2026 Reading Goals

A new year, a new me. Well, not really. Some things will always stay the same, especially my love for reading.

I was an avid reader from elementary school through high school. Like many people, I went through a phase after high school and college where I lost that passion. Around the time of Covid, I found my way back to books, and I have been consistently reading again since 2020.

Until last year, I never really set reading goals. I also recently realized that I am a mood reader. That means I cannot stick to a strict reading schedule. One day I want romantasy, the next a thriller, and the next contemporary fiction. It all depends on my mood.

Even knowing this, I still want to set reading goals. It is fun, motivating, and gives me something to work toward. This year, I am really going to try to stick to them.

Here are my six reading goals for 2026.

1. Read 50 Books in 2026

We are starting simple. My goal for 2026 is to read 50 books.

This year, my goal was 30 books, and I ended up reading 50. I would love to hit that number again next year and see if I can stay consistent throughout the year.

2. Complete a 24-Hour Read-a-Thon

I want to participate in a 24-hour read-a-thon.

If you are not familiar, the concept is simple. You read for 24 total hours. Most people split it across two days, usually 12 hours each, and use a timer that pauses whenever they are not actively reading.

It sounds easy, but I know it will be challenging. I think it will be a fun way to push myself and also help reduce my screen time.

3. Participate in More Reading Challenges

In 2026, I want to do more reading challenges throughout the year.

Some examples include:

• An Alphabet Reading Challenge, where each book starts with a different letter
• Reading exclusively books by Black authors during Black History Month
• Reading spooky books during spooky season
• Reading cozy and seasonal books during winter and Christmas time

I already try to read diversely, but challenges help me stay intentional and discover books I might not have picked up otherwise.

4. Attend More Book Events

I want to attend more book-related events in 2026.

This year, I went to the midnight release of Brimstone by Callie Hart in Union Square, NYC, and I had the best time. Being surrounded by people who love books as much as I do was such a fun experience. There were photo ops, fan theory tables, bracelet making, and a Q&A with the author.

While I was at Barnes & Noble, I noticed so many upcoming author events that I would have loved to attend if I had known about them sooner. Next year, I want to make it a priority to keep track of local book events and actually go to them.

5. Finish My Physical TBR

This is more of an honorary goal, but I really want to finish my physical TBR.

I am not buried under hundreds of unread books, but I would estimate I have around 30 unread physical books. That number tends to grow because I definitely have a book-buying problem.

As they say, reading books and buying books are two different hobbies, and I enjoy both. Still, I would love to make a dent in my physical TBR this year.

6. Start a Book Club

Lastly, I would really love to start a book club.

Reading with a group of people, discussing the characters, obsessing over plot points, sharing opinions, and discovering new books together sounds like so much fun. Everyone taking turns choosing a book and exploring genres I might not normally pick up is something I really want to experience.

The only challenge is that I am an introvert. While I have started putting myself out there through TikTok and this website, I am still building the relationships needed to start a book club. That said, I feel like I have a solid foundation, and I can only grow from here.

Those are my 2026 reading goals. Will I stick to all of them? I really hope so. They feel realistic, exciting, and motivating, and I am genuinely looking forward to the year ahead.

Now I want to know. What are your reading goals for 2026?