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Predictions: what lies ahead for the book trade in 2026?
Kate Elton
CEO, HarperCollins
As we enter 2026, it is clearer than ever that the way audiences discover and consume content is rapidly evolving, and our priority must be to evolve with them – not just maintaining our existing readership but actively reaching and building future audiences.
There are huge opportunities if we are smart about how we reach readers. At HarperCollins we are seeing global success with responsive, reader-driven publishing, subscription boxes and TikTok Shop and – crucially – developing strategies that are founded on a comprehensive understanding of the reader.
AI enables us to dramatically change the way we interact with and grow audiences. The opportunities are genuinely exciting – finding new ways to help readers discover books they will love, innovating in the ways we market and reach audiences, building new channels and adapting to new methods of consuming content.
Readers place huge value on creativity and talent so we must be clearer than ever that the work we publish comes from human creators and press for a framework that not only protects their rights, but also values content. We will continue to lobby government to rule out copyright exceptions for AI training and to adopt transparency measures that protect our creators and stimulate fair licensing.
The decline in reading for pleasure is undoubtedly the most urgent issue facing our industry and the launch of National Year of Reading 2026 offers a real opportunity to arrest the decline by meeting readers where they are – at HarperCollins, we have 12 years of research into children’s reading habits, and reversing the evident decline has been a priority for both our children’s divisions under Cally Poplak, a mission that the whole company shares as we "Go All In" for 2026.
As I look ahead to my first full year as HarperCollins UK CEO, I feel confident that the message about reading for pleasure has broken out of the confines of publishing and education and got through to government, business and media, and that new approaches, channels and technology can deliver massive opportunities for us and our authors to reach countless new readers around the world, just waiting to be introduced to that most wonderful of lifelong obsessions, the joy of reading.
Tom Weldon
CEO, Penguin Random House
Predictions are a fool’s errand in today’s world. So instead of forecasts, here is a hope and a belief. I hope the industry seizes the National Year of Reading as a moment to act together – to spark curiosity and to create a new generation of readers who see books not as relics of the past, but as companions to a world where technology is today’s reality. I hope we can rediscover and share the joy, the surprise and the sheer fun of reading in all its forms.
And my belief? Books are the ultimate invention. iPhones get upgraded every year – yet here we are, centuries on, still enjoying physical books and the human stories they hold. That endurance is not accidental; it is proof that reading still matters. Our task now isn’t just to publish brilliant human-led content, but to reach those who don’t yet call themselves readers. If we do that, we won’t just celebrate 2026, we’ll build a lasting legacy for the future of reading. I believe we can. I hope we will.
Joanna Prior
CEO, Pan Macmillan
2026 is set to be a landmark year, and I am genuinely buoyed by the shared sense of purpose ahead of the National Year of Reading. Our goal is simple: we must take books and the joy of reading right into the heart of our culture – wherever the passion is, the reading is.
Familiar, much-loved characters will provide a trusted entry point to reading and I’m looking forward to seeing families "Go All In" to the deep, dark wood with Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s much-anticipated third Gruffalo (Pan Macmillan Children’s) book publishing in September. Readers will continue to flock to graphic novels, with the market expanding to include YA readers as core fans age up.
The SFF and romantasy trends will continue to dominate, moving even further into the mainstream. Fantasy romance will also mature as a genre with readers continuing to seek both the escapism of darker romantasy as well as the comfort of cosy fantasy.
The growth of non-fiction audio will present a powerful opportunity to reach new audiences. Suzi Ruffell’s award-winning audiobook Am I Having Fun Now? (Bluebird) – described by the Speakies judges as "like having a cup of tea with the author" perfectly illustrates this: it’s social, personal and a brilliant way to connect.
Finally – on a more challenging note – as disinformation and misinformation continue to spread, we as publishers must also be steadfast champions of authenticated facts, research and expertise.
Perminder Mann
CEO, Simon & Schuster UK
2026 being the National Year of Reading gives us a golden opportunity to really put books and reading at the centre of people’s lives. I’m excited to see how the campaign unfolds and how our own plans at Simon & Schuster UK come to life alongside it. This is a cause I cared deeply about throughout my presidency of the Publishers Association, and I feel genuinely privileged to have played even a small part in making it happen. I would love for all of us to make the most of this moment as the resulting impact could be seismic.
