The New York Times Is Turning Wordle Into an NBC Game Show

The New York Times announced on May 11, 2026, that Wordle, the daily word puzzle played by millions, will become a televised game show on NBC. Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie will host the program, with The Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon serving as an executive producer alongside The New York Times as a production partner. The show is scheduled to begin airing on NBC in 2027, with production set to start this summer.

The Details

The game show has been in development for approximately two and a half years, according to TechCrunch. The format is described as fast-paced and a great family game, challenging contestants to solve five-letter word puzzles for a cash prize.

Savannah Guthrie, an anchor of NBC's Today show, will serve as host of the program. Jimmy Fallon, host of The Tonight Show, will act as an executive producer on the project. The New York Times will also serve as a production partner.

Behind the scenes, game show veteran Wes Kauble will serve as showrunner, according to TheWrap. Additional executive producers include Caitlin Roper and Jonathan Knight, both representing The New York Times, and Jim Juvonen of Electric Hot Dog, Fallon's production company.

New York Times Company CEO Meredith Kopit Levien said in a statement: "Wordle has become a defining daily experience for millions and a meaningful part of how people engage with The New York Times. In bringing it to television, we were intentional about finding partners to collaborate with who could both scale the experience and stay true to the beloved game."

Fallon added: "I feel very honored to be working with Savannah Guthrie on this show. Savannah has that rare combination of intelligence, charm and warmth that makes everyone feel instantly welcome."

Caitlin Roper, editorial director for film and TV at The New York Times, said: "It felt natural to explore ways to extend into a gameshow. Watching the contestants, real people who love Wordle battle it out, with Savannah there to cheer them on, it was a party."

NBC is currently casting contestants through the website wordle.castingcrane.com. According to TechCrunch, filming is expected to take contestants to Europe.

Context

Wordle was created by software engineer Josh Wardle and released in October 2021. The New York Times acquired the game in January 2022 for a reported low-seven-figure sum, according to TechCrunch.

The puzzle franchise's reach has grown substantially since the acquisition. NYT Games reported that users played more than 11 billion puzzles across all its game titles in 2025, up from 8 billion in 2023, according to figures cited by TechCrunch from Pocket Gamer and Axios.

The announcement marks the first time The New York Times has collaborated with a TV broadcaster for an entertainment-based program. According to TechCrunch, the partnership reflects the company's broader pivot to build a sustainable digital subscription business.

TheWrap first reported the existence of a Wordle game show in October 2025, when NBC was piloting the concept. The project has since moved from pilot to a confirmed series with a host and production team attached, and an expected premiere in 2027.

What's Next

The Wordle game show will begin airing on NBC in 2027, with production starting this summer. NBC is currently casting contestants at wordle.castingcrane.com, and filming is expected to take contestants to Europe.