BookBeat shares new data from 1.4 billion listening hours, highlighting trends driving publisher growth in audio.

Audiobooks continue to be one of the strongest growth engines in European publishing. Based on insights from more than 1.4 billion listening hours on BookBeat, this session reveals what listeners across Europe are engaging with in 2026, from breakout authors and fast-growing genres to changing consumption patterns and local market dynamics.

The presentation offers publishers and rights holders concrete insights into which books create sustainable commercial success, strengthen listener retention, and drive long-term revenues in a rapidly evolving digital market. It also explores how streaming can contribute to sustainable remuneration for authors while expanding the overall book market. And of course, you will get an update on how AI is impacting supply and demand across different markets.