If you read new horror fiction, then you know 2025 was a great year for scary books, and 2026 is already promising even more frightening reads.
Some of the biggest names in horror will be back with new novels this year, while rising stars look to make their mark, beloved series continue, and some of the best authors in the game head in some ambitious new directions.
So, from vampires to slashers to witches, here are the 26 horror books we can’t wait to read in 2026.
Dead First by Johnny Compton – February 10
Through books like The Spite House and Devils Kill Devils, Johnny Compton has confirmed his place among horror’s rising stars. Now, he returns with a new novel about a private investigator drawn into the mystery of an eccentric billionaire who, no matter how hard he tries, can’t seem to die. That’s an amazing hook, and I can’t wait to see what’s lurking in the shadows of this one.
Dollface by Lindy Ryan – February 24
After breakout hits like Bless Your Heart and Another Fine Mess, Lindy Ryan is shifting gears with this slasher that’s billed as Barbie meets Scream. The story of a horror writer trying to fit in as a suburban mom who suddenly finds herself in the middle of a killing spree targeting her fellow moms, Dollface promises to bring Ryan’s brand of whimsical, witty, incisive horror to a whole new genre-bender.
Nowhere Burning by Catriona Ward – February 24
Few horror authors working today can claim to grasp the Gothic and the darkly magical as well as Catriona Ward, and this year she returns with one of her most intriguing ideas yet. Nowhere Burning is the story of a pair of runaways who decide to head to a mysterious abandoned ranch, where fellow runaways have set up some kind of secretive haven of their own. But when they arrive, they find there’s a price to pay for their new home. If you want beautiful prose, compelling characters, and mysteries as deep and dark as the mountains at night, don’t miss this one.
Partially Devoured by Daniel Kraus – March 10
Part memoir, part analysis of one of the most important horror films of all time, Partially Devoured is Daniel Kraus’s ode to Night of the Living Dead and its impact on his life and the horror world beyond. Among his many other novels, Kraus has worked closely with the George A. Romero estate to bring us previously lost Romero projects like The Living Dead and Pay The Piper, so his perspective on this landmark film is not just valuable, but indispensable.
Wolf Worm by T. Kingfisher – March 24
Whether remixing Edgar Allan Poe or weaving worlds of her very own, T. Kingfisher has a knack for horror novels packed with evocative detail, and Wolf Worm sounds like a can’t-miss continuation of that talent. The story of an illustrator at the end of the 19th century who heads to a secluded North Carolina mansion to work for a famous entomologist, Wolf Worm is a book of dark secrets in the woods, and a dark bargain that could cost our heroine her life. If you’re not on board with Kingfisher’s books yet, this would be a great place to start.
Wretch by Eric LaRocca – March 24
One of the brightest horror stars of the 2020s so far, Eric LaRocca is known for unflinching prose that digs down into our darkest emotions, and grief remains one of his most productive stomping grounds. That’s why I’m so excited about Wretch, the story of a grieving man who joins a mysterious support group that promises him the chance to see his beloved husband again. Of course, there’s a terrible price, and with LaRocca at the helm, you know you’ll never forget what’s lurking in these pages.
Bodies of Work by Clay McLeod Chapman – April 7
Clay McLeod Chapman is a writer of astonishing versatility, and his prolific, subgenre-hopping horror output continues in 2026 with this novella about an outsider artist working in secret on a terrifying project. Bodies of Work is the story of a killer who makes “art” from the lives he takes, and what happens when those lost lives start talking back. Whether you’re a longtime Chapman fan or a newcomer, you won’t want to miss what’s bound to be another devastating read.
The Haunted Houses She Calls Her Own by Gwendolyn Kiste – April 14
Gwendolyn Kiste is a must-read master of modern horror. Her prose is always sharp, her narratives dense metafictional webs that grow stronger with immersive characterization, and her stories move like freight trains. The Haunted Houses She Calls Her Own brings together some of her very best short fiction into one unforgettable collection, so if you like your horror bite-sized, pick this book up and enjoy a story every night until you’re done.