I also see 2026 as a year of reckoning for AI, both for society and for our industry. We need to move forward with our eyes wide open and with integrity, transparency and balance, to ensure AI serves human creativity, not the other way around. Publishing has always been about people, and has been built on ideas and imagination, and that must remain at the heart of how we approach any new technology.
Our industry has repeatedly shown its ability to adapt and evolve through major technological and societal shifts. We can, and we will, adapt again, guided by our values, our purpose and our commitment to our creators.
More than ever, I am convinced of the power and necessity of a global mindset. The future of publishing lies in storytelling that lives across platforms, partnerships that stretch across industries, and audiences that connect across borders. It means a deep understanding of social trends, digital ecosystems, cultural nuance and the ability to build meaningful communities around content. For me, this global mindset is what most effectively supports our authors and illustrators, drives inclusion and positive societal change and ultimately shapes the future of our industry.
Nigel Newton
Founder and CEO, Bloomsbury Publishing
Next year could turn out to be a year of transformation and opportunity for book publishing. The boundaries of artificial intelligence will become clearer, enabling publishers to harness its benefits while seeking to safeguard the intellectual property rights of authors, illustrators and publishers. AI will be deeply embedded in our workflows, automating tasks such as metadata tagging, freeing teams to focus on creativity and strategy. Challenges will persist. Generative AI threatens traditional web traffic and ad revenue models, making metadata optimisation and SEO critical for visibility as we adjust to this new reality online.
Audio content will continue its meteoric rise, redefining storytelling as the fastest-growing format. Audiobooks, podcasts and voice-driven platforms may converge, creating immersive experiences where premium production and standout narration set the leaders apart. Meanwhile, the enduring appeal of beautifully produced books will thrive, particularly in the SFF and romantasy genres, where design and collectability count.
The decline in children’s reading for pleasure is deeply worrying, though I am confident that the National Year of Reading will make a big impact.
Finally, opportunities abound. Cross-media IP development will accelerate with books into gateways for films, games and immersive experiences. Academic publishing will continue to embrace collaboration and open access, while sustainability initiatives will drive eco-friendly practices. In an era of disinformation, I strongly believe that book publishing will remain a trusted bastion of the truth.
David Shelley
CEO, Hachette UK and Hachette Book Group US
We are seeing no sign of any drop-off yet in consumer demand for beautiful books that people can proudly display on their shelves/book nooks etc. One thing that has been a fantastic development over the past few years has been the increasing status of books as decor, and in 2026 I would predict this will continue – with ever-increasing importance of cover design, imaginative formats, finishes and production values.
Linked to this, I would also see a continuation of the trend towards adjunct analogue areas: we’re seeing rapidly growing sales for our Paperblanks stationery products, as well as LKP and Summersdale gifts and games. In digital, I think the appeal of audiobooks will continue to grow albeit perhaps with a gentler rate of growth than we’ve seen. And the interesting recent trend of younger readers discovering and embracing e-readers as semi-analogue objects will, I think, continue to pick up pace and keep the e-book market vibrant.
It’s undeniable that our industry continues to face challenges – notably around reading and literacy. 2026 is the 200th anniversary of Hachette and we will be using this year to devote time and resources to our Raising Readers campaign, and to support the National Year of Reading. All told, I continue to feel very optimistic for the future of the industry and thankful to be a part of it at such an interesting point in time.
Sarah Benton and Jonathan Perdoni
Co-CEOs, Bonnier Books UK
We are living in a whirlwind attention economy, and those attention spans are becoming ever more stretched – we are expecting more immediate pitches to meet this demand, with short stories, escapist genres such as dark romance, horror fiction and particularly graphic novels likely to benefit.
We expect print to remain the dominant format, with the consumer market continuing to expand and value largely concentrated across the biggest titles. Exclusive and design-led premium publishing will continue to thrive, and there’s no stopping the rise of audio – expect audio-first releases to become ever more prevalent. Sales success will rest more on backlist longevity and discoverability of titles, with bestsellers continuing to be driven by social media algorithms and engaged communities meeting our readers where they are.
English-language sales remain on the rise, particularly in Europe. While positive for our lists, it is certainly an area to keep an eye on for local language publishing and rights sales. But with the recent surge in interest in Irish Gaelic and the revival of other native tongues, could we see the beginnings of a turnaround in the year to come?
