(Courtesy of Livraria da Travessa)
By Talita Facchini, Contributor
As 2026 moves beyond its first month, the publishing industry in Brazil is settling back into rhythm amid leadership changes, an intense political calendar, and a broader sense of global uncertainty.In 2025, Brazil’s publishing market posted solid growth, confirming a positive trajectory even beyond the year’s coloring book boom, according to final figures released by Nielsen Book and the Brazilian Association of Book Publishers (SNEL). Overall, more than 60 million books were sold in 2025, generating a nearly 8% jump in volume and a roughly 9% rise in value over 2024. Even when excluding sales of adult coloring books—the year’s standout phenomenon — the market still posted solid growth.
“In 2025, Brazil’s publishing market surpassed R$3.09 billion ($591 million) in revenue, with consistent growth in volume,” said Luiz Gaspar, regional director of NielsenIQ Book Brazil. “This growth is taking place in a context of greater concentration in fewer titles, with strong performances from major bestsellers and growth in Fiction and the Children’s and Young Adult segments.”
Asked to reflect on what they see emerging in the months ahead, Brazilian publishers point to a market pulled in two directions: a renewed appetite for books that help readers make sense of a rapidly shifting present day, and a parallel demand for escapism, emotional engagement, and lighter narratives.
The challenge for 2026, Gaspar added, will be “sustaining this growth pace in a scenario where the coloring book phenomenon may cool down,” while also “capitalizing on the opportunities of a year marked by the World Cup and elections.”
Politics, Uncertainty, and the Nonfiction Turn
Indeed, for Brazil, two events loom large in 2026: the presidential elections and the FIFA World Cup. Both are expected to influence reading habits and purchasing decisions.
“Political turbulence, both here and abroad, should lead to the publication of political biographies and long-form reporting focused on the daily menu of scandals,” says Otávio Marques da Costa, editorial director at Companhia das Letras.
That expectation is echoed by Eloah Pina, editor at Fósforo, who sees readers gravitating toward essays and political books that engage directly with contemporary debates.
“It is likely that readers will seek books that help clarify positions and scenarios,”, she says.
“In a context of democratic fragility, there may be a return to books that aim to explain the mechanics of global geopolitics and its tensions,” adds Mario Santin Frugiuele, editor at Todavia.
Alongside this nonfiction momentum, editors in Brazil also foresee a strong year for Brazilian fiction across genres and approaches.
“For some years now, our market has experienced a very interesting appreciation of Brazilian fiction”, says Cassiano Elek Machado, editorial director at Grupo Editorial Record. “Even more so in an election year, when local issues are at the center of public debate, readers tend to be more open to books with a distinctly Brazilian voice”.
At the same time, publishers point to sustained demand for escapism and narratives centered on emotion and imagination. Genres such as fantasy, romantasy, children’s books, and religious publishing—traditionally a resilient segment in Brazil—are expected to remain strong.
Applied nonfiction is also expected to perform well, particularly titles addressing burnout, work-life balance, parenting, mental health, financial psychology, and screen addiction.
According to Ana Lima, executive editor at Rocco, books that help readers build skills and stay relevant in an increasingly automated world are likely to remain in demand. Growth in climate-related themes and books focused on artificial intelligence and digital literacy also reflect a growing demand for tools to navigate technological change.
The search for balance is also reflected in a broader interest in analog experiences. Marques da Costa notes renewed enthusiasm for puzzles, sudoku, and interactive books, as well as debates around limiting smartphone use—signs, he suggests, of a cultural pushback against digital saturation.
In terms of formats, audio continues to gain ground, albeit gradually.
“Behind the scenes, there are indications that publishers are producing and converting more of their catalogs into audio,” says Samuel Coto, editorial director at HarperCollins Brasil. “This suggests we are moving closer to a moment when audio becomes more relevant in the local market.”
Urgency, and Imagination
Taken together, the early signs in 2026 point to a market shaped by both urgency and imagination. Across genres and formats, Brazilian publishers appear to be balancing the need to interpret the present with readers’ desire for meaning, comfort, and connection in an increasingly complex world.
Looking ahead, Coto also points to role-playing game (RPG)-inspired books as a trend that could gain traction. “These are fantasy narratives governed by RPG rules,” he explains. “There is something there that may resonate—especially as audio continues to grow.”