Worth Noting!

Penguin Random House Australia has acquired Australia and New Zealand rights to An Unstable Element, a memoir by two-time Booker Prize winner Peter Carey. The deal was negotiated with Peter Straus at RCW. The book traces Carey’s journey from childhood above his family’s car dealership to his development as a novelist. Publication is expected in 2027.

Stephen Graham Jones’s The Buffalo Hunter Hunter has won Outstanding Novel: Adult at the 2026 Ignyte Awards, announced on October 3. Other winners include Trang Thanh Tran’s They Bloom at Night for young adult fiction, Naseem Jamnia’s The Glade for middle grade, and Amal El-Mohtar’s The River Has Roots for novella. Martha Wells received the Ember Award. The annual prizes recognise achievement across science fiction, fantasy and horror.

Canadian novelist Patrick deWitt discusses Dodge City, his 2026 Giller Prize-longlisted novel, and the books and films surrounding its creation. Set in 1967, the novel follows a young man travelling across the United States toward Canada after losing his military draft deferment.

The Unwin Award has named its judging panel for 2027, with broadcaster and journalist Hannah MacInnes serving as chair alongside novelist and screenwriter Nikesh Shukla and science journalist Anjana Ahuja. The £10,000 award recognises emerging non-fiction authors for the impact of their overall body of work.

Canadian writer Patricia Finn discusses the long development of The Golden Boy, her debut novel and a 2026 Giller Prize-longlisted title. Finn describes the book as an allegory that gradually came together over several drafts, eventually returning to the unfinished manuscript after years of balancing her own writing with other work.

An Australian component has been added to the 2027 Himalayan Literature Festival & Writers’ Workshop in Kathmandu, bringing Australian writers into the international programme. The week-long gathering, scheduled for late May and early June, combines literary discussions, readings, workshops and exchanges among writers from several countries.

Canadian novelist Colin McAdam discusses Daphnis and Chloe, his 2026 Giller Prize-longlisted novel and modern reimagining of the ancient Greek story. McAdam, who holds a Cambridge PhD concerning translations of Ancient Greek, transforms the classical tale into a contemporary fable about love, innocence and beauty.

The Women’s Prize Trust and Chanel have launched Originators, a new U.S. mentorship and development programme for emerging unpublished women fiction writers. Five writers will receive individual mentorship, industry access and financial support, with applications open through November 30.

Canadian poet, essayist and novelist Lisa Robertson discusses Riverwork, her 2026 Giller Prize-longlisted novel, in the latest Giller Spotlight. Set around the buried Bièvre river in Paris, the novel brings together archival research, literary history, women's labour and the hidden histories beneath the modern city.

Hachette Australia has acquired two new books by Australian author Tony Birch, including his forthcoming novel You Missed My Heart. Scheduled for publication in February 2027, the novel follows two brothers growing up in a country town and a disappearance that changes their lives.

Vietnamese Canadian author Mai Nguyen discusses Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead, her second novel and a 2026 Giller Prize longlisted title, in the latest Giller Spotlight. The conversation offers a closer look at the book and Nguyen's work following her 2023 debut, Sunshine Nails.

Canadian novelist Cordelia Strube discusses At Sea in a Sieve, her 2026 Giller Prize-longlisted novel, in the latest Giller Spotlight. Strube reflects on the ideas and experiences behind the book, adding another author perspective to this year's longlist as the prize approaches the announcement of its shortlist.

Canadian writer Jennifer Chevalier has discussed the historical origins of her Giller-longlisted novel The Winter Witch, tracing its beginnings to her fascination with seventeenth-century witchcraft trials. A 1670 case in Rouen eventually led her to imagine a connection between accused witches banished from France and the filles du roi travelling to New France.

Canadian writer Nicholas Herring has discussed the writing of his Giller-longlisted second novel, Your Breath in Charcoal, describing a book that changed direction repeatedly during its earliest weeks. Herring cites Javier Marías and László Krasznahorkai as stylistic inspirations for his attempt to write about blue-collar Maritime lives.

Canadian writer Nazanine Hozar has discussed the origins of her Giller-longlisted second novel, The Small Ones, tracing the story partly to memories of growing up in Iran during the Iran-Iraq War. Hozar began developing the idea seven or eight years ago and cites literature and cinema—including Slaughterhouse-Five and Come and See—among its creative influences.

Publishers Weekly has released its third annual Freedom to Read issue, bringing together reporting and commentary on book challenges, library access, legislation and legal disputes across the United States. Published immediately before Banned Books Week, the 2026 package examines how libraries, authors and organisations are responding to continuing disputes over access to books.

Canadian writer Hollay Ghadery has discussed her debut novel The Unravelling of Ou in the Giller Prize's latest author Spotlight. Longlisted for the 2026 prize, the novel uses an unusual narrator—a sock puppet named Ecology Paul—to explore Minoo's life, family relationships and dependence on the companion that has helped her through difficult periods.

Canadian writer Michelle Good has discussed Eliza Sunshine, her second novel and a 2026 Giller Prize longlisted title, in the prize's latest author Spotlight. The multigenerational novel follows three generations of Cree women, extending Good's exploration of family, identity and the lasting effects of Canadian history as the Giller shortlist approaches.

Canadian writer Tara Gereaux has discussed the decade-long development of her novel Wild People Quiet in the Giller Prize's latest author Spotlight. Longlisted for the 2026 Giller Prize, the novel follows Florence, a Métis woman concealing her identity in 1940s Saskatchewan, and grew through years of research and 10 substantial drafts before publication.

Cambridge Dictionary’s Word Watcher is examining the vocabulary emerging around climate change, from climate migration and climate haven to climate hushing and climate grief. Anna Stevenson stresses that the terms have not necessarily entered the dictionary; instead, they illustrate how English is developing new language for displacement, environmental anxiety and changing attitudes toward extreme weather.

The 2027 Himalayan Literature Festival & Writers’ Workshop in Kathmandu has added a dedicated Australian stream to its programme, with Australian writer and editor Sharon Rundle invited to develop the new component. Scheduled for May 29–June 5, 2027, the festival will bring together writers, readers and publishing professionals for workshops, readings and discussions, extending its international programme with a stronger Australian presence.

Libro.fm and Silent Book Club are partnering with more than 400 independent bookshops, libraries and reading groups for Banned Books Read-Ins during Banned Books Week, October 4–10. Events in the United States and other countries will combine communal reading with activities organised around opposition to book restrictions, while in-person participants can receive one of two free audiobooks.

The Australian Fiction Prize has named five unpublished novels to its 2026 shortlist: works by Matcham Caine, Azra Berberovic, Andrew Murphy, Annette Higgs and Kelly McWilliam. Selected from a nine-title longlist, the finalists are competing for a A$15,000 advance and publication by HarperCollins Australia, with the winner to be announced on October 12.

Pushkin House Bookshop, described by the cultural centre as the UK’s only English-Russian bookshop, has opened its new permanent home in Bloomsbury, London. Designed by artist-architect Alexander Brodsky, the shop occupies the ground floor of Pushkin House and brings together curated collections in English and Russian spanning literature, history, culture, art, current affairs and children’s books.

Min Jin Lee has returned with American Hagwon, her long-awaited first novel since Pachinko. Published by Cardinal on September 29, the 656-page family saga follows the Koh family from Seoul to Sydney and Southern California, exploring education, migration, class and changing ideas of success through the world of Korean hagwons, or private tutoring schools. The novel is the third instalment in Lee’s planned Diaspora Quartet.

Harry Connick Jr. has published his debut book, Babe: Elaboratio — A Tribute to My Mother, a companion to the orchestral work he created in memory of his mother, Anita-Francis Livingston Connick. Published by Harper Celebrate on September 29, the book combines memories, imagined scenes, personal photographs and excerpts from Connick's musical score, extending a project first performed at Carnegie Hall on what would have been his mother's 100th birthday.

Yuval Noah Harari will return with The Laws of History, a major new work exploring the forces and patterns that shape human history, on September 21, 2027. Penguin Random House will publish the book globally, with The Bodley Head handling the UK and several other English-language territories and Random House publishing in the US. The book will examine questions including why empires rise and fall and how political orders change.

Canongate has acquired world rights to Material Evidence, the first memoir by Scottish actor and artist Tilda Swinton, for publication in autumn 2028. Rather than following a conventional chronology, Swinton will tell her life through objects including a christening dress, a letter, a wooden leg and a photograph. Farrar, Straus and Giroux has acquired North American rights, with German, Dutch and French editions also secured.

Six novels have been shortlisted for the 2026 Goldsmiths Prize, the £10,000 award recognising fiction that experiments with and extends the possibilities of the novel form. Polly Barton, China Miéville, Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Keith Ridgway, Aea Varfis-van Warmelo and Missouri Williams make up this year's shortlist, selected from a record number of submissions. The winner will be announced on November 4.

The Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction has announced its six-book 2026 shortlist, selected from more than 350 eligible titles. Nicholas Boggs, Anand Gopal, Patrick Radden Keefe, Edmund Richardson, Matthew Sweet and Andrea Wulf remain in contention for the £50,000 award, with shortlisted works ranging from biography and ancient history to investigative reporting and accounts of revolution. The winner will be announced in London on November 4.

The Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia has launched Translate Swiss Books, a platform designed to introduce contemporary Swiss literature to international publishers and translation professionals. Bringing together titles from Switzerland's multilingual publishing landscape, the project provides information intended to help books travel beyond their original languages and reach new international markets.

The Indonesian Publishers Association (IKAPI) has announced the recipients of its 2026 awards during the Indonesia International Book Fair in Jakarta. This year's honours span six categories recognising writers, books, literacy advocates and figures in Indonesia's publishing world, including a new award devoted to books rooted in local knowledge and culture.

The Indonesia International Book Fair has concluded its 2026 edition in Jakarta with a programme designed to strengthen the international reach of Indonesian books and creative content, combining public literary events with rights trading, translation opportunities and professional publishing exchanges.

Bogotá’s Festival de Libros para Niños y Jóvenes will celebrate its 20th edition from October 28–31, bringing together young readers, families, booksellers, librarians, editors and reading specialists under the theme “Donde nacen las preguntas” — “Where Questions Are Born.”

Hachette Livre is reshaping its international leadership, with David Shelley moving into a new global advisory role and becoming executive chair of Hachette UK and Hachette Book Group. Katie Espiner will become CEO of Hachette UK and Ben Sevier CEO of Hachette Book Group from January 2027.

Outgoing Frankfurt Book Fair president and CEO Juergen Boos reflects on 21 years leading the international publishing gathering as he prepares to retire at the end of October. Boos discusses the industry's transformation during his tenure and points to AI, rights trading, audiobooks and screen adaptation as major areas shaping publishing's next phase.

The International Publishers Association took part in a series of industry discussions during the 35th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, meeting publishers from across the Arab world and addressing academic publishing, digital learning, piracy and intellectual-property protection.

South Korean novelist You-Jeong Jeong’s Bonobo is heading to UK and Commonwealth readers in a new English translation by An Seon Jae, published by Honford Star on October 13. The speculative novel follows a primatologist whose consciousness becomes trapped inside a rescued bonobo after a car accident.

A new NielsenIQ BookData and GfK Entertainment analysis of 19 international print-book markets shows sharply uneven performance in the first half of 2026. Eleven territories increased revenue, led by strong growth in India and Brazil, while France fell 5.4% in value and 6.2% in volume.

Quebec-based digital distributor De Marque is partnering with ElevenLabs to give publishers in its network an additional route into audiobook production. Participating publishers will be able to create titles using automated narration and distribute them through the subscription-based ElevenReader platform, with particular emphasis on expanding audiobook availability across languages and markets where audio catalogues remain limited.

The 2026 Frankfurt Book Fair is preparing to open on October 7 with an extensive international programme spanning publishing, rights, artificial intelligence, audio, translation and book-to-screen adaptation. Running through October 11, this year's fair introduces new LatAm and Asia stages alongside its established professional programme, with Czechia as Guest of Honour.

The fifth Sharjah Booksellers Conference brought together more than 900 booksellers, publishers, distributors and digital-commerce professionals from 99 countries for two days focused on the practical business of getting books to readers. Discussions ranged from inventory, metadata and e-commerce to artificial intelligence, reader engagement and the changing role of bookshops.

Finland’s national Finna service has unveiled a redesigned search experience aimed at making cultural, scholarly and educational collections easier to explore. Finna.fi brings together more than 19 million items from over 470 Finnish libraries, archives, museums and research institutes, including around four million items available online.

Italian translator Silvia Pozzi has won the 2026 Pisa Book Translation Award for Città fantasma, her translation from Chinese of Taiwanese writer Kevin Chen’s Ghost Town. Published in Italy by Edizioni e/o, the novel was selected from a final three, with Pozzi receiving the award during the Pisa Book Festival.

Dutch literary publisher De Bezige Bij is returning to independent ownership after more than three decades within publishing group WPG. Management is acquiring the Amsterdam house through a buyout backed by private investors, restoring the independent structure from which the publisher emerged while leaving its editorial programme and day-to-day operations in place.

The International Alliance of Independent Publishers is expanding the networks surrounding Babelica, its international online fair for independent publishing. The Alliance now connects more than 980 publishing houses across over 60 countries, using Babelica and related initiatives to encourage exchanges between publishers, circulate books and translations across markets, and strengthen international cooperation among independent presses.

Cristina Rivera Garza and R.O. Kwon have revisited two writers central to their literary thinking in the latest instalment of Publishers Weekly’s Writers Talking Writers. Rivera Garza discusses Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, particularly the multilingual and fragmentary possibilities of Dictee, while Kwon turns to Mavis Gallant, praising the precision and singularity of her prose and renewing attention to Gallant’s extensive diaries, which remain unpublished.

Malta’s 2026 National Book Prize has recognised 18 winning titles across adult, children’s and young adult literature, translation, research and book production. Announced at San Anton Palace, the winners were selected from a 47-title shortlist drawn from 163 eligible books published during 2025. Among the principal winners were Karl Schembri for the novel Eħlisna mid-deni, Lon Kirkop for the short-story collection Is-sajf mhux għat-tfal, and Klara Vassallo for the poetry collection dahri darek.

The fifth Kyoto Writers Residency has begun, bringing eight writers, poets and translators to Kyoto for a month of writing and international literary exchange. Running from October 3 to November 2, the residency opens its public programme with the forum “All Roads Lead to Rome?”, bringing all eight fellows together to discuss the destinations and journeys of literary creation.

India’s book publishing market is projected to reach approximately US$21.4 billion by 2030–31, according to the new India Book Market Report 2026–2030 from the Federation of Indian Publishers and NielsenIQ BookData. The study examines print, digital and scholarly publishing alongside education, Indian-language markets, artificial intelligence, copyright and policy, providing a broad assessment of one of the world’s largest and most rapidly changing publishing sectors.

The International Publishers Association has responded to the latest PISA results after OECD-average reading performance among 15-year-olds fell to its lowest level recorded by the assessment. More than 760,000 students across 91 countries and economies participated in PISA 2025, with reading scores across OECD countries falling 28 points between 2015 and 2025. The IPA says the findings strengthen the case for sustained attention to reading, books and literacy.

Globe Pequot Publishing Group has acquired C&T Publishing, the California-based independent publisher specialising in quilting, sewing and craft books. The deal includes more than 1,800 active titles and brands including Stash Books, Kansas City Star Quilts, FanPowered Press and FunStitch Studio. C&T will continue publishing under its existing name and imprints as Globe Pequot expands its growing crafts programme.

The UK’s National Centre for Writing has selected a new international cohort for its Emerging Translator Mentorships, pairing early-career literary translators with experienced practitioners for six months of professional development. Founded by translator, writer and editor Daniel Hahn in 2010, the programme focuses particularly on developing translators working into English and supporting languages and literary traditions that remain underrepresented in English translation.

Bertelsmann has taken the top position in the Global 50 Publishing Ranking for the first time, with €5.93 billion in publishing revenue during 2025. The 20th edition ranks 48 major publishing groups that together generated €64.2 billion, or roughly half of estimated global publishing-industry revenue. RELX and Thomson Reuters follow Bertelsmann, while Penguin Random House remains the world’s largest trade publisher.

The International Digital Publishing Award has named 12 finalists from Egypt, Germany, India, the United Kingdom and the United States, selected from 42 submissions spanning several regions of the world. Projects shortlisted across three categories explore areas including artificial intelligence, accessibility, audiobooks, translation, educational publishing and new tools for authors and publishers. Winners across the award’s four categories will be announced at Frankfurter Buchmesse on October 7.

Author and poet Elizabeth Acevedo has won the 2027 NSK Neustadt Prize for Children’s and Young Adult Literature, announced during the Neustadt Lit Fest at the University of Oklahoma. Selected from nine finalists, Acevedo will receive the recently increased $50,000 prize, a silver medallion and a certificate, and is expected to return to the festival in 2027 for a celebration of her work.

The Center for Fiction has announced the seven-title shortlist for its 2026 First Novel Prize, recognising debut fiction by Emeline Atwood, Samantha Josephs, T Kira Madden, Giada Scodellaro, Avigayl Sharp, Ankur Thakkar and Nafissa Thompson-Spires. Selected by judges R. O. Kwon, Kiese Laymon, Jordy Rosenberg and Danzy Senna, the finalists will each receive $1,000, with the $15,000 prize winner to be announced on December 8.

Twenty independent bookshops are joining Singapore's first Indie Bookshop Day, with programmes running from October 2 to 4 and the main celebration taking place on October 3. Participating shops span different languages, genres and communities, with activities including author events, storytelling, book swaps, workshops and bookshop trails. A dedicated Bookshop Passport will also encourage readers to visit participating stores and collect stamps as they explore Singapore's independent bookselling scene.