AI development will continue apace within the sector, with everyday operational use set to become ever more normalised, and an industry-wide focus on copyright and content protection essential to meet the moment. We are excited about the benefits that the technology can (and is already) bringing to our internal processes. As AI slop inevitably enters the market, our commitment to exceptional publishing and championing the inherent value of human creativity will be more important than ever.
And finally, not so much a prediction but an earnest hope for a successful and transformative National Year of Reading for publishers and the public alike. We’re looking forward to working with the NLT and industry partners to widen accessibility, inspire the next generation of readers, and show beyond all doubt that publishing is for everyone.
Mary Cannam
CEO, Faber
I’m optimistic about 2026, despite a challenging global context. I believe there is an underlying human desire for connection, and reading fulfils this need. People will continue to engage with books, with the written word, as a way to find meaning, understanding, to learn and to escape.
We’ve seen this engagement with the many author events we’ve held this year for our Faber Members and with a wide range of retail partners. Bookshops have become community hubs, serving their local areas with energy and passion. These local relationships will only increase in importance.
We must, in 2026, continue to make our industry more diverse and inclusive. The principle of freedom of expression must also be defended and upheld. This may be a year in which we need to be more vocal about that vital concept, given the global political context.
I hope the Year of Reading will have a significant impact and raise the profile of reading as an appealing activity for young people. We have already seen changes in the way people engage with books, the formats they use to read or to listen, and that trend is likely to continue.
We will see further impact of agentic AI on online shopping and discovery. We must continue to aim for full transparency of provenance if AI books are sold, with the emphasis being on AI written content to be described as such. I am optimistic that human-written work will be most readers’ first choice.
Paul Kelly
CEO, DK and chair, The Reading Agency
I hope 2026 will be a year of positive disruption and a moment to redefine long-term relevance. The year has been a year of profound and negative disruption. The ecosystems of the two largest book markets, the US and China, have shifted significantly. Consumer confidence has been shaken by inflation and political uncertainty. Technology has accelerated faster than the frameworks that govern it. But disruption is not unfamiliar territory for publishing. It is often where we do our best thinking.
As we look ahead, three opportunities stand out: the National Year of Reading gives us a generational chance to reverse the long-term decline in reading. This is a moment for charities, libraries, booksellers and publishers to work together with a shared ambition. The leadership from Gail Rebuck to align and mobilise has been inspiring – we must embrace "Go All In" to help create lasting change. At DK, we will work with our authors and brand partners to amplify the campaign and direct our staff volunteering to get out into communities and be part of the conversation.
Last year we shifted our thinking around AI from anxiety to Amplified Intelligence: tools that extend human creativity rather than replace it. While continuing to fight for regulatory protection for our authors works, in 2026 we will invest further in training and the best creative tools to help us save time, reduce costs and reach more readers while preserving human creative integrity.
Finally, books as an antidote to polarisation. This year has shown how fractured societies have become – and book bans and cultural battles will not disappear in 2026. We must not tolerate forces that attempt to censor or restrict access to books. For non-fiction especially, this is a moment to step forward and defend the nuance, depth of knowledge and empathy books provide.
Dan Conway
CEO, The Publishers Association (PA)
Next year is already promising to be a landmark year for UK publishing. Starting with the macro political outlook, I’m sure the prime minister will be hoping for a better beginning to the new year. I’m afraid all the signs are that this Labour Government will continue to be under significant and increasing pressure – from the economy, fall-out from the OBR cock-up, geopolitical events, and the rise of Reform to name but a few. May’s local elections loom quite large as a point where the electorate will make its feelings clear.
In terms of the Publisher Association’s work, it will come as a surprise to nobody that AI will continue to be the biggest issue for our industry in 2026. We will continue to call out bad actors and promote better ways for tech companies and rightsholders to do business for the benefit of better content for everyone. We’ll continue to be heavily involved in the political discussions as the UK government progresses its work in this area and to play an international role in aligning, where possible, with the global publishing community.
For your readers playing predictions bingo, I’m sure many will mention the National Year of Reading as a huge opportunity. There will be furious collaboration this year to try and make it as big a success as we can, followed swiftly by significant sector discussions about legacy and lasting impact.
As ever, the publishing industry is stronger when we act together whether working for behaviour change in reading culture or influencing government policy. We’ll be ready to support and inform our members and partners through the challenges and opportunities of 2026.
