Take a look back at the best audiobooks, stories and growth categories of 2025 and then turn the page to see what 2026 plots to deliver; paper to audio transitions, voicechat for audiobooks, a new Arabic digital library, video marketing for audiobooks, a children’s literature focus for the Spanish language market and Audiofile Magazine hands over the reins to Kirkus. The plot thickens; audiobooks outpace tv, outsell hardcovers and help you to live longer. A New Delhi book fair booth draws a crowd for voice cloning and Rwanda reports a preference for audiobooks. Don Katz reminisces in interview and Rob Reiner’s A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever returns to the bestsellers charts. Dreaming of Spring? Bathe yourself in the sound of wildflowers with an innovative coffee table photographers’ audiobook.

The holidays are a busy time that can interrupt our audiobook listening. Use the new Spotify AI recap feature to reload your memory. Spotify has also been busy expanding into new regions and released Wrapped, a compilation of listener data. Audiobooks are credited with helping children learn to read. SOVAS award nominees are announced and Louise Brealey speaks about her efforts in accent work that earned her a spot on the Speakies shortlist. Voices, including Kristen Bell, Brian Cox and others are resurrected to their surprise by Fox News Audio and Judy Garland returns for the ElevenLabs The Wonderful Wizard of Oz project. In an AI dense month of articles, ElevenLabs is again in the news with star studded licensing deals, and Spines gets into the cloning business. If you’re traveling this holiday season, you might just find an audiobook link under your pillow.

This month, as leaves magically blanket the earth with color, Harry Potter fans are cozying up to the new Audible full-cast release. And yet, there is other news. Tami Simon remains with Sounds True after Macmillan acquisition. Narrator and educator Elizabeth Wiley passes the torch to her students. Audible captures live theatre in audiobook format. Librarians are frustrated with licensing. And in regional news; an audiobook summary app in Somalia, angel investors show support for UK-based startup Xigxag, NYU collaborates to offer publisher training in Sharjah, UAE and audiobooks have surpassed ebooks in the Mexican market.

This month highlights Indigenous and African storytelling, a new British awards program, a John Waters collection, a PW interview with Podium’s Victoria Gerken and another with author Olivia Dade. The LA Times speaks to a host of narrators about competition, casting, commitment and compensation. A Frankfurt white paper identifies the benefits and challenges of using AI tools in audiobook production. Storytel announces new features, the Frankfurt Book Fair promises new opportunities and Audible reports on regional differences in genre preferences. If you’re in Sydney, AUS… check out the spicy romance menu at Wingboy!

September welcomes a new venture for former Findaway executives, Storytel charts a new course, Audible expands into Mexico and an expanded catalogue of Arabic language books go digital. Spotify partners with TikTok, Google Play partners with FGV Editora in the academic market and ElevenReader launches direct sales. Superman’s Kingdom Come and Truly, super man Lionel Richie’s memoir narrated by Blair Underwood, release in the coming months. Explore audio’s role in memory trust and ROI and more.