A Massive Round Up of 2026 Year Long Reading Challenges

Another year – more reading challenges! Below you’ll find a compilation of popular year-long 2026 reading challenges from blogs, YouTube and Instagram. Also check out our list of The Most Popular 2026 Reading Challenges on StoryGraph.

2026 Reading Challenges

13 Moons Reading Challenge. There are a total of 104 reading prompts divided into 13 categories. There is a list of levels given and you can choose which level you wish to participate in.
#19Nonfiction Reading Challenge. Read non-fiction books for the Bingo prompts.
26 Books for 2026 (Blydyn Square Books). Read 26 books for 2026 using our list as a suggestion or just read ANY 26 books and you’ll be eligible to win an annual prize.
The 52 Book Club Reading Challenge. Dragons and apocalyptic worlds, undersea quests, and settlements on Mars, lost loves, decades-old secrets, and untold history… The 52 Book Club is back with a year’s worth of new prompts!

A to Z and Back Again. There are a variety of ways to complete the project and you don’t have to stick with authors or titles only. The choices are unlimited, including … Choose an author whose first or last name begins with the letter, or read a book with a character whose name begins with the letter, or choose a genre that begins with the letter … get as creative as you want.
Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge. Fill your bowls with one book for each letter of the alphabet.
Alphabet Soup – Author Edition Reading Challenge. The challenge is to read one book that has an author whose first name or last name starts with every letter of the alphabet.
Anti-Brain Rot Reading Challenge. The challenge focuses on consistency, consuming diverse media with intention, and forming your own opinions. Read for at least 45 mins each day with a physical or eBook that you annotate along the way. Read at least 1 article or essay per month on a topic you’re interested in. Read at least 1 book by a BIPOC author for each book you read by a White author. Read from 10 different genres, 4 different formats and 10 different identities. Create a critical media genre and create your own personal curriculum and join a book club or a buddy read.
The Audiobook Challenge. The goal is to find a new love for audios or to outdo yourself by listening to more audios this year.

Barnes & Noble Reading Challenge. Each month we’ll be reading a book with the month’s theme in the title.
Backlist Books. This challenge is your chance to finally give older books the attention they deserve. With 12 prompts, you’ll dive into those hidden treasures on your shelf and tackle your TBR.
Beat the Backlist. Let’s tackle all the books you keep meaning to read and still haven’t.
Beyond the Bookends Reading Challenge. Read a book for each category in the month.
BINGO Quest. Read a book for each of the squares until you get a BINGO!
Books in Translation. Read a book that’s been translated from any language into the language of your choosing. The challenge is not limited to translations to or from English.
Book to Movie (and TV). Read books being made into movies for release this (with additional levels for adaptations in other years).
Book to Screen Challenge. With 12 prompts — one for each month — this challenge invites you to explore the books behind the adaptations everyone’s watching, rewatch your favorites, and join the conversations around stories that jump from page to screen.
Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge. Read Harder has 24 fun and serious tasks designed to help you break out of your reading bubble and expand your worldview through books.
Bookish Books Reading Challenge. Read books where the main themes is books (reading them, writing them, hoarding them, stealing them, eating them, burning them, decorating with them, organizing them, sniffing them, selling them, etc.).
Booklist Queen’s Reading Challenge. Read a book a week with these 52 different categories to expand your reading selection. There’s also a Mini challenge for 1 book per month.
Bookopoly. This is not a personal reading challenge, but this Bookopoly board is amazing and is available to you as a free download. Read a book for each category on the boardwalk but roll the die like you would in Monopoly to determine what to read.
Books in the Freezer Horror Reading Challenge. Read a horror book for each of these 12 reading prompts (+2 bonuses)
Books in Translation. Read a book that’s been translated from any language into the language of your choosing.
Build Your Library Reading Challenge. In 2026, we are having a very hygge and cozy year of reading! There are prompts that offer you the chance to thoroughly explore the theme in fun and unique ways.
Buzzword Title & Cover Challenges. Read a book each month that has a TITLE element related to the buzzword. And there’s a COVER challenge as well (here’s the printables)