Anna Ganley
CEO, Society of Authors UK (SoA)
In 2026, authors will continue to fight for their livelihoods and for human creativity, a light that cannot be extinguished by any Large Language Model (LLM). During 2025, the national conversation around tech companies’ use of creative works to train their LLMs progressed significantly with the #MakeItFair campaign, and there is now a better understanding of what has been taken and what is at risk.
In the year ahead, we predict UK litigation that seeks injunctive relief and damages for this unlicensed commercial use of copyright materials. Payment will start flowing to authors and rightsholders, so that they can share in the commercial uses of their works. If this does not happen, and generative AI deployment continues without transparency, compensation, regulation, licensing and choice, there will be more industry action demanding fairness and equity for creators. Author voices must be heard.
In a world of generative AI, recognising human creativity is vital. We strongly believe in labelling AI-generated content, but until that happens across all platforms, we will empower authors to help their human authored works stand out. In 2026, we will launch an international collaboration with the Authors’ Guild of America of a refreshed version of their Human Authored scheme.
The aim is to have a global mark of human authorship. In the National Year of Reading, more lifelong reading habits will be created to nourish, educate and ease our busy minds. Industry will continue to adopt more climate-friendly practices, and we will lobby for mitigations to be implemented to protect people and planet against the environmental impacts of AI data centres.
Amid the current global political climate, my hopes are that the UK will lead with tolerance and fairness. Within the publishing industry, I would love to see a surge in deals for under-represented voices, allowing them to share their unique stories, and enabling industry to tap into audiences who are not catered for by current industry trends.The Society of Authors will continue lobbying for a fair deal for authors, ensuring that there is fair contracting, fair treatment and fair pay.
Meryl Halls
MD, The Booksellers Association (BA)
As we head into 2026, I find myself repeating a familiar message. Bookshops of every kind continue to adapt with impressive agility and creativity. They innovate commercially yet stay true to their core principles: serving their communities, promoting reading for pleasure, and distributing the UK’s creative industries. With the National Year of Reading approaching, booksellers are ready to play an active and visible part, and bookshops will cement their role as the best place to discover and experience a love of reading, whether newly discovered or reignited. This moment feels made for them.
The challenges, though, remain stubborn and familiar. Rising costs and well-meant but ill-judged policy changes continue to push already-tight margins to the limit. Many bookshops are operating under intense pressure and deep uncertainty. This affects not only their financial stability, but also the wellbeing of booksellers and the essential community services and spaces they provide.
Booksellers have a habit of finding a way through. They come out stronger and more united each time. We believe they will do so again. Yet the constant need for them to step up, while it can feel that others fail to step up for them, is exhausting. That fatigue is a real danger as we look to the year ahead; our job is to continue to energise our sector and allow them to inspire each other and excel in their crucial role.
Bridget Shine
CEO, Independent Publishers Guild (IPG)
Predicting that AI will be a top priority for publishers in 2026 is easy; judging exactly how it will all pan out is virtually impossible. This makes it very important for the IPG to provide practical support, including via training, briefings, licence development and discussions about legal options on alleged infringement. On an upbeat note, we should see further engagement with the positives of AI, in areas like data, marketing and workflows. We will all be watching AI policy carefully, and it is high time the government’s consultations move on to action and the robust copyright protection that publishers deserve.
Falling levels of reading continue to be a major concern, so the National Year of Reading is very welcome. "The Business of Reading" is the big theme of our Spring Conference in February, and it is a time for us to think deeply about connections with regular readers and ways to attract new ones. Book bans, not just overseas, but increasingly in some UK institutions, are another alarming development. On all three issues – AI, reading and freedom of expression – independent publishers have a pivotal role to play in delivering the quality and diversity of books that we require more than ever.
Trading-wise, downgraded economic forecasts suggest the business environment is not about to get any better. Consumer spending and school and university budgets will be tight, though if inflation slows, some cost headwinds might ease later in the year. There is plenty to cause concern in 2026, but it is also important to stay positive and not be shy about celebrating success whenever we can. Strength in numbers will be vital too, and publishers of all sizes will need to pull together for the collaboration and solidarity we all need.
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Bea Carvalho
Head of books, Waterstones
2026 is set to be another exciting year for booksellers: there is plenty to look forward to in the National Year of Reading. The year sees an impressive roster of big-name novelists including Julian Barnes, Maggie O’Farrell, Ann Patchett, Douglas Stuart and Tayari Jones, and we are excited to have a second novel – Hooked (4th Estate) – from 2024’s Waterstones Book of the Year 2024 winner Asako Yuzuki.
