Whether you’re just trying to read more than one book this year, you’ve set a “52 Books in 52 Weeks” challenge, or your reading numbers regularly hit triple digits (how?!), you’re in for a treat with all the fiction releases coming in 2026. This year’s slate of new novels includes long-awaited next works from beloved authors like George Saunders, Tayari Jones, and Hamnet author Maggie O’Farrell, plus plenty of debuts sure to make new fans of us all.
Read on for our picks of the best novels coming out in 2026 that we can’t wait to devour, and be sure to check back regularly for updates to this list as the year goes on. To tide you over while you wait for them to hit bookshelves, check out our roundups of the best romance novels and mystery-thriller books coming in 2026, as well as last year’s best fiction picks.