The Hive by Ronald Malfi – April 14
Whether he’s telling small-town, rural stories or exploding into urban crime-horror, Ronald Malfi always delivers, and this spring he’s back with The Hive. Set in the suburb of Mariner’s Cove, the novel follows suburban residents as they’re overtaken by a strange obsessive force, the boy with a strange power who’s somehow connected to this obsession, and the formation of a kind of hivemind that threatens everything in its path. If you know Malfi’s work, you know he’s a master at taking familiar concepts and spinning them off in new directions, so you won’t want to miss this one.
Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker – April 21
Kylie Lee Baker’s Bat-Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng was one of the best horror novels of 2025, and now she’s back with another, even more ambitious tale. Set across two different time periods in the same house in Japan, Japanese Gothic follows a college student on the run in the present day, and an exiled samurai in the past, merging their narratives for the story of a Japanese folklore-laden haunting that sounds perfect for fans of writers like Cassandra Khaw and Kailee Pedersen.
I Know a Place by Nat Cassidy – May 5
Over the past five years, Nat Cassidy has made himself an indispensable horror voice through books like Mary: An Awakening of Terror, Nestlings, and When The Wolf Comes Home. Now, experience his short fiction in the author’s first collection, featuring his acclaimed novella Rest Stop and much more.
Make Me Better by Sarah Gailey – May 12
Sarah Gailey writes haunting books, a phantasmagoria of beautiful prose and evocative character work that you sink into. That makes every book of hers worth savoring, and Make Me Better will be no different. The story of Celia, a lonely woman who heads to a mysterious and secluded island for a festival that promises healing, is a book about the search for community and understanding in one woman’s life, and how far she might go to get it. I can’t wait to find out where this one goes.
The Dorians by Nick Cutter – May 19
Nick Cutter is one of those horror writers who will always make my skin crawl, no matter what subgenre space he’s playing in. Now, the author of The Troop is back with a new novel about five volunteers who try to stop aging in its tracks, only to come face to face with dark, impossible forces that’ll change them forever in ways they never expected. I cannot wait to find out how Cutter picks apart human bodies in stomach-churning ways this time.
Headlights by CJ Leede – June 9
CJ Leede’s Maeve Fly is one of the best horror debuts of the past 10 years, and her follow-up, American Rapture, is a masterpiece of American horror. Now, Leede is back with another can’t-miss book, this one following an FBI agent as he returns to Colorado to hunt a killer who leaves dazed, living victims wearing the skins of dead ones. This one’s being compared to Longlegs and The Shining, so strap in!
It Came From Neverland by Cynthia Pelayo – June 9
Cynthia Pelayo’s novels are unquestionably frightening, but they also defy easy classification. Her books combine fantasy, fairy tale, true crime, horror, and so much more to weave engrossing dreamscapes of prose, and with her latest book, she’s offering a dark twist on a classic children’s story. Set in 1914, this book follows Wendy Darling as she realizes that an entity she thought she was free of returns, an entity that kidnaps children in London, an entity known as Peter Pan. I’m already hooked.
Dead But Dreaming of Electric Sheep by Paul Tremblay – June 30
Through books like A Head Full of Ghosts and The Cabin at the End of the World, Paul Tremblay has become one of the 21st century’s essential horror fiction voices. His latest book, named in honor of genre legend Philip K. Dick, promises to blend his horrors with science fiction in a tale of a gamer who’s tasked with “controlling” the mindscape of a comatose man with an AI implanted in his head. It’s a topical premise, to be sure, but Tremblay’s prose and knack for the unexpected will make it feel timeless.
Fabulous Bodies by Chuck Tingle
Internet legend and author of books like Bury Your Gays and Camp Damascus, Chuck Tingle, is back with another essential summer horror read this year, and the premise is instantly intriguing. Fabulous Bodies follows a fashion influencer and sometime grave robber who opts to make off in the night with the body of a newly dead rockstar. But everything changes when, on the drive away from the morgue, the rock star wakes up. What’s happening? How far will this ride get? You won’t want to miss the answers.