ML Stedman’s A Far-Flung Life (Doubleday) is a handsell highlight: a stunning sweeping novel, sure to win (and swiftly break) the hearts of readers. Pulitzer winner Andrew Sean Greer’s Villa Coco (Sceptre) is a contender for book of the summer with its bags of Tuscan charm and quick humour.
In SFF, Matt Dinniman’s Operation Bounce House (Michael Joseph) will be big, and we are excited about a new fantasy epic from Naomi Ishiguro. Among the romantasy newcomers, Ellis Hunter’s Blood Bound (HarperVoyager) is shaping up brilliantly.
In children’s, a brand-new extravaganza from Jamie Smart – Megalomaniacs (David Fickling) – will be the year’s playground must-have, and a new Gruffalo (Macmillan Children’s) story from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler will be the biggest picture book. We also adore Huw Aaron’s Monkeypig (Penguin), and know kids will too. Katherine Rundell’s Waterstones Book of the Year winning Impossible Creatures series continues with The Neverfear (Bloomsbury): we cannot wait. We are also excited about Phil Earle’s Finn’s Epic Fails (S&S Children’s) and Iqbal Hussain’s The Night I Borrowed Time (Puffin). A new Heartstopper (Hachette Children’s) leads the YA pack, and Sarah Crossan’s Gone for Good (S&S Children’s) and Petra Lord’s Queen of Faces (HarperCollins) are sure to win many fans.
In non-fiction, Patrick Radden Keefe’s London Falling (Picador) will be a conversation-starting hit. We continue to see growth in Personal Development: Daisy Fancourt’s Art Cure (Celadon Books) has bestseller potential here. Elsewhere, Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris’ The Book of Birds (Hamish Hamilton) is a contender for the most beautiful book of 2026.
Nicole Vanderbilt
Managing director, Bookshop.org UK
In 2026, we will sadly continue to see tech giants dominate and cause lasting damage – including the production, sale and profiting from AI slop, AI theft, environmentally-depleting AI infrastructure, alongside the danger of the concentration of power in Amazon’s algorithm and platform to control our reading lives and literary culture. Audiobooks present a shining light of creative investment and commercial success. We are excited to be adding this format to our platform in 2026, supporting indie bookshops and the championing of high-quality books, while at the same time ensuring stories remain accessible and enjoyable to a wide number of readers.
Emma Lowe
Director, The London Book Fair (LBF)
I think 2026 will see the continuing march of the audio format, pushing the already exciting boundaries further. We were delighted to support the Speakies and are looking forward to celebrating audiobooks even more with our first ever Narrator of the Fair, Ray Porter, and our keynote session with Bob Carrigan, CEO of Audible.
I felt the adaptation of Heartstopper for the screen was incredibly authentic, and I’m looking forward to the last chapter of the franchise coming out in July, and the Netflix movie being released too. It is hard not to see adaptations as a portion of the industry that will continue to thrive, with lots of incredible books being adapted for the screen next year (Patricia Cornwell’s Scarpetta series, Wuthering Heights, Hamnet etc).
People will always need stories, and maybe never more so than in 2026. For publishing professionals and the whole book industry, it will be more important than ever in our National Year of Reading to meet the prospective reader where they actually find the story, not where we think it should be – whether that is via a theme park ride, a theatre stage, a TikTok short or anything in-between. Hang on, it could be a rollercoaster!
Nigel Portwood
CEO, Oxford University Press (OUP)
In 2025, Oxford University Press selected "rage bait" as its word of the year – a term that refers to online content deliberately designed to elicit anger and outrage. It isn’t the most positive term, but it speaks to the division and polarisation we see in today’s world, as well as how algorithms are influencing the information we consume. This, coupled with challenges around AI slop and hallucinations, are impacting the quality of debate, fuelling mis- and disinformation, and contributing to a sense of distrust in society.
The role of publishers will therefore become increasingly important in 2026. Whether that is by working with authors and the research community in support of AI development, disseminating quality content that inspires diversity of thought, or exploring new ways to help people to access and engage with our work. Through these actions we can help to enable constructive debate and conversation.
Alongside this, we will see a continued focus on equipping young people with digital literacy skills so that they can navigate this landscape. This goes beyond technical skills; it requires critical thinking, the ability to question and validate sources, and engaging ethically with the information they consume. These skills are vital in helping learners to become knowledgeable, responsible citizens, which in turn will benefit wider society.