The 2026 Global 50 Publishing Ranking has placed Bertelsmann at the top for the first time, with approximately €5.93 billion in publishing revenue for 2025. The ranking's 48 publishing groups generated €64.2 billion collectively, with the ten largest accounting for around 56% of that total. The report's 20th edition also examines the growing strength of scientific and professional publishing, changes in education and trade publishing, and developments in major markets including China and India.

Cherise Saywell has won the 2026 BBC National Short Story Award for “Ditto,” receiving the £15,000 prize. The Edinburgh-based Australian writer's winning story follows a young boy confronting violence within his home and is set in a small rural Australian town inspired by the area where Saywell grew up. Now in its 21st year, the BBC award is presented in collaboration with the University of Cambridge and recognises excellence in short fiction.

The Oxford English Dictionary has added four Bermudian expressions in its September 2026 update: bimpert, meaning a foolish person; hamma, meaning a friend or term of endearment; shadeesh, the Bermudian term for chorizo; and to cut someone’s tail, meaning to punish or beat someone. The additions expand the OED's coverage of Bermudian English and follow its partnership with the Bermuda Spelling Bee, which is incorporating distinctively Bermudian expressions into its annual wordlist.

Louise Erdrich has received the 2026 Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize, recognising her contributions to literature and the arts. The Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning author joins previous recipients including Bob Dylan, Frank Gehry, Merce Cunningham and Ava DuVernay. Erdrich is also a co-founder of Birchbark Books in Minneapolis, an independent bookstore supporting Native literature, culture and community. AP News

Poetry reading among UK children and young people has reached its highest level in 16 years, according to new National Literacy Trust research highlighted ahead of National Poetry Day. In 2026, 30.7% of 8- to 18-year-olds said they read poetry in their free time at least once a month, the highest proportion recorded since 2010. The figures arrive as UK poetry book sales remain strong, having exceeded £8 million during the first 30 weeks of the year, up 13.3% year on year. Around 2.1 million children are expected to take part in National Poetry Day activities on October 1 under this year's theme, “Wonder.”

The Australian Crime Writers Association has announced the winners of the 2026 Ned Kelly Awards. Sally Hepworth’s Mad Mabel won Best Crime Fiction, Liz Allan’s In Bloom took Best Debut Crime Fiction, Charlotte Grieve’s Duty to Warn won Best True Crime, and Abigail Dean’s The Death of Us received Best International Crime Fiction. More than 160 authors entered this year’s awards.

The Society of Authors has reopened submissions for the 2027 ADCI Literary Prize, which recognises fiction by disabled and chronically ill authors featuring disabled or chronically ill characters. Now awarded biennially, the prize has a £2,000 fund and covers eligible novels published or self-published in the UK between November 2024 and October 2026. Submissions close on October 31, with the winner to be announced at the Society of Authors Awards in 2027.

Union Square & Co. has launched Singularity, a new publishing programme dedicated to paperback novellas. Led by editorial director Mika Kasuga, the line plans to publish 10 to 12 titles each year across a range of genres, combining new work with selected reissues. Its first releases arrived in September, with further titles scheduled through late 2026 and 2027.

Queensland Writers Centre has revised several changes to the Aurealis Awards following criticism from Australia's speculative-fiction community. The organisation will largely restore the previous entry-fee structure, refund part of the fees already paid and allow works to win in multiple categories. Revised rules also explicitly exclude AI-generated written and illustrative work and return eligibility to Australian citizens and permanent residents. QWC, which recently assumed administration of the awards, said further consultation will follow after its first full year overseeing them.

The Queenscliffe Literary Festival has announced its 2026 programme, running across two weekends from October 16 to 25 in Victoria. The lineup includes Michelle de Kretser, Andy Griffiths, Chris Hammer, Stephanie Alexander, Shaun Micallef, Judith Lucy, Lorin Clarke and Kaz Cooke, with author conversations, panels, workshops and community reading events scheduled across several venues in Queenscliffe.

Authors Bess Kalb and Tony Weaver, Jr. have been named honorary chairs of Banned Books Week 2026, alongside youth honorary chairs Marshall Romero and Azeemah Sadiq. Running from October 4 to 10 under the theme “Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read,” the annual campaign will feature activities and resources focused on book challenges, access to reading materials and intellectual freedom. October 10 will conclude the week as Let Freedom Read Day.

Literary agent Neil Blair has launched High Line Publishing Studio, a new independent publisher operating from London and New York. Led by CEO Oliver Malcolm, the company begins with two imprints: Odessa Editions, publishing Jewish and Israeli fiction and nonfiction, and Antidote Books, focused on idea-driven nonfiction across subjects including history, politics, economics and culture. High Line plans eventually to publish around 10 to 12 titles annually through each imprint, with global sales and distribution handled by Hachette.

The American Association of School Librarians has relaunched its National School Library Standards web portal with expanded resources supporting the second edition of its standards. The redesigned platform introduces streamlined navigation, improved search and filtering, curated collections and new implementation materials, alongside guides for librarians, educators, administrators and other members of school learning communities.

Six works have been shortlisted for Australia's 2026 Barbara Jefferis Award: novels by Jumaana Abdu, Michelle de Kretser, Emily Maguire, Rachel Morton and Gretchen Shirm, alongside A Piece of Red Cloth by Leonie Norrington, Djawundil Maymuru, Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs and Djawa Burarrwanga. Administered by the Australian Society of Authors, the biennial award carries a 2026 prize pool of $55,000. The winner will be announced in Sydney on November 10.

Michael Rosen will join Hot Poets Liv Torc and Chris Redmond and two Young Poet Laureates for a live online schools assembly on October 1 as part of the UK's National Poetry Day. The 30-minute event will bring primary and secondary schools together for poetry, performance and audience participation around this year's theme, “Wonder.” Schools joining interactively will also be able to contribute words and ideas towards a poem created by Rosen during the broadcast.

Writing Australia will open applications on September 30 for the 2027 Visiting International Publishers Program, which will bring international publishers, editors, rights managers, scouts and literary agents to Sydney from May 17 to 21. The week-long program includes industry forums, networking and two days of book-fair-style meetings in which Australian publishers and agents pitch titles to international participants. Applications close November 10, with the selected delegation due to be announced in early 2027.

A Florida Department of Education report lists 620 books removed or discontinued following objections in 10 of the state's 67 school districts during the 2025–26 academic year. The removals were concentrated particularly in Clay, Escambia and Nassau counties and included works by authors such as John Green, Lois Lowry and Rick Riordan. PEN America has characterised the entries as book bans, while the state report describes them as materials removed or discontinued at district level following objections.

The Booker Prize has announced its six-novel shortlist for 2026, selected from 163 eligible submissions. M. John Harrison, Marlon James, Luke Kennard, Rebecca Perry, Elizabeth Strout and Douglas Stuart remain in contention, with previous winners James and Stuart returning alongside three authors appearing on a Booker shortlist for the first time. The winner of the £50,000 prize will be announced in London on November 9.

Simon & Schuster Australia has acquired world rights to The Bara Knife & Gun Club, a memoir by Australian doctor Nicholas George Chapman, in a deal brokered by Jeanne Ryckmans at Key People Creative Management. Drawing on Chapman's experiences at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto, Johannesburg, the book explores life inside its busy trauma unit and the community of foreign doctors working there, while examining voluntourism, medical error and compassion fatigue. Publication is scheduled for April 2027.

Penguin Random House Australia has acquired ANZ rights to Soft Bite, the debut novel by Australian writer Alice Bishop, following a competitive auction. Set around the horse-racing industry in Victoria's Yarra Valley, the novel follows two generations of women confronting the aftermath of a fatal car accident. Bishop, whose earlier book A Constant Hum explored the aftermath of the Black Saturday bushfires, is due to have Soft Bite published by Penguin Australia in 2027. Libros y Publicaciones

The Giller Prize has entered an exclusive partnership with Toronto’s Book Bar to continue its in-person #BookTalk literary event series. The programme brings Canadian writers into conversation with other cultural figures in an intimate public setting. The first event under the partnership, scheduled for October 27, will feature Giller Prize winners Michael Redhill and André Alexis discussing Redhill’s The Trial of Katterfelto. A second event on November 17 will feature the winner of the 2026 Giller Prize in conversation with writer and former Giller winner Ian Williams.

Johnny Cash’s autobiographical comic Hello, I’m Johnny Cash has returned to print 50 years after its original publication. Z2 Comics and the Johnny Cash estate have revived the long-out-of-print 1976 book, written by Cash with Billy Zeoli and illustrated by longtime Archie Comics artist Al Hartley. The comic traces Cash’s childhood, rise to fame, struggles with addiction and religious conversion. The anniversary reissue preserves Hartley’s original cover while also offering new variants by designer Chip Kidd and comics artist Tim Bradstreet, introducing an unusual piece of Cash’s publishing history to a new generation of readers.

