symbol rather than a typed word.

Offline practice with video tutorials

Not every local event is in person, and some solvers review recorded puzzle talks before a contest. If you have permission to keep an eligible YouTube tutorial for offline use, convert eligible YouTube videos to MP4 in HD or 4K without installing software. The tool’s own guidance says to use it only for videos you own, have permission to use, or that are otherwise legal to download.

Event-weekend context beyond libraries

For solvers who pair a tournament trip with a larger event weekend, it can be useful to know what else is happening in host cities. Daily coverage of the resort and tourism sector is available at US Casino Daily, which follows policy, technology, and business developments in US casino resorts. That can help you plan an event-weekend stay or understand nearby venue changes, though it is not a crossword-specific resource.

What to put on your calendar now

Because the 2027 ACPT registration window is not yet published, the safest short-term actions are to register for the 2026 Stamford tournament after Jan. 1 or 8, check local library listings for early winter tickets, and budget for the Westport contest’s Dec. 1 ticket release. If your library runs a free drop-in crossword hour, that can serve as a low-cost way to keep your solving sharp while waiting for the next national announcement.