The year 2026 is shaping up to be an exciting one for readers, with major releases from award-winning authors and highly anticipated new titles across fiction and non-fiction. From literary heavyweights to bestselling storytellers, these are the books readers are most looking forward to.
1. Vigil — George Saunders
A compact yet powerful novel exploring life, death, and redemption, told over the course of a single night.
2. Departure(s) — Julian Barnes
The final book by the Booker Prize–winning author, blending fiction and memoir to reflect on ageing, illness, and mortality.
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3. John of John — Douglas Stuart
A deeply personal novel about identity, art, and belonging, set on a remote Scottish island.
4. Son of Nobody — Yann Martel
A reimagining of the Trojan War told through the eyes of an ordinary soldier and a modern scholar.
5. Land — Maggie O’Farrell
Inspired by Irish history, this novel follows a father and son mapping land after the Great Hunger.
6. Exit Party — Emily St. John Mandel
A speculative novel set in a fractured future America, examining love, loss, and societal breakdown.
7. The Midnight Train — Matt Haig
A time-travel story following the global success of The Midnight Library.
8. Villa Coco — Andrew Sean Greer
A warm, humorous tale set in Italy about unlikely friendships and second chances.
9. Cool Machine — Colson Whitehead
The final installment in the author’s Harlem trilogy, set in 1980s New York.
10. A Hymn to Life — Gisèle Pelicot
A powerful memoir of survival, justice, and resilience that is expected to spark global conversation.
Why 2026 is a big year for books
With new releases spanning literary fiction, historical novels, speculative storytelling, and memoirs, 2026 offers Top 10 something for every reader. Many of these titles are also expected to feature prominently in award conversations and adaptations.
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