Peter Phillips
CEO, Cambridge University Press & Assessment (CUP)
We have a chance to turn around the UK’s alarming decline in reading. In 2025, the percentage of children and young people who said they enjoyed reading reached its lowest ebb for two decades.
If we are to succeed, it will take more than a brilliant public campaign for the National Year of Reading. The UK needs policy change and education reform to back it up. As the government enacts its Curriculum and Assessment Review, we have an opportunity. Key reforms to how every subject is taught and assessed in schools can champion a love of literature, and broaden access to books. Our industry must make that case.
We have good reasons to be optimistic. Walk into a bookshop and you are likely to see a thriving, lively literary scene. Books are the lifeblood of much of our culture, media and economy: from movies and videogames to tourism and higher education. Books – and fair licensing of IP – will be core to the success or failure of generative AI.
Books are fundamental to Britain’s soft power and global reach. But reading is not reaching far enough within all parts of our own society. There is more progress to be made in schools and with education reform. We must not waste this moment.
Jonathan Douglas
CEO, National Literacy Trust
2026 will provide us with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reinvigorate the nation’s relationship with reading. With incredible ambassadors, events and partnerships between publishers, businesses, government, charities, schools, libraries and communities at the fore, the National Year of Reading will inspire every child, young person and adult to go all in on their passions, feed their curiosities and connect with others through reading.
These cross-sector partnerships will also drive forward the Libraries for Primaries campaign as we strive to transform our 2,000th primary school library, giving thousands more children new opportunities to discover the magic of stories and a lifelong love of reading.
Whether it is a baby experiencing the magic of a picture book for the first time, a family listening to an audiobook on the school run, a teenager immersed in fan fiction or an adult reading the sports pages on their commute, reading is for everyone, and 2026 will celebrate reading in all its forms.
Claire Shanahan
Executive director, The Women’s Prize Trust
As I look to 2026 - and as we all, no doubt, focus on the opportunities that the National Year of Reading brings - I believe that there is exciting potential for books to help us discover and forge connections with new audiences, beyond the traditional publishing ecosystem. From the rise of celebrity tastemakers in the arts, to fashion houses referencing literature in their collections and campaigns, and book clubs as social "third spaces", the power of books on popular culture and creativity has never been more evident or more inspiring.
It is also inevitable next year that we will see our approach and attitude to AI continue to evolve. But readers seek the personal and knowing what they’re reading is created by real people, which will be reflected by an appetite for even more individual stories and expert voices, something the judges of the Women’s Prize for Fiction and Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction value in their annual recommendations.
It has always been important for our industry to nurture new and diverse voices, but in the context of AI and the regression of human rights we are witnessing in pockets of the world it is more vital than ever. I hope that 2026 will bring renewed commitment, and strategic initiatives with long-term impact, that spotlight these talented writers.
Louis Coiffait-Gunn
CEO, Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP)
2026 is a big year for CILIP as we launch our new five-year strategy, Empowering Impact. It will be time to reimagine reading. Librarians are willing and able to help make the National Year of Reading a large and lasting success. Whether in school, college, university, public, prison, NHS or any other type of library, we have got a group of professionals across our communities who are expert at creatively curating a collection that engages their unique set of users. They know how to make the most of physical reading spaces, online services and limited resources. And they are passionate about engaging hard-to-reach readers. Partnering with and investing in librarians will pay dividends.
Censorship will sadly continue to be an issue, which is why CILIP is launching a new Intellectual Freedom Committee, chaired by Dr David McMenemy. The combination of poor critical thinking skills and new tech will continue to fuel fake news, so we are partnering with Google rolling out their Super Searchers information literacy training.
Different types of libraries will have new ways to speak with one voice, which is why we are co-founding the new Libraries Alliance. And we will be planning for the biggest global library sector event, when the World Library and Information Congress (WLIC) comes to the UK in August 2027. Get in touch to find out more and get involved.
Nadim Sadek
Founder and CEO, Shimmr AI
A global "Recognition and Remuneration" system for copyrighted works will be implemented. With it, we will see swifter assimilation of "Allied Intelligence" into Publishing. Progressive publishers will specialise their own AI models, employing AI for efficiency across proofing, editing, translation, audiobooks and logistics.
