The Best Reading Challenges to Join in 2026 (And How to Track Them)

The end of the year is approaching, and for book lovers, that means one thing: it is time to plan your 2026 Reading Goals.

There is a unique excitement in starting a fresh year with a blank slate and a list of books you can’t wait to devour. But let’s be honest: saying “I want to read more” is too vague. To actually stick to your habit, you need a plan. You need a Challenge.

Whether you are a casual reader or a bookworm aiming for 100 books, joining a reading challenge is the best way to stay motivated. Here are the top reading challenges to join in 2026 and, crucially, how to keep track of them using Book Tracker so you don’t lose count.

1. The Classic “Numerical” Challenge

The Concept: Simple and effective. Set a total number of books to read in 2026. It could be 12 (one a month), 52 (one a week), or 100 (hard mode).

How to Track It: This is the easiest one. Book Tracker has a built-in Yearly Challenge feature.

1. Open the Statistics and look for “Reading Challenge.”
2. Set your target number for 2026 (e.g., 30 books).
3. Pro Tip: Add the Book Tracker Widget to your phone’s home screen. Seeing your progress fill up every time you unlock your phone is a powerful psychological trigger to keep reading.

2. The “A to Z” Challenge

The Concept: Read 26 books, each starting with a different letter of the alphabet. (Yes, finding a book starting with “X” or “Z” is part of the fun!).

How to Track It: Don’t use a messy spreadsheet. Use Tags in Book Tracker.

• Create a tag called A to Z – 2026.
• As you add books to your library, tag them.
• To see your progress, simply filter your library by this tag and sort alphabetically. You will instantly see which letters are missing.

3. The “Backlist” Challenge (Tackle Your TBR)

The Concept: In 2026, stop buying new books (we know, it’s hard) and focus on reading the books you already own.

How to Track It: This is where Book Tracker’s sorting features shine.

1. Go to your library.
2. Sort by “Date Added” (Oldest First).
3. Your goal is to read the top 10 books on that list. These are the books you bought years ago and forgot about. Rediscovering them feels like shopping in your own home.

4. The “12 Months, 12 Genres” Challenge

The Concept: Break out of your comfort zone. If you only read Thrillers, this challenge forces you to explore.

• January: Biography
• February: Romance
• March: Sci-Fi
• …and so on.

How to Track It: Use the “To Read” List strategically. At the start of the year, pick 12 books representing these genres and mark them as “To Read” in the app. When you check the most read genres in the statistics section, you want to see different genres listed.

5. The “Read the World” Challenge

The Concept: Read books by authors from different continents or countries. It’s a fantastic way to broaden your perspective.

How to Track It: Use Custom Tags for countries (e.g., Japan, Nigeria, Italy). Or, use the Notes section in Book Tracker to jot down the country of origin for each book. At the end of 2026, you can scroll through your “Read” list and see exactly how far you traveled via your books.

Why You Need an App for This

Participating in reading challenges is fun, but managing them can become a chore if you are using pen and paper. You might forget which letter you are missing or lose your list entirely.

By using Book Tracker, your challenge lives in your pocket. You can check your progress while standing in the bookstore, ensuring you buy the exact book you need to tick off that next box.

Ready to crush your 2026 goals? Download Book Tracker and set your challenge now.