Carry Me to My Grave by Christopher Golden – July 21
One of the most reliably entertaining horror authors working right now, Christopher Golden’s books are page-turning, sumptuous journeys into darkness, and Carry Me to My Grave sounds no different. It’s the story of two siblings who have to deal with the body of their recently dead mother, a woman rumored to be a witch, and the dark forces that awaken across the country when they try to transport their mother’s corpse to her birthplace via train. Horror on a train is a wonderful concept, and Golden playing with that concept sounds like a blast.
The Minimalist by Kailee Pedersen – August 18
Kailee Pedersen’s novel Sacrificial Animals is one of the best debut works of horror I’ve read in the past decade, which means her follow-up is essential reading. Drawing on Pedersen’s own experiences in the world of classical music, The Minimalist follows the apprentice to a beloved composer who, upon his sudden death, inherits the manuscript of his great unfinished work. Nightmares ensue, and while I don’t yet know what those nightmares are, I can’t wait to find out.
Clown in a Cornfield 4: Lights! Camera! Frendo! by Adam Cesare – August 18
Adam Cesare’s Clown in a Cornfield series began as an unforgettable slasher starring a terrifying clown, but with the sequels, Cesare has never been content to coast on a formula. The Clown follow-ups are all deep dives into subgenres and concepts all their own, reinventing Frendo the Clown and his dark legacy each time. With the fourth installment, hitting bookstores this summer, Cesare takes his creation to Hollywood, so expect all kinds of meta fun with this one.
Pictures of You by Josh Malerman – September 8
Josh Malerman’s last novel, the electric Incidents Around the House, is one of the scariest books I’ve ever read. Now the author of Bird Box, Daphne, and more returns with a new novel about, well, a woman who wakes to find herself trapped in a painting. Yes, that’s right, Malerman’s brilliance with high-concept hooks is back in full force, and we’ll no doubt be talking about this book for a very long time.
Kiss Slay Replay by Rachel Harrison – September 8
Rachel Harrison’s sleek, fiendishly fun horror novels have run the gamut of subgenres from werewolves to vampires to demonic possession. With her latest book, Harrison promises to run through two subgenres at once: Slashers and time loops. Set at a wedding where a masked killer is stalking the venue and the wedding day never seems to end, Kiss Slay Replay promises to be another can’t-miss page-turner from one of horror’s most vibrant modern voices.
This Movie Doesn’t End the Way We Want by Hailey Piper – September 15
Whether she’s exploring her own invented cosmologies or playing in establishing subgenre sandboxes, Hailey Piper is quite simply one of the best horror writers working right now. In 2026, she turns her finely honed craft on cursed movie narratives with this novel. It begins in 1994, when three friends go out to see a movie, and only one friend leaves the theater. Three decades later, the same movie still torments that friend, and the day when they finally confront each other again is near. I’m a sucker for cursed film narratives, and I’m sure I’ll end up devouring this one.
Incarnate by Alma Katsu – September 22
Alma Katsu built her reputation in the horror world through evocative, tactile historical horror. Now, the author of The Deep and The Fervor is taking on one of the foundational stories of the modern horror landscape: Oscar Wilde‘s The Picture of Dorian Gray. In this reimagining, Katsu follows a coder who’s created a deepfake person so convincing she’s a global superstar, but when someone threatens to expose the secret, everything starts to unravel.
Crone by Keith Rosson – September 29
Keith Rosson’s blend of crime and horror is intoxicating, producing novels that move like a freight train, and Crone is the latest in that line of incredible books. The story of a former detective turned reluctant mob enforcer who’s still searching for his lost daughter, it’s Rosson’s take on witches in horror fiction, with a whole lot of hardboiled fun thrown in for a ride steeped in mystery and darkness.
Milkteeth by Caitlin Starling – October 20
Caitlin Starling wrote one of the best horror novels of 2025 with the darkly fantastic The Starving Saints. In 2026, she’s taking on vampire fiction with this story of vampiric broodmother who takes on a frightening new scion while fighting to understand her own immortal body’s monstrous evolution. Starling excels at body horror, the supernatural, and finding meaning in the darkest parts of us, so this should be a must-read amid the recent new boom of vampire fiction.
What horror reads are you most looking forward to in 2026?
The post 26 Upcoming Horror Books We Can’t Wait to Read In 2026 appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.