If you couldn’t tell that my year started off on a disorganized note, I guess this post might clue you in because yes, it’s the end of February, and yes, I’m just now posting my reading challenges. 😂 I usually have separate posts for the main challenges I’m joining because I also list out potential reads for each prompt, and I still might do that as follow-ups after this because I find them so helpful. But I digress.
I decided to stick to four main reading challenges this year, but then I also somehow joined three more on Storygraph to aid my backlist reading! Here’s what the list is looking like right now (titles in bold are my main ones):
- Goodreads Reading Challenge (not featured in the image above from StoryGraph)
- Year in Aeldia 2026
- Devour Your TBR 2026
- 2026 TBR Tackle
- 2026 Easy Reading Challenge
- Beat the Backlist 2026
- Buzzword Reading Challenge 2026
Goodreads Reading Challenge
Of course, the one reading challenge that I always do without fail every year is the Goodreads Reading Challenge. I’ve set my goal to read 100 books in 2026. I think last year was the first time in years that I didn’t reach my goal, but it was also the first year since I can remember when I didn’t actually update my challenge for most of the year! Hopefully, I’ll get my ish together this year.
This image (left) was from earlier in the year and I’m excited to say that I’m now at 21 books completed (and 5 books ahead of schedule)! 🎉
Buzzword Reading Challenge
I might’ve struggled a bit with this challenge last year, but I’m hopeful for 2026! This is one of the only challenges that I do yearly and still really enjoy and I hope that Kayla keeps this challenge going.
2026 Year in Aeldia
There wasn’t anything publicly posted about the Year in Aeldia challenge for 2026, but I got the update that was apparently shared on the readathon’s Discord saying that people should just pick a different route this year.
With a massive map of paths to choose from, this was no issue and I’m excited that I have this one to look forward to. While you’re meant to take it one month at a time so the story unfolds slowly, I’ve gone ahead and chosen my path already because I need it like that, lol.
I made this graphic on Canva but you’re welcome to use the template if you like. Grab it here. (And I’d be super grateful if you kept my name as the credit, if you do use it!)
Beat the Backlist +25Bingo
I’m joining the Beat the Backlist Reading Challenge once again this year and although I didn’t complete all the squares in this 25-Bingo last year, I’m still gonna attempt it again this year! I was tempted to even go for the bigger Bingo board but I told myself to calm down, lol. If I complete this one in 2026, then maybe I’ll give the bigger one a go next year!
Other backlist challenges…
I don’t recall how I came across the other challenges that I joined on Storygraph, but they’ve all got prompts to motivate you to read your backlist titles and that sounded appealing to me. There aren’t any monthly goals, and you basically tick prompts off as you read, and it’s been fun. I’m not gonna be too serious with these challenges, but there’s no denying that it feels so good to be able to tick off a prompt and add another backlist title to the read pile! 🤭 I feel so accomplished every time I make an update, haha. The challenges are: Devour Your TBR 2026, 2026 TBR Tackle, and the 2026 Easy Reading Challenge.
The images below link to the challenges on Storygraph if they sound interesting or if you’re just looking for a low-key backlist reading challenge to join.
And that’s it for the reading challenges I’m joining in 2026! Are you also doing any of these challenges? How many are you participating in this year (if any)? Do you have challenges that you repeat every year no questions asked?
dinipandareads 
I always love the look of the Buzzword challenge! Good luck with them all Dini!
I’m only doing r/Fantasy Book Bingo this year, I think that’ll be about all I’ll be able to keep up with at the moment.
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I love how storygraph makes it so easy! Though I never tried it on goodread, but i love the wheel!
Just one challenge for me; bookish chaos server boon challenge – going pretty well, 4/7 prompts done & 80% bonus 😊
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Good luck!
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Ticking things off lists is so satisfying. I hope you have fun completing all of your reading goals this year
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Tbh its probably good for me that you got around to sharing this late or I’d most likely have added even more challenges to my own list 😂 it looks like youre off to a great start with all of these which is wonderful. They all sound like a lot of fun. And I love that you made that template for the Aeldia one, it looks lovely 🥰🥰
Good luck with all of these. I cant wait to see how you get on.
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I’m only intending to start my Magical Readathon journey this year, so I wouldn’t have been doing the Year in Aeldia anyway, but I was so confused by the first mention of it on this post as I was sure I hadn’t seen an announcement video on G’s channel, LOL!
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I think challenges are a great and fun way to tackle your backlist. You are doing great!
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It’s never too late for reading challenges, I’ll be looking forward to those other posts about it!
I have always been intrigued by the Year in Aeldia challenge but I think these complex challenges are not for me. I have seen the Beat the Backlist one a lot as well, but same problem; it is not as complex but I know I would want to fill all the board, and it is not very realistic for me, so I always pass on that one. I am also doing the Buzzword one, both the normal one and the cover version (or at least trying to).
Best of luck with all of these!
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[…] 2026 Reading Challenges […]
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I’m also participating in Devour Your TBR 2026.
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