Publishing Is Changing Fast. These 6 Trends Decide Who Wins in 2026

Publishing isn’t evolving slowly anymore. It’s shifting all at once. In this video, I break down the six publishing trends that will define authors in 2026, based on what we saw actually play out over the last year and where the signals are pointing next. Some predictions from last year hit hard. A few surprised even me. And one trend has quietly become the biggest discoverability shift authors have faced in over a decade. You’ll learn: Why AI discoverability is replacing keywords and how authors get recommended instead of buried How books are becoming interactive experiences, not static products Why community and trust now matter more than traditional visibility What it really means to build an author business, not just launch a book Why direct sales and data ownership are becoming non-negotiable How authors are turning books into IP ecosystems, including licensing, bots, courses, and more This isn’t about chasing every trend or becoming a full-time content machine. It’s about understanding what’s actually changing so you can position your book, your message, and your business to win in the next phase of publishing. If you’re an author who wants control, leverage, and longevity, this video will give you clarity and direction. 👉 Question for you: Which of these six trends matters most for your book this year? Tell me in the comments. Links & Resources Mentioned 📌 Last year’s predictions video (2025): https://youtu.be/BKPOGcnKAe4 📌 Join our free Author Lab community on Skool: https://www.booklaunchers.com/skool 📌 Author Launch Kit (tools for modern nonfiction authors): https://www.authorlaunchkit.com 📌 Authors Empire Workshop (Las Vegas, March): https://www.authorsempireworkshop.com 📌 Gartner on AI-driven search behavior: https://www.gartner.com/en/articles/ai-based-search-disruption 📌 Written Word Media 2025 Indie Author Survey: https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/2025-indie-author-survey-results-insights-into-self-publishing-for-authors/ 📌 Circana / BookScan on BookTok sales impact: https://www.npd.com/news/entertainment/booktok-driving-book-sales/ 📌 Spotify Audiobook innovation update: https://newsroom.spotify.com/2024-11-05/spotify-audiobooks-improvements/ 📌 Edelman Trust Barometer: https://www.edelman.com/trust-barometer 📌 Substack 2024 creator growth report: https://on.substack.com/p/2024-in-review 📌 Shopify creator commerce research: https://www.shopify.com/research 📌 BookFunnel Blog: https://blog.bookfunnel.com/ 📌 Payhip Blog: https://payhip.com/blog/ Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:09 2025 Predictions Recap 04:59 AI Discoverability 05:38 Books Will Be Experienced 06:28 The Human Edge 07:44 Creator Businesses 08:34 Direct Sales & Data 09:23 Author IP