Cafe Crawl Reading Challenge. The reading prompts are inspired by items from a cafe.
Calendar of Crime. Read 12 mystery books, each from of the categories in the month on the Calendar of Crime.
Candy Reading Challenge. Read a book for the 40 reading prompts geared towards kids and adults – all candy themed. There’s also bonus prompts for an extra challenge.
Christian Fiction Bingo. A bingo board, 24 prompts to choose from, and the only rule is to read Christian fiction books.
Christian Romance Reading Challenge. Read a book for each of the monthly themes (also at Instagram).
Classics Community Reading Challenge. Read at least 12 classics during the year – or set your own goals, such as ‘read 3 Victorian classics’ or ‘read 25 classics during 2020’ or ‘read 5 Russian classics’. But most importantly, the goal is to have fun with your classics reading
Classics Reading Challenge. The idea is to explore the classics by reading one classic book (written before 1975) each month chosen for the challenge theme.
Cloak and Dagger Reading Challenge. Read any book that is from the mystery/suspense/thriller/crime/true crime genres. Any sub-genres are welcome as long as they incorporate one of these genres.
The Clock Reading Challenge. The goal is to read 12 books, each with a number from 1 to 12 in the title.
Color Coded. Choose books where the color may either be named in the title, in the author’s name, or it may appear as the dominant color for the cover of the book.
Comet Readings 2026 Reading Challenge. Tackle a new genre or theme each week by reading a book for each of the challenge prompts.
Contemporary Author Bookology. Read a book written by the author of the month, but also you can get creative and interpretive – like the first book written by the author of the month, read a book about the country of author’s birth, read a book written in the country of the author’s birth or challenge yourself and spell out their first, last, or first and last name.
Cover Lovers Reading Challenge. Each of the 50 prompts below include an element to look for on the covers of the books you read. A book should only be used once (unless you’re going rogue and just doing things your own way).
COYER Out to Lunch. Clean Out Your Electronic books (eBooks and audiobooks) … and more. This will be a year long challenge, going back to the old days of strict rules when only free and nearly free books count.
Cozy Books Reading Challenge. With 12 prompts — one for each month — this challenge invites you to slow down and enjoy the books that make you feel good.
Cozy Reading Challenge. Add more inspiration and joy to your cozy reading life by reading books for one of these cozy genre reading prompts. This challenge offers four mini-challenges—one for each season.
Craving For Cozies. Read cozy mystery books.
Creativity Reading Challenge. This challenge is about reading books on creativity, art, crafts, writing, film making, photography and any other topic that helps you live a more creative life.
Cruisin’ Thru The Cozies. Read only cozy mysteries of your choice or read through the different sub-genres of cozy mysteries.

Decades Reading Challenge. Challenge yourself to reading books set in each decade from the 1800s through today.
Diverse Reading Challenge. Read to cover as many prompts as you can in 2026.

Elevate Your Reading. A 12 month challenge with a prompt for every month. Plus optional – participate in a buddy read each month.
Epistolary Reading Challenge. The challenge is to read books written in the form of letters, diaries, blogs, e-mails and such, either completely or partially written this way.
The European Reading Challenge. Read books set in European countries or books by European authors.

Fairytale Reading Challenge. Each month there is a fairytale prompt. You can read a retelling or the original fairytale.
Fantasy / Sci-Fi Reading Challenge. This reading challenge is perfect for you if you want to read more fantasy/sci-fi books, discover more subgenres and authors within speculative fiction, like a challenge, want more accountability while reading and want ideas for what to read next
Feminist Reading Challenge. The aim is to encourage reading of books written by women, non-binary individuals and people of colour by reading a book for each of the 24 categories.

Go With the Flow. Follow the flow chart starting in January. Then the next book you pick to read is affected by the book you last read.

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge. Read historical fiction books from sub-genres like Historical Romance, Historical Mystery, Historical Fantasy, Young Adult, History/Non-Fiction.
Humor Reading Challenge. Read books that you consider funny or humorous.
Hundred Years Hence. Read a text that was published for the first time 100 years ago.

I Read Horror Year-Round Challenge. Read a horror book from the 12 prescribed categories and 4 levels of participation.
2026 Immigration Reading Challenge. read more books that explore the stories of people who have immigrated.

Journey Through Time Historical Fiction Reading Challenge. Read historical fiction books based on the theme for the month.
Jurassic Reading Challenge. Read a book based on the theme of the month. Just the theme names are inspired by dinosaurs.

Key Word Reading Challenge. Read a book each month with one (or more) of the key words in the title.
Kinfolk Lit Reading Challenge. One book a month for the theme. No pressure. Just good stories by Black authors.

Law of Fives Bingo. A five-by-five bingo where each square requires five things to be checked off to be completed. Any book read can go towards any number of squares.
Libro.fm’s Audiobook Listening Challenge. 24 prompts to help you broaden your audiobook listening, discover new favorites.
Library Love Challenge. The goal is to find your love of your local library and to read at least twelve (12) books from the library.
Linz The Bookworm and Logophile Reading Challenge. The challenge is organized into 5 levels of 12 prompts. This is a choose-your-own-adventure challenge. Play however you like: pick your challenge level of choice and try to complete everything within those levels… or bounce around willy-nilly and read whatever you feel like.
Literary Escapes. Read 1 book set in each of the 50 states + the District of Columbia.
Literary Travel. With 12 reading prompts, you’ll visit new countries, uncover global histories, and read stories that take you far beyond your comfort zone.

