Book Publishers Market Report 2026

The book publishers market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $97.71 billion in 2025 to $100.47 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.8%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth in literacy rates, expansion of formal education systems, rising disposable income, urbanization and library development, popularity of print media.

The book publishers market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $113.63 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.1%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growth of online book retailing, increasing demand for digital learning content, rising global youth population, expansion of subscription-based reading models, cross-border content localization. Major trends in the forecast period include growth of digital and e-book publishing, expansion of self-publishing platforms, rising demand for educational and reference content, personalization of reading experiences, omnichannel distribution strategies.

The rising popularity of audiobooks is expected to drive growth in the book publishing market in the coming years. An audiobook is a recorded reading of a book or other written material, existing as a recording rather than a physical text. Audiobooks are offered in various formats, including compact discs, MP3s, and digital downloads. Book publishers contribute to audiobook production by hiring skilled narrators to record audio versions of their books. They may also collaborate with freelance authors or audiobook production studios to create high-quality audiobooks. For instance, in June 2024, the Audio Publishers Association (APA), a U.S.-based non-profit trade organization, reported that audiobook revenue increased by 9% to $2 billion in 2023, continuing a trend of annual growth as indicated by the Audio Publishers Association’s Sales Survey conducted by Toluna Harris Interactive. Thus, the increasing popularity of audiobooks is propelling the book publishing market.

Major companies in the book publishing industry are concentrating on creating innovative solutions, such as diversity‑driven publishing imprints and expansions of digital ecosystems, to address the growing demand for culturally representative content, inclusive narratives, and seamless digital access amid shifting reader preferences, global digitalisation, and rising competition from self‑publishing and multimedia platforms. These new imprints and platforms distinguish themselves from traditional publishing through their specialized thematic focus, community engagement initiatives, and integration with digital channels that provide wider discoverability and personalized experiences, unlike conventional general‑purpose lists that rely primarily on legacy editorial selection and physical distribution networks. For example, in January 2025, Crown Publishing Group, a US‑based division of Penguin Random House, introduced Storehouse Voices, a book imprint dedicated to highlighting Black authors and stories. This initiative was launched to address representation gaps and elevate diverse voices by publishing both fiction and nonfiction works chosen through intentional acquisitions, community outreach, and strategic editorial appointments, providing underrepresented authors a platform that traditional imprints often miss while enhancing cultural equity in publishing. Storehouse Voices focuses on authentic storytelling, builds partnerships with community organisations, and promotes inclusivity across its editorial and marketing practices, positioning the imprint as a mission‑driven complement to standard publishing lists while broadening market reach and reader engagement.

In June 2025, Penguin Random House LLC, a Germany-based global book publishing leader, acquired Wonderbly Productions Ltd for an undisclosed sum. Through this acquisition, Penguin Random House sought to enter the personalized and direct-to-consumer book market by integrating Wonderbly’s innovative, technology-driven publishing approach and worldwide presence, strengthening its children’s and gifting offerings. Wonderbly Productions Ltd is a UK-based trailblazer in personalized books, recognized for its data-driven, print-on-demand titles available in over 140 countries.

Major companies operating in the book publishers market are Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA, Vivendi SA, CBS Corporation, Lagardere SCA, Thomson Reuters Corporation, Wolters Kluwer N.V., Penguin Random House LLC, Pearson plc, Elsevier B.V., Hubert Burda Media GmbH, Hachette Livre S.A., Egmont Group Ltd., HarperCollins Publishers LLC, Springer Nature, John Wiley & Sons Inc., McGraw-Hill Education, Scholastic Corporation, Cengage Learning, Cambridge University Press, Macmillan Publishers Limited, Oxford University Press, Bloomsbury Publishing plc, Faber & Faber Limited, Blackwell Publishing Limited, Hodder & Stoughton Ltd., Canongate Books Ltd., Allen & Unwin Limited, Grupo Planeta, Taylor & Francis Group plc, Chicken House Ltd., Granta Publications Ltd., Hay House Inc.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the book publishers’ market in 2025. Middle East is expected to be the fastest growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the book publishers market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the book publishers market report are China, India, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, South Korea, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, New Zealand, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iran, Turkey, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa.

The book publishers market consists of revenues earned by entities by offering services such as design, editing, and marketing activities necessary for producing and distributing books. These establishments may publish books in print, electronic, or audio form. Their products include atlases, religious books, school or university textbooks, encyclopedias, technical manuals, maps and travel guides, in all cases excepting exclusive internet publishing). The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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