Founded in 2002, National Puzzle Day is a way to share enjoyment of puzzles and 2026 promises to continue the fun tradition, with Highlights Puzzle Parties, a nationwide series of hands-on family events leading up to National Puzzle Day on January 29TH. Beginning in early January, more than 500 Barnes & Noble stores, schools, and libraries across the U.S. will host free community puzzle parties featuring Highlights’ newest puzzle collection, Puzzle-A-Day Challenge: Bite-Size Puzzles All Year Long. Kids and families can dive into a variety of brain-boosting, laugh-inducing activities and fun giveaways. Puzzle-A-Day Challenge, offers 365 bite-size puzzles—one for every day of the year—designed to challenge kids’ brains in just a few minutes a day. Doing puzzles regularly is more than just play—it’s a powerful way to support children’s learning, emotional development, and social skills. Puzzles can:Build early problem-solving skillsStrengthen memory and attentionReinforce math and reasoning skillsBuild patience and perseveranceEncourage cooperation and teamwork