The Most Anticipated Fantasy Books of 2026 That We Can’t Wait For

Fantasy fans have a lot to be excited for as the new calendar year is here. There are going to be major sequels as well as novels from some of our favorite authors. And maybe you will discover a new fantasy author. Keep reading to find out the most anticipated fantasy books of 2026 that we can’t wait for!

It is hard to deny what a good year for fantasy 2025 was. The year got off to a strong start with the release of Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros. And it didn’t slow down since then.

I am still trying to get around to reading some of the best releases of 2025. But time waits for no one. That is why we have to share our list of the most anticipated fantasy books of 2026. There are so many great books to choose from and even some hidden gems. You can see the full list below!

The Most Anticipated Fantasy Books of 2026

• The Poet Empress by Shen Tao
• The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee
• City of Others by Jared Poon
• Platform Decay (The Murderbot Diaries, #8) by Martha Wells
• The Tapestry of Fate (Amina al-Sirafi, #2) by Shannon Chakraborty
• Daughter of Crows (The Academy of Kindness, #1) by Mark Lawrence 
• Nine Goblins by T. Kingfisher
• The Midnight Carousel by Fiza Saeed McLynn
• A Trade of Blood (Shadow of the Leviathan) by Robert Jackson Bennett
• The Girl with a Thousand Faces by Sunyi Dean
• Saltswept by Kataline Watt
• Isles of the Emberdark: A Cosmere Novel by Brandon Sanderson
• Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibañez
• Underlake by Erin L. McCoy
• No Man’s Land by Richard K. Morgan

Whenever Fonda Lee releases a book, it feels like a major event. She is releasing her latest novel The Last Contract of Isako, a book about corporate samurai. It is hard to not want to read it after reading the book blurb.

The novel I am most excited for on this list is Platform Decay by Martha Wells, the eight book in the Murderbot Diaries. This was one of the best series I read in 2025 and I am glad the wait is not that long. If you haven’t read this amazing sci-fi and fantasy series, then you are missing out.

Speaking of series you can miss out on, Shannon Chakraborty is releasing The Tapestry of Fate, the second book in the Amina al-Sirafi series. She has taken the fantasy world by storm with her unique world-building and storytelling. If you want a fantasy novel unlike anything you have read, then this is the series for you.

Another major author on this list that is must read is T. Kingfisher. Her latest novel Nine Goblins, is a release and is about goblins and their latest adventures. J.R.R. Tolkien made us love hobbits and maybe Kingfisher can make you love goblins after this novel. I am excited to read this novel and see goblins in a new light.

Fans of fantasy novels should check out any book written by Robert Jackson Bennett. He is an amazing storyteller and worldbuilder and his novels always have a fun twist. His latest novel A Trade of Blood is a fantasy detective story and the third one in the Shadow of the Leviathan series.

Any list about fantasy novels should always include Brandon Sanderson in my opinion. He is always releasing new books and I have no idea how he makes time for all of it. His latest novel Isles of the Emberdark is a standalone Cosmere novel and one I am eager to get my hands on.

Conclusion

These are just some of the many anticipated fantasy books set to release in 2026. I am sure that there are a ton of books that didn’t make this list that will end up making future lists. But these are the ones that I am most excited about.

in 2025, I made it a goal of mine to read books from other genres. But this year, I will be going back to my favorite genre and reading more fantasy novels. And this list will help me choose which new fantasy books and series I want to read. Until next time, happy reading!