As the world welcomes 2026, a unique numerical challenge has been set to celebrate the new year, testing the mathematical creativity of puzzle enthusiasts across the UK and beyond.
A Numerical Welcome to 2026
The puzzle, presented by Alex Bellos in his long-running Monday series, invites solvers to find expressions equal to 26 using specific sets of digits. The challenge is a festive twist on arithmetic, allowing only the four basic operations (+, –, x, ÷), brackets, exponentiation, and concatenation of digits.
It began with a known example: using six 1s to make 26, shown as (1+1)×(1+1+11). The task was then to find equivalent expressions for 26 using different combinations, from five 9s down to four 2s.
The Clever Solutions Revealed
The answers, now published, demonstrate a delightful ingenuity with numbers. For instance, the solution using five 9s is 9+9+9−(9/9). The puzzle using six 8s is solved with 8+8+8+((8+8)/8).
Some solutions are particularly elegant. To make 26 with six 7s, the expression is 7+7+((77+7)/7). For six 6s, it's 6×6+(6−66)/6. The challenge with four 5s is neatly resolved by 5×5+(5/5).
Other successful combinations include:
- Six 4s: 4+(44×4/(4+4))
- Four 3s: 33 − 3/3
- Four 2s: 22 + 2 + 2
Bellos credited mathematician Inder Taneja, author of the website numbers-magic.com, for the inspiration. Taneja has explored the properties of 2026 in greater depth in his paper 26 and 2026 in Numbers and Magic Squares.
A Tradition of Puzzling
Alex Bellos has been setting his fortnightly puzzle since 2015, offering a regular mental workout for readers. He concluded the 2026 challenge by signing off with a playful nod to one of the solutions: "I’ll be back in 7+7+((77+7)/7)."
He also extended an invitation to the public, stating he is "always on the look-out for great puzzles" and asked for suggestions to be sent via email.
This blend of recreational mathematics and New Year celebration highlights the enduring appeal of number puzzles, proving that with a little creativity, the digits of the coming year can be twisted into surprising and satisfying forms.
