New year, new reading challenge! If you’re looking for a little inspiration to dig deeper with your reading habits, or you just want to try something new and fun with your reading this year, check out this 2026 reading challenge! It features prompts to help you diversify and expand your reading tastes while still holding onto your nostalgic comfort reads. The best of both worlds! I’ve also included a printable PDF so you can print a physical copy and fill it out as you go. 🙂
Bookish Reading Challenge for 2026
This is the third year in a row that I’ve created a yearly reading challenge! Feel free to check out the challenges from past years: 2024 and 2025.
I put together a series of 30 prompts for this reading challenge, to inspire you to pick up a variety of books this year. (You’ll find a list of the prompts below, plus a printable PDF checklist.)
When it comes to reading challenges, I like to stay flexible. Rigid rules can take the fun out of reading, and no one wants that. So you can choose to follow them all, or just some – it’s totally up to you!
This challenge is flexible enough for plenty of mood reading, while also encouraging you to read more books (which is so essential during today’s age of overstimulation and screen time addiction).
The books can be read at any time during the year. You can even set up your own personal read-a-thon to really double down on cozy reading time.
Looking for more reading inspiration? Here are some ideas for setting a reading goal (and crushing it)!
How does it work?
Each prompt should correspond to a book of your choice. Check off each prompt as you read. It’s that simple!
While I always try to focus on reading mostly backlist (already owned) books that fit the prompts, there are too many exciting new releases that I just have to mix some in. Of course, you’re welcome to read a combination of new, used, ARC books, or whatever you prefer.
Feel free to also use a single book to satisfy multiple prompts. (I told you it was flexible!)
2026 Reading Challenge Prompts
Here are the prompts (or categories/themes) to follow for this challenge. You can also print this high-quality PDF version of the 2026 reading challenge checklist.
Read a book that(s)…
- been on your TBR list for 5+ years
- recommended by a friend or family member
- has a speculative or dystopian element
- by a BIPOC author
- by a debut author
- by a bestselling author
- nominated for a literary prize
- set during a historical time period you don’t know much about
- set near the ocean or other body of water
- set at a school, library, or other institution
- written in first-person POV
- set during winter (or has snow on the cover)
- set during summer (or has a sun on the cover)
- has a movie or TV adaptation
- gives you cozy vibes
- gives you spooky vibes
- published before 1930
- published before 1970
- published before 2000
- published last year (2025)
- features a culture/religion different from your own
- has a person’s face on the cover
- a retelling of a fairy tale, myth, or classic novel
- a non-fiction book about a topic that interests you
- part of a trilogy (or longer series)
- has 300,000+ Goodreads ratings
- has >20,000 Goodreads ratings
- less than 250 pages
- more than 450 pages
- set in a country you don’t know much about
I’d love to hear about your progress – feel free to comment below, or reach out on Instagram (my handle is @reader.haven) and let me know how it’s going!
Enjoy, and happy reading. 🙂