The Global 50 Publishing Ranking 2026 has been released, showcasing the dominance of STM and professional publishers, despite global reports indicating a decline in reading. The report, prepared by Rüdiger Wischenbart Content and Consulting, indicates that the top 48 publishing companies generated $75.5 billion (€64.2 billion) in revenues in 2025, accounting for nearly half of the industry's global revenue.
Read More
This year's report, marking its 20th edition, features a focus on the Chinese publishing market, insights on leading publishers in India, and explorations of nontraditional platforms such as digital subscriptions and technology-driven content. Notable interviews include Bookwire CEO Jens Klingelhöfer, discussing company expansion, and Rakuten Kobo CEO Michael Tamblyn, who addresses the ongoing appeal of e-readers, especially among younger audiences.
Since its inception in 2007, the Global 50 has ranked publishers by reported revenue. The current list includes 48 groups based on annual revenue, as well as six major companies that are part of larger entities. Companies like Simon & Schuster and McGraw Hill are categorized based on available financial data since their parent firms do not disclose earnings publicly.
Rüdiger Wischenbart notes the concentration of revenue within the sector; the ten largest groups account for over half of the total revenue reported by companies in the ranking. Although the top six companies remain unchanged, the order has shifted, with Bertelsmann claiming the top spot with nearly $6.7 billion (€5.93 billion) in revenue from Bertelsmann Education Group and Penguin Random House.
While STM publishing continues to outperform trade and educational publishing, the trade sector shows resilience with significant growth in some large groups. Wischenbart pointed out that the educational landscape is becoming polarized, favoring those who have embraced digital solutions over traditional textbook models.
The report offers a comprehensive view of the evolving international publishing landscape and how reader engagement is shaping industry trends. Sponsored by Bookwire and Rakuten Kobo, with contributions from various media partners, the findings will be presented at the Publishing Perspectives Forum during the Frankfurter Buchmesse on October 7 at noon.