With increasing confidence, they will see it as collaborative creativity. Authors will evaluate publishers by how well they provide AI for creative development and efficient marketing.
We will mature into understanding that humans bring lived experience, creative spark and irreplaceable curatorial judgment, while AI provides a dialogical companion whose conversations identify, excavate and develop creativity. More brilliant minds will be released to convey ideas in many art forms, some entirely new.
Worries about "AI slop" will recede. The worst-use case for the technology is getting it to write a book. Instead, more humans will be enabled by AI to shower the world with organic, brilliant creations. People will realise that constructive working with AI is not the same as abdicating creativity to it.
Publishers’ traditional virtues – collaboration, encouragement, compassion, empathy, patience, good judgement – will find new focus in greater husbandry of ideas. These "Properties", often first expressed in writing, will become the industry’s life-blood. The world will move from singular modes of learning to multi-modal interactivity, wherein people love ideas in several expressed forms.
As we face super-abundance of good work, there will be ever-greater need for super-discoverability.
Harsh Jagadeesan
Chief publishing officer, Springer Nature
How publishing is defined has evolved – print to digital, and now to an era about what can be understood by machines and enhanced by data. The question is not whether AI will transform publishing; it already has. The challenge is ensuring it drives progress through trustworthy discovery.
Research integrity remains essential. Publishers are defined by their role as partners in advancing discovery, making knowledge accessible, and helping communities achieve impact. By combining innovation with integrity, research becomes more efficient, discoverable and meaningful. Open science is another key focus. While open access has advanced, fragmentation in open research – data and code sometimes operating in silos — hinders progress. As AI grows more capable, interoperability is key to unlocking synthesis and collaboration. Focus needs to remain on ensuring consistency in supporting researchers with integrated practices.
The future of publishing lies in connected ecosystems, not isolated outputs. What endures is the value of reliable, peer-reviewed research. Our mission, as a sector, needs to be to uphold that commitment while embracing innovation that serves the global research community responsibly.
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Amanda Harris
Founder, Maven Literary Agency
Maven represents world-leading academics and scientists, so I am very pleased to see the return of the expert as a publishing trend. There remains a thirst for books that can explain our world and inform us on a deeper level than any Substack column or social media post. Personal development, health, food and well-being titles will continue to sell but those with a laser-like and immediate promise.
We are all overwhelmed by content, so cutting through the noise and ensuring discoverability remain the challenges for 2026. Platform and celebrity no longer guarantee sales success, so we will continue to see a sales challenge play out at the more commercial end of the non-fiction genre. I am really looking forward to seeing the surprise winner of Christmas 2025. I really do hope it is a brave and creative piece of publishing that encourages publishers to trust their editors/commissioners and continue to take some risks.
In Fiction, SFF, romantasy and romance will continue to deliver bestselling results. Lots of industry chat centres around saturation discussions, but compelling stories and escapist happy(ish) endings remain a strong trend. Also, reading habits mirroring those of our streaming habits fascinate me too so I expect to see the further strengthening of brand publishing and importance of title volume for some authors.
Juliet Mushens
Agent and founder, Mushens Entertainment
I think we will see more love stories, and more sweeping and escapist novels, be that in general women’s fiction, or in the speculative area of the market. We’re seeing New Adult start to build more momentum in the UK, and even general fiction seems to be comfortable with a splash of fantasy or whimsy. The big books around the fair seemed to be about building community, unlikely friendship, first love and second chances. Audiences are responding to more escapist narratives and I think that will continue in 2026.
Jonny Geller
CEO, Curtis Brown
I believe the reader revolution that we have been seeing in our bestseller lists will continue to march on. By that I mean, books readers want to read as opposed to ones they are being told to read by the big publishers. Thus romantasy will continue to dominate and be picked off the self publishing platforms by the Big 5 but will suffer from the scramble to fill lists. Inevitably, new genres will emerge (some dark and strange and some nostalgic and soft) and the bigger authors will continue to grow their audiences.
One positive trend in 2025 has been that books that start well (and used to fade quickly) are selling on for longer now – Elif Shafak, Tracy Chevalier, William Boyd, Ben Macintyre, Lisa Jewell and David Nicholls most notably from my stable. I do believe non-fiction will revive as we get bored of being gloomy and I see a huge appetite for young readers to have their issues reflected in adult fiction. I predict an increase in the special editions of genre titles and publishers will be urged to spend more on production values to distinguish themselves and justify the higher prices.