Medical Examiner’s Mystery Reading Challenge. Your goal as Medical Examiner is to issue as many Toe Tags as you can by reading murder mysteries and documenting the number of victims.
Memoir Reading Challenge. Read a minimum of five memoirs from any of the categories listed. One book can only count for one category.
Mental Health Reading Challenge. Read any book related to mental health – fiction or non-fiction.
Motif Reading Challenge. Each month read one book that fits the motif (theme) for the month. ⁠
Mount TBR. Knock out some of those books you OWN that have been waiting in the wings forever (and here’s the Virtual Mount TBR Challenge for books that you don’t own).
Mystery Marathon. Complete the marathon by reading 26 mysteries during the year. (No actual running is required.)

The Nerd Daily’s Reading Challenge. 52 reading prompts for you to choose books for.
New Release Challenge. Read books that have been released in the present year, and reviewed before the end of the year.
Netgalley and Edelweiss Reading Challenge. Are you feeling overwhelmed by the number of NetGalley/ Edelweiss books sitting on your shelf to be read? Then this is the reading challenge for you!
Nonfiction Reader Challenge. Read and review a book from the categories listed or select, read and review any nonfiction book.
NoveList Reading Challenge. For each month of the next calendar year, there’s a prompt to help you explore different types of books and add some variety to your year.

Out of Comfort Zone. Read books that you consider to be outside of your comfort zone.

Perfect Pairings. Read a book from each genre and then read a book of a similar topic or setting.
Picture Prompt Book Bingo. Match books that you’ve read to one of the pictures on the bingo card.
PopSugar Reading Challenge. The theme for this year is not just rosy, but also leafy and viney and all-around generative.
The Purrfect Reading Challenge. Read mysteries that have cats as main characters.

a RAD Reading Challenge. Choose to read from any or all of the nine categories in the printable.
Read Diversely. Read selected diverse fiction each month.
Read It Again Sam. This one is all about re-reading … re-visiting old friends in books.
Read Good Challenge. Reading prompts for every month of the year
Read Queerly Reading Challenge. Read books featuring LGBTQ+ characters and stories and let the Bingo card be your guide.
Read With Allison. There are 52 reading prompts on the printable so challenge yourself to find a book for each, or as many as you can get to this year.
Read Your Bookshelf. Read a book from bookshelf by choosing one for each month’s prompt.
Read Your Shelf. Read the books on your “holds” shelf. When you have read one of the books, you remove it. If you want, you can leave some space on your holds shelf for any new books you might receive or buy, just be sure to set a number of spaces available so you don’t go over
Reading by the Numbers. Log all your books. No pre-set challenge levels. You decide your goal for the year and then just keep track of the books you read.
Reading in Bloom. Inspired by the Victorian language of flowers, each of our 52 prompts is named after a flower and reflects the unique meaning behind it — from vengeance to love, resilience to joy. There will also be monthly mini challenges to keep things fun and fresh all year long.
Reading the Classics Challenge: 1776 Edition. Read a classic book for each of the monthly themes.
Reading With Muffy. 12 monthly prompts + 7 bonus prompts. Fun, flexible, aesthetic, and perfect for all kinds of readers.
Romance Reading Bingo. The challenge is to read a book and check the boxes!
Romanceopoly. Choose from 5 departments, and build your perfect 2026 TBR.

She Reads Romance Books Reading Challenge. Read a book for each of the romance book trope themes of the month.
Shelf Reflection’s 2025 Reading Challenge. There are 45 reading prompts to choose from.
Six Shooter Mystery Challenge. Your goal is to shoot (read) six mysteries by the same target (author).
Southern Literature Reading Challenge. Read books by Southern authors set largely in the South (US).
Speccy Fiction. Choose from the genres of fantasy, science fiction, and horror, (though the focus is skewed towards the first two), and their myriad of subgenres for 3 or more of the categories listed.

2026 TBR Challenge. Each month, choose a book for either of the 2 reading prompts (or do both) – but it has to be from your “to be read” pile.
TBR 20 in ’26. Read books for these 20 different prompts all involving a number.
TBR 26 in ’26. The goal is to read 26 books from your TBR shelves in 2026.
TBR Challenge 2026. Your mission, should you choose to accept it: once a month pull a dormant book out of your TBR pile and read it. There are themes for each month, but they are optional
Thoughtful Reading Challenge. Read a book each month for the challenge prompt.
The Trope Trials. Customisable to your own reading goals – read a book for the initiation, then choose a quest or a side quest to complete or take on the whole thing.

Unabridged Podcast Reading Challenge. Read at least one book for each of the reading prompts.
Uncorked Reading Challenge Bingo. Find four bingo cards with unique prompts spanning three months (over the course of the year) paired with reading lists and specific titles.

Vintage Scavenger Hunt. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, will be to find as many objects on the scavenger hunt list as possible on the covers of the mystery books you read. As always, you may play along in either the Golden or Silver Mystery Eras (or, for the more adventurous, both).