Graywolf Press has unveiled a new logo and visual identity, marking only the third logo used by the independent publisher in its 52-year history. Revealed at Graywolf’s 2026 Literary Salon in Minneapolis, the new design was developed with Minneapolis branding studio Hi, Hello. The redesigned wolf draws on the three wolves of Graywolf’s original logo and the press’s early do-it-yourself character, while giving the publisher a bolder contemporary identity. Graywolf says the change reflects its continued emphasis on craft and its commitment to publishing adventurous and distinctive books.

Ian McEwan will publish Between Books, his first full-length collection of nonfiction, in May 2027. Bringing together essays and speeches written across his career, the volume ranges from memories of childhood and his early years as a writer to reflections on literature, science, technology and the wider world. It will include previously published and unpublished material as well as a new introduction by McEwan. Alfred A. Knopf will publish the book in the United States on May 25, with Jonathan Cape following in the United Kingdom on May 27.

The winners of the 2026 Northern Territory Writing Awards have been announced, bringing three of the Territory’s major literary competitions together in a combined ceremony for the first time. A Piece of Red Cloth won Best Fiction in the NT Book Awards, while Emma Trenorden’s High Fire Danger received Best Non-Fiction and Kylie Gatjawarrawuy Mununggurr’s Raymaŋgirrbuy dhäwu When I Was a Little Girl won the Children’s and Young Adult category. Martin Thomas’s Clever Men received the NT History Book Award, while seven further winners were recognised across the NT Literary Awards. Each NT Book Award winner receives an A$10,000 Arts NT Fellowship.

The Washington Center for the Book has announced the winners of the 2026 Washington State Book Awards, recognising seven books published in 2025 by authors living in Washington State. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the awards programme, formerly known as the Governor’s Writers Awards. The winners include Cori Winrock’s Alterations for creative nonfiction and memoir, Leyna Krow’s Sinkhole, and Other Inexplicable Voids for fiction, Cat Bohannon’s Eve for general nonfiction and biography, and Esther Lin’s Cold Thief Place for poetry. Martha Brockenbrough, Donna Barba Higuera and Vanessa L. Torres received the three awards for younger readers. Judges considered 308 books for the 2026 awards.

Photographer Beowulf Sheehan has published The Father of the Man: The Last Author Portrait Sitting with Cormac McCarthy, an 80-page photo essay documenting his final portrait session with McCarthy at the Santa Fe Institute. Published by Autofocus Books on September 1, the book combines previously unpublished photographs with Sheehan’s account of the sitting and reflections on McCarthy’s work and legacy.

HarperCollins hosted 95 book-focused content creators in New York for the third annual Shelves and the City, a weekend programme combining author and publisher activities, reading events and volunteering at Brooklyn Public Library. The event reflects publishers’ growing investment in relationships with online book communities and, for the first time this year, included outside brand sponsorships.

Independent publisher Melville House has formed a new partnership with Illuminating Media, whose owner David Kelsey has become a 50–50 partner alongside founders Dennis Johnson and Valerie Merians. The investment is intended to strengthen the publisher’s finances and support future growth, with the partners also planning a new advisory board and an expanded acquisitions programme.

The Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Awards have named their 2026 winners across nine book categories. Honorees include Kaveh Akbar’s Martyr! for Fiction, Scott Carson’s Departure 37 for Genre and Joyelle McSweeney’s Death Styles for Poetry. Marianne Boruch received the Lifetime Achievement award, while Women Writing for (a) Change Bloomington was named Literary Champion.

Barnes & Noble has acquired Levenger, the privately held stationery and lifestyle brand founded in 1987. Levenger will continue operating from South Florida, while a curated selection of its writing instruments, stationery and other products will begin appearing in selected Barnes & Noble stores, with wider distribution through Barnes & Noble and Paper Source planned later.

Chooseco has launched CYOA Unbound, a new imprint for nonlinear, multiple-ending books aimed at adult readers. The first title will be C. Davitt Bell’s interactive retelling of Pride and Prejudice in July 2027, followed by Fancy Feast’s Culty in September, with future titles planned across classics, horror, mystery, thrillers and romance.

T. S. Eliot Prize winner Karen Solie will appear with two-time prize winner Don Paterson at the Cheltenham Literature Festival on October 16. The event will combine readings and conversation about Solie’s collection Wellwater and the two poets’ work.

The Royal Society of Literature’s Pioneer Prize has received an additional £100,000 from Bukhman Philanthropies, matching Bernardine Evaristo’s original donation and supporting the award’s ten-year programme. The 2026 prize will recognise a pioneering British woman poet, with Ruth Borthwick chairing a jury that also includes Sarah Howe and Judith Palmer.

Allen & Unwin has acquired world rights to Sandra Hogan’s nonfiction book My Mother’s Secret: When a Phone Call Unravels a 50-Year Silence. The book explores a long-held family secret uncovered after a phone call forced Hogan to reconsider what she knew about her mother’s past. Publication is planned for April 2027.

Richard Charkin and Tom Campbell have published All Rights Reserved: Lessons in Publishing, a new guide to the contemporary book industry from Marble Hill. The book examines relationships with authors and agents, bookselling and distribution, publishing economics, international English-language markets and the growing impact of artificial intelligence.

The 2026 Ignatz Awards have recognised a new group of independent comics creators following their 29th annual ceremony at the Small Press Expo in Maryland. Winners included Lee Lai’s Cannon for Outstanding Graphic Novel, Michael DeForge’s All the Cameras in my Room for Outstanding Collection, Carol Tyler for Outstanding Artist, and Jesse Lonergan’s Drome for Outstanding Story. The awards have celebrated achievement in independent comics and cartooning since 1997.

The Newcastle Poetry Festival will return on 2–3 October for its 11th edition, bringing together poets including Karen Solie, Daljit Nagra and Sean O’Brien. Held under the theme “Re-inventing North,” the 2026 programme will also feature Rachael Boast, Imtiaz Dharker and Sarah Howe in a two-day celebration of contemporary poetry.

Thirteen Australian publishers will take part in a redesigned collective stand at the 2026 Frankfurt Book Fair, running from 7 to 11 October. The group includes Black Inc., Fremantle Press, Giramondo Publishing, Hardie Grant Publishing, Melbourne University Publishing, NewSouth Books, Scribe Publications and several first-time participants, giving Australian publishers a shared platform for international rights and industry meetings.

Novelist Adelle Waldman has been named the 2026–2027 Paris Review Visiting Professor at the Bard Prison Initiative, succeeding Javier Fuentes. Over the next year, she will teach three semester-long literature courses to BPI students, beginning with a class on Jane Austen. The appointment continues a partnership launched in 2024 between The Paris Review and BPI, under which a distinguished creative writer teaches work that has shaped their own literary practice.

The inaugural ICON Festival of Comic & Narrative Art will take place at the Biltmore Los Angeles on 7–8 November, preceded by a VIP reception on 6 November. The limited-capacity event will focus on original comic art, with artists including Nick Dragotta, Daniel Warren Johnson, Ryan Ottley, Jim Cheung and Bill Sienkiewicz. A special exhibition will also display more than 100 original works by Alex Ross.

U.S. publishing revenue rose 14% year over year in July 2026 to $1.0 billion, according to the Association of American Publishers’ latest StatShot report. Trade publishing revenue increased 16.4% to $804.1 million, while adult nonfiction rose 23%. Across the first seven months of 2026, total reported publishing revenue was up 5.4% from the same period in 2025.

The 2026 NT Literary Awards have named winners across seven categories, including Ryanna Clayton for “Lure,” Roland Bull for “Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Park” and Rosie Wild for “The Things We Measure.” The winners were announced at the NT Writing Awards, which also brought together the NT Book Awards and NT History Book Award ceremonies in Garramilla/Darwin and Mparntwe/Alice Springs.

HarperCollins is phasing out David Walliams’s backlist after previously deciding not to publish future titles by the children’s author. Existing print stock may remain available in bookshops while supplies last, with digital and audiobook editions also set to be withdrawn over time. The move follows allegations of inappropriate behaviour, which Walliams has denied; he has also said he was not informed of or involved in the publisher’s internal investigation.

Eli McCann’s debut novel Stitched has become a breakout success for Salt Lake City nonprofit Torrey House Press, debuting at No. 3 on Publishers Weekly’s trade paperback bestseller list with 20,535 copies sold in its first week. Published on 8 September, the novel has also appeared on the New York Times, USA Today and Independent Publishers Caucus bestseller lists. Torrey House has sent the book into a third printing, bringing the total number of copies in print to 108,000.

Walker Books Group has acquired world rights, excluding the United States and Canada, to a debut middle-grade fantasy trilogy by Natalie Precians following what the publisher described as a highly competitive auction. Eve Tonelli at Walker Books Australia and Emily McDonnell at Walker Books UK acquired the rights from Gemma Cooper of Gemma Cooper Literary, with Walker Books UK handling translation rights.

