Barnes and Noble to unveil new NOOK e-readers in the year 2026
Barnes & Noble to Release New NOOK E-Readers in 2026
Barnes & Noble has announced plans to launch new NOOK e-readers in 2026, aiming to broaden the functionality of their NOOK line beyond traditional e-ink reading.
The upcoming NOOK e-readers are expected to offer support for audiobooks, expanded color display capabilities, and enhanced markup features. Currently, only the NOOK Glowlight 4 Plus supports audiobooks, but Barnes and Noble plans to increase audiobook accessibility in the upcoming models.
There is mention of potentially releasing both a black-and-white e-reader, such as the NOOK Glowlight 5 Plus, and a color e-reader, possibly called the NOOK Glowlight Color. These devices are likely to be positioned as competitors to devices like the Kindle Scribe or Kobo Elipsa, which also support annotation and color displays.
Jennifer Perry, the new head of NOOK e-readers and digital services at Barnes & Noble, highlighted these priorities but did not disclose further hardware details. Perry, who discussed the new NOOK at the 43-minute mark in a video, has been writing about audiobooks, e-books, and e-readers for the past eighteen years.
In summary, the new NOOK e-readers are set to be released in 2026 with support for audiobooks, color displays, and markup features. Barnes and Noble aims to increase audiobook accessibility and compete with devices like the Kindle Scribe and Kobo Elipsa.
| Feature | Expected Capability | Notes | |----------------------|------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------| | Release Date | 2026 | Officially confirmed by Barnes and Noble | | Audiobooks | Supported | More accessible than previous models | | Color Display | Likely available on at least one model | Possibly a separate “NOOK Glowlight Color” | | Markup/Annotation | Supported | Competing with Kindle Scribe, Kobo Elipsa |
This information is based on August 2025 announcements and interviews with Barnes and Noble executives.
These new NOOK e-readers, due in 2026, will not only offer traditional e-ink reading but also aim to expand their functionality by supporting audiobooks, color displays, and enhanced markup features. To increase audiobook accessibility, Barnes & Noble plans to make these features more prevalent in the upcoming models, entering competition with devices like the Kindle Scribe, Kobo Elipsa, and possibly even smartphones and other gadgets that have ventured into the realm of e-reading technology.
