The Guardian has kicked off the new year with the first edition of its popular Thursday news quiz for 2026. The weekly trivia challenge returns with its signature blend of topical news, pop culture, and general knowledge, promising participants the same dose of entertaining nonsense served with over-confidence.
What's New in Quiz 229?
This week's instalment, officially numbered 229, presents fifteen questions designed to test readers' awareness of current events and lighter cultural topics. A notable and welcome return is the popular segment "Farther or nearer with Geordie Alan Shearer", which challenges players on geographical distances related to the football legend.
However, the quiz also brings a poignant change. The publication announced the temporary retirement of Willow, the official dog of the Guardian Thursday news quiz. The miniature dachshund has not been well recently and will be stepping back from her role. A photograph from Christmas Eve 2025 shows Willow with quizmaster Martin Belam. The Guardian assures readers she is being cared for and remains "the very best of miniature dachshunds."
A Glowing Hint in the Questions
Intriguingly, one of the quiz questions serves as a teaser for a product launch, asking: "Lego is launching some fancy new smart bricks – but in which range?" This hints at an upcoming innovative release from the toy giant, suggesting bricks with interactive or technological features, potentially that glow or connect digitally. Readers are directed to question five for more details within the quiz itself.
How to Play and Engage
As always, the quiz is a purely recreational pursuit with no prizes, but the publication encourages participants to share how they performed in the comments section. The tone is characteristically self-deprecating, inviting players into what it describes as a clean slate for the new year filled with "precisely the same old nonsense."
The quiz also maintains its traditional stance on feedback. While it welcomes comments, it firmly requests that readers do not attempt to fact-check jokes. For those who might feel strongly about a potential error, the recommendation is to instead enjoy listening to Romy's track "Love Who You Love."
The launch of the 2026 quiz series continues a long-standing weekly ritual for Guardian readers, blending light-hearted trivia with subtle previews of news like the innovative Lego smart bricks, all while maintaining its unique, conversational British tone.