Black Inc. has acquired Australian and New Zealand rights to a forthcoming book of correspondence between Nobel laureate J. M. Coetzee and Australian composer, writer and broadcaster Andrew Ford. The collection brings together letters in which the two discuss music, literature and their ways of interpreting the world around them. Akoya has separately acquired UK and Commonwealth rights excluding Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

Podium Entertainment has been acquired from Presidio Investors by Flexpoint Ford and Shamrock Capital in a deal reported at around $400 million. GoldState Music is taking a minority stake alongside the two investment firms, while Podium employees will participate in a new ownership programme. The independent publisher has built a catalogue of more than 15,000 titles since 2019 and is a major player in audiobook publishing.

YALLFest will introduce ROMFest, a new programming track for adult romance readers, during its 13–14 November festival in Charleston, South Carolina. The parallel programme will feature panels with romance and YA crossover authors including Sarah Beth Durst, Tricia Levenseller and Mary E. Pearson. Organisers say the addition reflects YALLFest’s increasingly adult audience, with a related ROMWest programme planned for Santa Monica in 2027.

The inaugural Melbourne Kids Book Fest will run 2–3 October 2026, bringing together authors, illustrators and young readers during the school holidays. Hosted by Mary Martin Bookshop and The Little Bookroom, the programme includes appearances by Andy Griffiths and Maxine Beneba Clarke, alongside workshops, storytelling, illustration sessions and family activities.

Picador UK has acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to Evie Wyld’s forthcoming crime novel The Hollow Ground, alongside a second novel, in a significant pre-empt. German rights have also sold to hanserblau in a two-book deal, extending the international rights campaign for Wyld’s next work.

The 2027 Global Book Crawl will run in Australia from 17 to 25 April, with participating independent bookshops included in a single nationwide passbook organised by state and territory. The revised format is intended to make it easier for regional and remote bookshops to take part in the third annual event.

Stalin’s Wine Cellar by John Baker and Nick Place has been optioned for screen by Beyond Productions and IPG Media. The nonfiction book follows the authors’ search for a legendary wine collection associated with Russia’s imperial era and later Joseph Stalin, turning the story into a mixture of history, travel and treasure hunt. The screen-rights deal was negotiated by Jeanne Ryckmans at Key People Creative Management.

International rights to Charlotte Guest’s The Kookaburra have now sold in eight territories: the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Brazil. The expansion follows the novel’s Australian acquisition by Allen & Unwin in a five-way auction, with Brazil joining seven international markets secured earlier in the rights campaign.

The Stories We Live By, the final book credited to Timothy Keller and his son Michael Keller, has been published by Zondervan. Before Timothy Keller’s death in 2023, the pair developed the book’s structure and discussed its contents; Michael later shaped their outline and his father’s unpublished material into the finished work. The book was released on 22 September 2026.

Six novels have reached the 2026 Booker Prize shortlist, selected from 163 submissions published in the UK or Ireland. The finalists are works by M. John Harrison, Marlon James, Luke Kennard, Rebecca Perry, Elizabeth Strout and Douglas Stuart. The winner will be announced in London on 9 November 2026.

The 2026 Richell Prize for Emerging Writers has named a 24-writer longlist after receiving a record 1,022 entries. The winner will receive A$10,000 and a 12-month mentorship with a Hachette Australia publisher. The shortlist will be announced on 16 October, followed by the winner on 6 November.

Creative Australia has awarded 16 fellowships worth A$80,000 each, supporting established artists for projects lasting up to two years. Literature recipients include poet Judith Bishop and translator Alison Entrekin, whose fellowships will support new work in poetry, creative nonfiction and literary translation.

Literary agents and rights specialists are pointing to renewed interest in traditional science fiction, family narratives and literature from smaller-language markets ahead of the Frankfurt Book Fair, 7–11 October 2026. The industry is also watching questions of authorship and provenance as AI becomes a growing concern in international rights negotiations.

Chef and author Kwame Onwuachi will publish All Hours: Crazy Good Food for Whatever, Whenever on 22 September 2026. Co-written with Joshua David Stein and published by Knopf, the cookbook is Onwuachi’s third book and is being released alongside a U.S. tour of conversations and live events.

Six books have reached the 2026 Wolfson History Prize shortlist, covering nearly 3,000 years of history across subjects ranging from ancient Mesopotamia and early modern Europe to Victorian literature and post-war Britain. Each shortlisted author receives £5,000, with the £50,000 overall prize to be awarded on 1 December.

Four Western Australian writers have reached the 2026 Hungerford Award shortlist after a record 128 manuscripts were submitted. The biennial prize recognises unpublished work by debut writers, with the winner to receive A$15,000, a publishing contract with Fremantle Press and a fellowship from the Centre for Stories.

Publishing professional Kate Cuthbert has launched Enough Trope, a new literary journal and podcast devoted to Australian genre fiction. The project will feature criticism, commentary and conversations with writers about the conventions that shape genres including romance, fantasy and speculative fiction.

The 2026 Brooklyn Book Festival begins on 20 September with a nine-day programme of literary events across New York City. Virtual Festival Day opens the schedule, followed by Bookend events through 28 September, Children’s Day on 26 September, and the main Festival Day and Literary Marketplace on 27 September.

Audible is increasing the number of European-language Originals it brings into English, with translated works expected to account for nearly a quarter of its U.K. English Originals slate by the end of 2026. The current programme draws mainly from German, French, Spanish and Italian titles, extending existing productions to English-speaking listeners.

New York University will hold its 2027 Advanced Publishing Institute on 6–7 January at its Greenwich Village campus, with this year’s programme centred on innovation, audience development and analytics. Sessions will include publishing strategy, data, marketing and the use of artificial intelligence, with speakers including Simon & Schuster CEO Greg Greeley and senior figures from Random House and HarperCollins.

Fourteen works of Canadian fiction have been selected for the 2026 Giller Prize longlist from a field of more than 140 submissions. The prize will narrow the list to its finalists on 5 October, ahead of the winner announcement in Toronto on 16 November.

Six books have reached the final stage of Australia’s 2026 Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Award, selected from 176 submissions across several genres. Each finalist receives the $1,500 Alex Buzo Shortlist Prize, with the $40,000 main award and the People’s Choice Prize to be announced at Bondi Pavilion on 19 November.

The Bookseller’s FutureBook Conference will move to ExCeL London on 15 March 2027, immediately ahead of the London Book Fair. The one-day event will also mark FutureBook’s first international edition, bringing publishing and creative-industry figures together before the fair opens the following day.

The National Book Foundation’s 2026 Summer Reading Adventure received 2,600 entries from across the United States and Washington, D.C., with 85% coming from first-time participants. The third annual programme encouraged adult summer reading through bookstores, Little Free Libraries and a range of participation prizes.

The National Book Foundation has completed its 2026 longlist announcements across Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature and Young People’s Literature. Five finalists in each category will be named on October 6, with the winners announced at the National Book Awards ceremony on November 18.

South African novelist Damon Galgut has been named the 2026 recipient of South Korea's Park Kyung-ni Literary Award. Galgut, who won the 2021 Booker Prize for The Promise, becomes the 15th recipient of the international award, established in honour of Korean novelist Park Kyung-ni. The prize carries ₩100 million, with the jury recognising Galgut's exploration of memory, responsibility and justice through his writing on South African history and individual lives. The award ceremony will take place in Wonju on October 29.

Colombian novelist Juan Gabriel Vásquez has become the first Latin American writer to receive South Korea's Lee Ho-chul Unification Road Literary Award. Vásquez received the prize in Seoul on September 18, with the jury recognising his exploration of political violence, historical memory and its consequences in Colombian society. Established in 2017 in memory of South Korean novelist Lee Ho-chul, the international award honours writers whose work engages with conflict, violence and social division. Vásquez is the prize's 10th recipient.

Japanese writer Nao-Cola Yamazaki's Beautiful Distance has been published in the United States for the first time. Translated from Japanese by Charlotte Goff and published by SJP Lit, the novel follows a man facing the approaching death of his wife and explores marriage, grief and the everyday gestures through which relationships endure. The English translation was first published in the UK by Daunt Books in April and now makes its U.S. debut with a foreword by Katie Kitamura.

Japanese writer Hiroko Oyamada's Garden has been published in English translation by New Directions. The collection brings together 15 stories translated by David Boyd, Lucy North and Yuki Tejima, exploring encounters between everyday human life and an increasingly strange natural world. Oyamada, winner of Japan's Akutagawa Prize for The Hole, is also known to English-language readers through The Factory and Weasels in the Attic.

More than 13,000 people attended the 2026 LéaLA Spanish-Language Book Fair and Literary Festival in Los Angeles. The 11th edition drew 13,780 attendees to LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes from September 24 to 27 for four days of books, literary discussions, poetry, music, visual arts and activities for younger readers. Writers, poets, academics and artists from Mexico, the United States and across Ibero-America took part, while 36 schools participated through the festival's educational programme, reaching approximately 2,000 primary and secondary students.