Rachel Mills
Director, Rachel Mills Literary
I think given what publishers have been buying, we will see prescriptive, solutions and need-based titles in non-fiction, and romantasy in fiction continuing to dominate. I am personally really excited for the year kicking off with Stews from social media superstar Xavier Bramble, Learn Like a Lobster from Squiggly Career authors Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis, and the much anticipated Little Addictions from Catherine Gray – all books which answer a clear need with the urgency which encourages readers to buy.
I do hope that the success of amazing creative novels like Sky Daddy and Fundamentally gives publishers confidence to acquire the more weird and wonderful. I’m sad that no-one seems to be confident about memoir – I feel like 2026 is going to be a bit bereft of poignant real life stories as a result. Audio is going to be dramatic and fascinating – given the growth of the format I think there will be creative dealmaking and we will see more audio-first projects, and exciting developments in what an audiobook can be.
Caroline Michel
Agent and CEO, Peters Fraser and Dunlop (PFD)
The National Year of Reading is a fantastic start to next year and a wonderful opportunity for the industry to focus the government on the importance of books into school libraries and the importance of reading for the nation’s personal and social development. We might hope to see a revival in the narrative non-fiction market to counter-balance the dominance of genre fiction.
Could there be a rise in celebrity and influential names, turning away from memoir and writing soft history and popular non-fiction in the mode of David Mitchell and Charlie Higson, fuelling an appetite for cosy history: comforting, non-controversial and satisfying? We see international editors acquiring titles from languages other than English, particularly in Korean and Japanese works across a range of genres and perhaps we’ll see a shift into Korean and Japanese fantasy in 2026.
At PFD, we are seeing increasingly strong sales for English-language export editions in some European territories, which is proving a challenge for local language publishers and we expect to see increasing initiatives from them to combat this. We anticipate more growth in the audio market, particularly across multi-voices and different formats. Conversations around AI will continue to dominate both adding value in some areas but, obviously, the big worry is copyright. As a result of AI-generated books, we may well see a drive for things that are uniquely human and original such as the great success we have had this year with Chloe Dalton’s Raising Hare.
Daniela Schlingman
Director, Daniela Schlingmann Literary Scouting
The role of scouts has evolved significantly in recent years, and we have become strategic partners who support our international publishing clients in navigating the global marketplace from a business perspective.
I expect the conversation around AI-assisted translation models to continue. Alongside this, UK export editions in European markets – and the implications for our international publishers – will remain a closely watched topic. One outcome is a renewed emphasis on sourcing books from languages other than English. While European publishers have always acquired beyond the English-language sphere, we are now seeing a heightened appetite for non-English originals, with some markets turning away from English-language titles in favour of works written in other languages. At the same time, the UK and US markets are showing increased enthusiasm for those international books: Korean and Japanese titles have been strong for some time, and we are now seeing greater uptake of German-language work for example.
Romantasy will undoubtedly continue to be a dominant genre, bringing readers and authors closer together while challenging publishers to redefine their role and establish new, non-traditional publishing and marketing patterns.
In children’s publishing, we are noticing encouraging signs that middle grade submissions are resurging – a welcome development in a market that remains challenging.
David Headley
Managing director, David H Headley Literary Agency (DHH)
I have spent the past few weeks listening to editors across the major publishing houses pitch their 2026 fiction, and some very clear themes are emerging in what they are publishing, and here is what I believe will resonate next year. There is a noticeable rise in what I would call “fem-gore”: intelligent, visceral thrillers and horror-adjacent novels rooted in female rage, bodily autonomy and the freedom to be messy, monstrous or morally ambiguous. Many books are female-driven stories that push boundaries. Books exploring the intensity of female friendships and the heartbreak when those relationships fracture are everywhere.
Many are treating the end of a friendship with the same weight as the end of a marriage, often worse. There is a stronger appetite for fiction that tackles sex and feminist themes with nuance and candour; stories about power, pleasure, shame and agency, without the male gaze shaping them. A lot of 2026 lists feature novels about contemporary relationships in flux: marriages unravelling, long-term partnerships reshaping themselves and couples negotiating open or non-traditional arrangements. They are not moralistic; they are explorations of modern intimacy.
The most exciting pitches are hybrid: literary horror, speculative romance, feminist thrillers. Editors are backing voice-driven, ambitious writing that refuses to sit neatly in one category.
