Although 2025 was an influential year in publishing, the next twelve months are also set to see significant developments and challenges, in both the print and digital sphere. 2026: The Book Industry’s Trajectory explores some of our team’s predications for the year ahead.  

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• Design craftsmanship is likely to stand out. With the rapid rise of low-quality, AI-generated content, readers will value strong typography, clear structure and coherent visual hierarchy. While ai will continue to support designers with routine tasks, high-quality digital design will remain a clear marker of care, competence and human creativity.  

• Scepticism towards AI's role in editorial services will increase. 2025 provided a series of high-profile missteps due to journalists and publishers relying on LLMs for editing. While ai may continue to support editors in routine and mechanical tasks in 2026, appreciation for human editorial judgement is likely to grow, particularly for the nuance and contextual understanding the machines struggle to replicate.

• POD services will continue to rise among self-publishing authors and indie publishers. As the technology continues to improve, it’s possible to release high-quality print editions at scale; authors will benefit from more control of formats, pricing and distribution.

• The variety of audiobook availability will expand across the market, driven in part by services such as Amazon’s KDP Virtual Voice. These tools will continue to make audio editions feasible for independent authors and within niche genres that previously lacked the budgets necessary for conventional narration.

• Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies are poised to enrich digital textbooks and corporate training materials, offering experiential layers that integrate more seamlessly with print. In education, AR- and VR-supported resources will become increasingly accessible, enabling more classrooms to adopt interactive learning experiences.  

• Rights tracking will become more straightforward through the adoption of blockchain technology, which will ensure transparency in royalty distribution. Such systems could strengthen author autonomy while streamlining collaboration among publishers and stakeholders.

• Cross-media content ecosystems will rise. Publishing will become even more interconnected, with individual stories expanding into articles, videos, films, VR experiences, and podcast episodes. The shift will drive investment in modular content strategies that work across multiple formats, promoting a cross-media ecosystem.

• The role of social media in franchising books and stories will continue to grow. Merchandise, behind-the-scenes content and character-driven posts will increasingly extend authors and fictional worlds into recognisable brands. Platforms like TikTok, YouTube and Instagram will accelerate this shift by turning story elements into shareable content driving fan engagement.  

• As multilingual AI translation tools mature, publishers will find it easier to expand into previously inaccessible markets. In 2026, producing highly localised material that reflects cultural nuance is expected to offer a significant competitive edge.  

• Analytics will drive decisions around trending topics, pricing and demand. As predictive systems evolve, they could fundamentally change how editors assess and select manuscripts and encourage an increase in data-driven editorial decision-making.  

• With teams now spread across locations, cloud platforms will allow editors, designers and production teams to collaborate instantly. These smarter workflows will tighten schedules and improve efficiency. Together, they point towards a future where agile publishers lead the field.

• Cloud-native publishing systems likewise will improve flexibility, connecting editors, illustrators, and reviewers from across the globe in real-time collaboration. The result will be a faster turnaround with no loss of quality.  

• Advertising hasn’t disappeared, and it will continue to evolve. Brands will no longer chase banner impressions; they will seek context, credibility and genuine connection. In practice, this will mean native formats that integrate into the reading experience rather than disrupt it.  

• Programmatic campaigns will be powered by first-party data, not third-party cookies. Sponsorships will shift towards partnerships that reflect a publication’s editorial ethos, rather than simply delivering reach. As a result, ad-operations teams will be pushed to adopt a more strategic mindset blending audience insight with creative storytelling.

• Hybrid events are set to return as the defining feature of 2026 – a development built on the virtual surge of 2020. Publishers have come to understand that audience gatherings, physical or digital, represent more than engagement metrics. They generate revenue, reinforce loyalty, and expand sponsorship prospects.

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From an increase in cloud-native workflows to embracing cross-media content ecosystems, publishers will undoubtably face many hurdles over the next twelve months. Across both print and digital, the trajectory of the industry will largely depend on how effectively publishers can adapt to the every-changing market landscape and technological advances.

‍Easypress is a publishing production software and services company based in the UK, delivering award-winning technology globally for over 20 years. ‍

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‍If you would like to learn more about the production services and publishing software Easypress provides for clients, please contact us.  

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