The fifth Sharjah Booksellers Conference brought together 912 booksellers, publishers, distributors and other industry professionals from 99 countries at Expo Centre Sharjah. Held on September 19 and 20, the conference included more than 300 professional meetings and discussions on developing bookselling businesses, diversifying revenue for independent bookstores, improving access to books and responding to changing technology and reader behaviour.

World Kid Lit Month is marking its 10th anniversary with a month-long celebration of international and translated literature for children and young adults. This year's programme uses the theme “Around the World in 10,” encouraging readers, families, schools and libraries to explore books from different countries and languages. The initiative is also running the second year of its Schools' International Reading Award, alongside reading challenges, resources and anniversary activities throughout September.

The Singapore Book Council has announced the longlists for the 2026 Singapore Literature Prize, with 30 works by 30 writers selected across the current Prose and Poetry lists. The biennial prize recognises literary work by Singapore citizens and permanent residents across the country’s four official languages. The full shortlist across all eight categories will be announced on October 13, with each eventual category winner receiving S$5,000.

The African Studies Association of Africa has opened nominations for the 2027 Pius Adesanmi Memorial Award for Excellence in African Writing. The biennial prize recognises an outstanding single-authored academic book focused on Africa or the global African experience, with eligible works drawn from across the field of African Studies. Books published between January 2020 and June 2026 may be submitted, with nominations closing on December 14. The winner will be recognised at the association’s biennial conference in October 2027.

The Indonesian Publishers Association has released the programme for the 2026 Indonesia International Book Fair, opening in Jakarta on September 30 and running through October 4. The fair will combine book launches, discussions, seminars and author events with professional publishing programmes, including the Indonesia Rights Fair and an expanded Lit Connect forum covering international rights, translation, book-to-screen adaptation, digital publishing and artificial intelligence.

Romania's National Library will bring together librarians and cultural organisations on September 28 for a national discussion on Erasmus+ projects in libraries. The hybrid meeting will examine their contribution to professional development and local communities, ways of measuring their impact, and how participating institutions can turn project results into longer-term collaboration. Representatives from public and regional libraries, cultural organisations and Romania's national librarians' association are among those taking part.

French book-discovery app Booklink has passed 65,000 downloads as it builds a reading platform around personalised recommendations, swipe-based browsing and short video booktrailers. Readers can refine recommendations through their preferences and interactions, while the platform also connects publishers, authors, booksellers and literary events with readers through targeted promotions, competitions and other book-discovery tools. Syndicat national de l'édition

The 48th Montevideo International Book Fair has unveiled its programme ahead of its October 2 opening at the Intendencia de Montevideo. Running for 17 days through October 18, the fair will feature book launches, author conversations, poetry, comics and other literary events, with Germany participating as guest of honour. The programme also includes international writers and the 2026 Bartolomé Hidalgo Awards ceremony on October 10. Cul

Paper Republic's autumn roundup highlights a new wave of Chinese-language literature appearing in English, including recently published fiction, poetry and essays across international literary journals. New translations have appeared in outlets including Clarkesworld, Asymptote, Samovar and Poetry Daily, while three poetry collections translated from Chinese — The Magpie at Night, Mirror and The Ruins — have been shortlisted for the 2026 Lucien Stryk Asian Translation Prize. Paper Republic

Poetry Africa will mark its 30th edition in Durban this October, bringing together poets for performances, workshops, literary discussions and competitions. The anniversary festival will also host the fifth World Poetry Slam Championship, with 40 poets representing 40 countries across five continents. The international competition culminates in its final and champion announcement on October 9. Poetry Africa

Finnish comics are receiving a year-long showcase in France through Sarjakuva 2026, with artists appearing at seven festivals and the Finnish Institute in Paris. Twelve Finnish comics artists and other industry professionals are taking part in this weekend's Formula Bula festival, alongside exhibitions and signing sessions for new French translations. The wider programme includes six exhibitions, book launches and around 30 artist visits, while Éditions PLG is preparing the first French-language nonfiction book devoted to contemporary Finnish comics. Around 130 Finnish graphic novels and shorter comics have been published in French since 2001.

France's tax administration has revised its guidance governing which books and book-related transactions qualify for the country's reduced 5.5% VAT rate. The updated rules clarify the fiscal definition of a book and address physical, digital and audio formats as well as products incorporating additional components. Published on July 29, the guidance can already be relied upon by taxpayers but remains under public consultation through September 30 and may be revised following feedback.

Brazil's National Library is marking the 150th anniversary of its Iconography Division, established in 1876 as the Third Section of Prints and now one of the institution's principal repositories of visual heritage. The anniversary programme included the third Por dentro da Iconografia seminar in Rio de Janeiro, bringing researchers, curators and library staff together to examine the formation, preservation and continuing development of a collection spanning artworks, engravings, prints, photographs and other visual materials.

National ISBN and ISMN agencies from around the world have met in Madrid for their 2026 annual assemblies, examining technical and regulatory issues affecting international publication-identification systems. Discussions included data reliability and security, development of a new international technology platform and the evolution of bibliographic identifiers and standards. The meetings brought together agencies responsible for systems underpinning the identification of books and printed music internationally. Cámara Argentina del Libro

The National Library of the Netherlands and the country's Reading Coalition are calling for €2 million in government funding to continue a national reading-promotion campaign following further declines in teenage reading proficiency. PISA 2025 results show that 61% of Dutch 15-year-olds reached at least Level 2 in reading, leaving approximately 39% below that baseline. Reading performance in the Netherlands was lower than in 2022 and remained below the OECD average.

Scholastic reported first-quarter fiscal 2027 revenue of $216.8 million, down 4% from the same period last year, while its operating loss remained unchanged at $92.2 million. Revenue declined in Children's Book Publishing and Distribution and Education, partly offset by stronger Entertainment results. Despite the seasonally small quarter, Scholastic maintained its full-year outlook for revenue growth of approximately 2% to 4% and adjusted EBITDA of $135 million to $145 million.

Penguin has published a new edition of 48kg, the debut poetry collection by Palestinian poet and translator Batool Abu Akleen. First issued by independent publisher Tenement Press in 2025, the bilingual Arabic-English collection brings together 48 poems, each corresponding to one kilogram of body mass. The translations were produced by Abu Akleen in collaboration with Graham Liddell, Wiam El-Tamami, Cristina Viti and Yasmin Zaher, with the new edition published by Penguin in collaboration with Tenement Press. Penguin

Abu Dhabi's Digital Arabic Library has digitised 42,000 books and is aiming to expand its collection to 62,000 by the end of 2026 and 100,000 by the end of 2027. The targets were outlined at the fifth Congress of Arabic & Creative Industries, where discussions examined Arabic-language publishing, technology, artificial intelligence and intellectual property. Funded by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre and operated by Arabookverse, the digital-library project also expects to produce 1,000 audiobooks as part of efforts to expand access to Arabic-language publishing internationally.

The NSK Neustadt Prize for Children’s and Young Adult Literature has increased its award from $35,000 to $50,000, with the expanded prize taking effect for its 2027 laureate. Awarded every other year and sponsored by World Literature Today, the NSK Neustadt recognises a living writer or author-illustrator for significant achievement in children’s or young-adult literature. The prize was established in 2003 and is supported by the Neustadt family. Nine writers and illustrators are currently finalists for the 2027 award, whose winner will be announced on September 29 during the Neustadt Lit Fest at the University of Oklahoma.

International rights agents are preparing their leading titles for the 2026 Frankfurter Buchmesse as publishers gather for one of the year’s major rights-trading events. Agents from the United States, Germany, Finland, France, Spain and Italy report continued demand for distinctive local voices with international appeal, alongside strong interest in crime, romance, literary fiction and books with film or television potential. Several agents also point to changing translation markets, including renewed interest in translated editions of English-language literary titles in parts of Europe and growing demand for classics by women writers. The selections heading to Frankfurt range from rediscovered historical works and literary fiction to children’s books, crime series and educational publishing.

The Book Industry Study Group has recognised rights specialist Kris Kliemann with its 2026 Industry Champion Award, highlighting her work to improve the infrastructure behind international publishing rights. Kliemann, founder of Kliemann & Company and longtime chair of BISG’s Rights Committee, has worked on initiatives designed to make rights discovery, licensing and royalty reporting more consistent and accessible. Among them is BISG’s Translation Rights Royalty Statement Standard, developed to reduce inconsistencies in the way publishers and their international partners report royalty information. The award recognises Kliemann’s broader efforts to improve cooperation and transparency across the global rights business.

Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena and Book Soup in West Hollywood have entered new ownership after a two-year search for successors to longtime owner Joel Sheldon. Robert Hoffman, a Pasadena native and longtime customer, and his family will take over the two independent bookstores. Vroman’s was founded in 1894 and had been stewarded by the Sheldon family for more than a century, while Book Soup, founded in 1975, came under Sheldon’s ownership in 2009. The new owners say the stores will retain their existing staff, programming, curation and community focus as they begin their next chapter.

Winnipeg Public Library has named Japanese Canadian writer and translator Sally Ito its Writer-in-Residence for 2026–27. Beginning October 1, Ito will provide free one-on-one consultations, writing workshops and a writers’ circle for emerging and established Manitoba writers across all genres, while also working on a writing project of her own. Ito is a poet, memoirist and literary translator whose recent work includes Heart’s Hydrography and the co-translated Wonder-Work: Selected Sonnets of Catharina Regina von Greiffenberg. The residency, based at Millennium Library, runs through April 30, 2027.

Sharjah will be the Guest of Honour at the 39th Bogotá International Book Fair, bringing literature, publishing and cultural programming from the United Arab Emirates to FILBo in 2027. Running from April 20 to May 3, the fair will use Sharjah’s participation to encourage greater exchange between Latin America and the Arab world, with translation, the circulation of books and professional publishing partnerships among its areas of focus. Sharjah, one of the seven emirates of the UAE, was named UNESCO World Book Capital in 2019 and is home to an extensive publishing and reading ecosystem.

Portugal’s DGLAB is holding a series of regional sessions to help local government bodies develop and implement mandatory Digital Preservation Plans. Running from September 11 to October 6, the programme covers Évora, Coimbra, Vila Nova de Gaia, the Azores, Lisbon, Faro and Funchal, with sessions aimed particularly at information technology, records-management and archival professionals.

Antoine Bellier, editorial director of Desclée de Brouwer, has been elected president of the Religion group within France’s Syndicat national de l’édition. He succeeds Jonathan Boulet, who had led the group since 2022. The SNE’s current groups-and-commissions page now lists Bellier as president.

Portugal’s DGLAB will host a presentation and listening session on September 29 examining the preservation and study of historic recordings from Guinea-Bissau’s Rádio Libertação and national broadcaster RDN. The Sons anticoloniais project, developed with Radiodifusão Nacional da Guiné-Bissau, focuses on preserving, researching and activating the country’s sound archive through recordings that document its twentieth-century radio history.

Iberarchivos will present a new technical guide on microbiological environmental monitoring and biosafety in historical archives on October 15. Coordinated by Mexico’s Archivo General de la Nación, with contributions from Cuba’s national archive and Portuguese and Brazilian archival institutions, the guide sets out measures for identifying biological risks, reducing microbial loads, preventing biodeterioration and protecting archive workers.

The Cámara Colombiana del Libro has launched a new digital campaign against book piracy, highlighting how illegal copies affect authors, editors, booksellers, designers, printers and other parts of the publishing chain. The initiative encourages readers and industry organisations to support original books and promote respect for the creative work behind them.

Clarivate’s Pulse of the Library 2026 report finds that AI adoption in libraries is continuing cautiously and unevenly. Sixteen percent of respondents report moderate-to-active implementation, while one-third remain in exploration or evaluation. Libraries further along in adoption are more likely to have defined governance, strategy and staff-development structures in place.

Argentina’s booksellers federation FALPA has called for emergency measures to support independent bookshops after a survey of around 1,200 stores found unit sales fell 25% between January–August 2023 and the same period in 2026. Inflation-adjusted revenue declined 41.5%, while real operating costs rose 31.1%.

Portugal’s fourth Book 2.0 conference brought authors, publishers, readers and policymakers to Lisbon on September 15–16 under the theme “Back to Basics. Back to Books.” The programme focused on reading and literacy, copyright and artificial intelligence, education, culture, health, and the future of the publishing industry.

Finland’s National Library has preserved the contents of Radio Mikaeli, an early eastern Finnish internet radio service that operated from 1998 to 2005, in the Finnish Web Archive. The preserved site includes around 4,600 news pages, more than 17,000 audio files and 264 web videos, and was archived through cooperation between the National Library, Finland’s audiovisual archive and Yle.

LIBER 2026 will bring around 250 exhibitors from 19 countries and an estimated 9,000 publishing professionals to Barcelona from September 29 to October 1. Organised by Fira de Barcelona and the Spanish Federation of Publishers’ Guilds, the fair is focused on expanding international markets for Spanish publishing, with rights sales, hosted buyers, translation agreements and more than 4,000 expected business meetings at the centre of this year’s programme.

Singapore’s National Library Board has launched ReadSG, a five-year national reading movement encouraging people to read for at least 15 minutes a day. Through the government’s CrowdTaskSG platform, participants can log reading sessions, build streaks and earn virtual coins redeemable for cash, with NLB aiming for 150,000 users by September 2027.

Two Lines Press has published Blood Is Dripping onto the Courtyard, a new English translation of Elvira Navarro’s short-story collection by Christina MacSweeney. Released on September 22, the 240-page volume brings together stories that move between the horrific, the surreal and the fantastic, with an introduction by Sarah Rose Etter.

Tuttle Publishing has released a new bilingual edition of The Tale of Princess Kaguya, Japan’s oldest surviving prose narrative. Published on September 22, the volume places the original Classical Japanese text alongside a new English translation by Matthew Stavros, with illustrations by Reginald Jackson and additional commentary for modern readers.

The Booker Prize has named six novels to its 2026 shortlist, including works by previous winners Marlon James and Douglas Stuart and returning shortlistee Elizabeth Strout. M. John Harrison, Luke Kennard and debut novelist Rebecca Perry complete the list. The winner of the £50,000 prize will be announced in London on November 9.

New PISA results show that reading proficiency among Dutch 15-year-olds has declined further. In 2025, 39% of students in the Netherlands performed below the basic Level 2 threshold for reading, compared with about one-third in 2022, while only 4% reached the highest proficiency levels. Mathematics and science performance remained broadly unchanged from 2022, but results across all three subjects remain significantly below their 2018 levels. The Dutch assessment involved 6,636 students across 177 schools and was released on 8 September.

The American Literary Translators Association has named five finalists for the 2026 Lucien Stryk Asian Translation Prize, recognising literary works translated from Chinese and Korean into English. The shortlisted books include translations of Li Qingzhao, Zhang Zao, Ye Hui, Nansŏrhŏn and Yoo Heekyung; the winning translator will receive $10,000, with the result to be announced at ALTA’s awards ceremony in Portland on 23 October.

A new report from NielsenIQ BookData and the Federation of Indian Publishers estimates India’s print book market at US$10.1 billion, alongside a digital publishing market of about US$0.7 billion. The India Book Market Report 2026–2030 also projects continued expansion across educational, trade and digital publishing, with the wider market expected to approach US$21.4 billion by 2030–31.

Columbia University Press and Bogotá-based Ediciones Uniandes have launched a reciprocal international distribution partnership. Ediciones Uniandes will distribute selected Columbia titles across Latin America, while Columbia will bring selected Spanish-language Uniandes books to readers in North America, Europe and Asia. The agreement also makes Ediciones Uniandes the first Spanish-language publisher in Columbia University Press’s distribution portfolio.

The National Library of the Czech Republic will open Historia Naturalis at Prague’s Klementinum Gallery on 16 October. The exhibition will present rare botanical and zoological works from the 15th to the 18th centuries, including manuscripts, incunabula and early printed books. Drawing on historical herbals, natural-history volumes and their illustrations, it will trace changing ways of observing and depicting plants and animals. The exhibition runs until 15 December 2026.

The Prix Vendredi has announced the ten novels shortlisted for its 2026 edition, marking the French-language young adult prize’s 10th anniversary. The selection spans ten authors and publishers across contemporary francophone young adult fiction. The winner will be announced in Paris on 12 November.

C&C Offset has expanded automation across its Hong Kong and China book-printing operations, adding an automated board-book binding line, more automated guided vehicles, LED presses and a new industrial digital toner press. The company has also launched an updated cloud-based production platform and taken on management of Pearson Asia’s Greater China supply-chain and logistics network. C&C says the investments are intended to shorten production times, reduce manual handling and support more short-run and print-on-demand work.

A new Bulgarian edition of Dinçer Güçyeter’s novel Unser Deutschlandmärchen has been presented in Sofia. The translation, by Borislav Petranov, was published by Black Flamingo Publishing and introduced at an event supported by TRADUKI and the Goethe-Institut. The presentation brings Güçyeter’s prize-winning novel to Bulgarian readers in a new translation.

Ankara Press, the commercial imprint of Cassava Republic Press, has acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to Ghanaian writer Cheryl Ntumy’s three-book romantasy series The Seven States. The trilogy will open with A Guide to Silk and Sedition in May 2027, followed by A Manifesto for Magic and Mayhem in 2028 and An Ode to Love and Liberation in 2029. The rights were acquired from Bieke van Aggelen at African Literary Agency.

The National Library of the Czech Republic will display three Greek papyri from Egypt at the Klementinum in Prague from 14 October to 10 November. The documents include a land lease dated 88 AD, a third-century letter from the Appianus estate archive and a rental agreement from 578 AD. They come from the library’s collection of more than 6,000 Greek papyrus fragments, acquired in 1934 from the collection of Austrian papyrologist Karl Wessely.

An excerpt from Montenegrin writer Danka Ivanović’s 2024 debut novel Prazne kuće has appeared in Romanian translation following her TRADUKI residency in Bucharest in June. Translated by Octavia Nedelcu and published by Matca Literară as Case pustii, the excerpt marks the first published outcome of the residency and introduces Ivanović’s novel to Romanian readers.

Singapore-based startup Novvel.co is developing an AI-assisted platform for turning prose manuscripts into graphic novels. Founded in 2026, the company offers tools for converting stories into panelled artwork across multiple visual styles and is also targeting publishers, studios and rights holders. Novvel.co says its system can reduce graphic-novel production time and costs by roughly half, a figure presented as the company’s own estimate rather than independently verified performance data.

French writer Emmanuel Carrère will appear in Montevideo on 29 September 2026 to present Koljós, his latest book. The event, organised with the French Embassy, Gussi Libros and the Cámara Uruguaya del Libro, comes just ahead of the 48th Montevideo International Book Fair, which opens on 2 October.

Colombia’s 20th Festival de Libros para Niños y Jóvenes has opened a call for bookshops to join its 2026 programme. Participating stores can host readings, workshops, author encounters and other activities for children, young people and families ahead of the festival’s 28–31 October run in Bogotá. Applications remain open until 2 October 2026.

Portugal’s Directorate-General for Books, Archives and Libraries will support the publication abroad of 61 illustrated works in 2026, involving 45 publishers across 28 countries. The programme will provide about €90,000 to expand the international reach of Portuguese illustration and comics, with Catarina Sobral and Joana Estrela the most represented illustrators in this year’s selection.

IKAPI’s Lit Connect forum will return at the 2026 Indonesia International Book Fair, which runs 30 September–4 October in Jakarta. This year’s programme expands with more sessions on publishing trends, book-to-screen adaptation, artificial intelligence, translation, international rights, indie publishing and digital reading, alongside industry networking and IP development.

The 48th Montevideo International Book Fair has announced its international guest programme ahead of its 2–18 October run. Writers and illustrators from Argentina, Spain, Germany, Chile, Peru and other countries will take part in talks and presentations, including Fernanda Trías, Marcos Giralt Torrente, Mia Oberländer, Selva Almada and Rodrigo Costoya.

Brazil’s Fundação Biblioteca Nacional has recovered 164 historical publications identified as belonging to its collection after they were seized by Federal Police during a 2020 operation. The returned material includes 162 issues of O Guri from the 1940s and 1950s, an 1848 edition of Almanak Laemmert and a 1949 Superman almanac.

Public libraries in the Netherlands recorded more than 3.8 million members in 2025, an increase of 3% from the previous year, according to figures published by the National Library of the Netherlands. Membership among 18–30-year-olds rose 22%, while the national network expanded to 802 library branches and recorded nearly 60 million visits.

Polish Nobel laureate Olga Tokarczuk has received the 2026 Halldór Laxness International Literary Prize, recognising her contribution to the renewal of narrative art. The biennial Icelandic award was presented at the Nordic House in Reykjavík on 10 September, continuing a prize established in honour of Iceland’s 1955 Nobel laureate.

Argentina’s booksellers federation FALPA has declared the country’s independent bookshop sector in a state of emergency after reporting a 25% fall in unit sales between January–August 2023 and the same period in 2026. Real revenue fell 41.5% over the period, while inflation-adjusted operating costs rose 31.1%, affecting a sector of roughly 1,200 independent bookshops.

The National Library of Finland is offering trial access to English translations of the Voprosy Istorii digital archive through 30 September 2026. The archive spans 1926–2025, while the AI-powered English Reader tool allows users to search and read articles in English and switch back to the original Russian versions.

The 2026 São Paulo International Book Biennial welcomed a record 760,000 visitors during its 4–13 September run. The fair brought together 269 exhibitors and around 800 authors, while exhibitors reported average daily revenue 57% higher than at the previous edition.

African Books Collective has opened ABC-K, a new Nairobi office intended to strengthen its links with African publishers and expand the distribution of African books within the continent. The operation will initially focus on East Africa, while also supporting African journals and editorial training. ABC-K will make its first industry appearance at the Nairobi International Book Fair, 23–27 September 2026.

UNESCO has opened applications for the 2028 World Book Capital, inviting cities to propose year-long programmes promoting books, reading, literacy and access to knowledge. Applications must be submitted in English or French by 7 October 2026 at 23:59 Paris time. The programme is open to cities in UNESCO Member States and Associate Members.

A new white paper from Frankfurter Buchmesse and Dosdoce.com examines how artificial intelligence is entering audiobook and audio production workflows. Based on input from more than 85 industry professionals worldwide, the study found that 85% use AI somewhere in their production chain, while only 17% have integrated it across more than six stages, reflecting continued concerns over voice quality, rights transparency and data privacy. The report was published on 4 September 2026.

The National Library of the Philippines will hold Linked Ka Na Ba?: The ASEAN Library Quiz Challenge on 4 November 2026. Two-person teams will compete in rounds covering libraries, ASEAN culture, literature, history and information literacy, with registration open until 16 October.

Nigerian independent press Noisy Streetss Publishing has unveiled its first longform-fiction list, with seven novels scheduled across 2027 and 2028. The new slate marks the publisher’s expansion beyond anthology projects and brings together one established author and six debut novelists from across African literary fiction and genre writing.

Spanish writer Marta Borraz has won the 2026 Premio Tusquets Editores de Novela for Las leopardas, selected from 1,248 manuscripts. The €18,000 award recognises a novel inspired partly by Borraz’s own family history and set against social change in late-20th-century Spain. The book will be published by Tusquets on 7 October 2026.

Czechia’s preparations as Guest of Honour at the 2026 Frankfurt Book Fair are already widening international attention around its literature. Seventy-five Czech authors will take part in the October programme, while a major translation drive has brought more Czech titles into German and strengthened contacts with publishers and agents in other markets.

The third Festival Argentino de Historieta (¡FAH!) concluded in Buenos Aires after three days at the Centro Cultural Ricardo Rojas. More than 40 publishers took part, presenting comics, graphic novels and graphic humour alongside talks, workshops, screenings and an exhibition of original work by Enrique Breccia. The festival ran from 4 to 6 September and was organised by the Cámara Argentina del Libro’s comics commission with the Rojas cultural centre.

The 2027 Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poetry is now accepting manuscripts from African poets who have not yet published a full-length collection. The winner will receive US$1,000 and publication through the University of Nebraska Press, with entries remaining open until 1 December.

Icelandic literature will have a dedicated presence at the Gothenburg Book Fair from 24 to 27 September, with authors, translated books and publisher meetings forming part of the programme. Ragnar Jónasson, Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Sjón and Emil Hjörvar Petersen are among those featured as Icelandic publishers and cultural organisations promote new work to Nordic readers.

Nigerian poets Tolu Oloruntoba and Othuke Umukoro are among the 15 finalists for the 2026 Derek Walcott Prize for Poetry. Oloruntoba is recognised for Unravel, while Umukoro is in contention with Fenestration, joining an international field competing for the annual US$2,000 award.

Brazilian publisher Companhia das Letras is marking its 40th anniversary in 2026, four decades after Luiz Schwarcz and Lilia M. Schwarcz founded the house in São Paulo. The celebrations will extend to the Frankfurt Book Fair alongside the English-language release of Luiz Schwarcz’s The First Reader: On Writers and Editors, translated by Alison Entrekin.

The fifth Congress of Arabic & Creative Industries will take place in Abu Dhabi on 20 September, bringing together figures from publishing, technology, academia and the creative sector. This year’s programme will examine Arabic-language publishing, artificial intelligence, intellectual property and digital platforms as the language’s role in the creative economy continues to expand.

Six novels have advanced to the final stage of the 2026 German Book Prize, narrowing a field that began with 205 titles considered by this year’s jury. The shortlisted authors include Shida Bazyar, Franziska Gänsler, Valeria Gordeev, Elias Hirschl, Peggy Mädler and Dana Vowinckel, with the winner to be announced in Frankfurt on 5 October.

Bitter Lemon Press has created Labyrinth Press, a new imprint focused on literary fiction from around the world, with translated works forming a major part of its list. The imprint will begin publishing in 2027, opening with Joachim B. Schmidt’s Ósmann, Ferryman of the North.

The International Publishers Association has shortlisted five initiatives from the United States, Georgia, Germany and Türkiye for its inaugural Freedom of Expression Defenders Award. The new distinction recognizes work supporting freedom of expression, publishing and access to reading. Its first laureate will be announced at the Frankfurt Book Fair on October 7.