Self-Publishing Trends and Predictions In Australia In 2026

The self-publishing world is constantly evolving for Australian authors, but what do authors need to know in 2026?

There’s no denying that 2026 will bring some significant shifts within the self-publishing industry and new publishing trends. AI and its use are a major concern. Love it or hate it, AI is here to stay. Cruising social media threads and groups, I’ve seen numerous comments from people talking not just about one book they’ve recently published, but dozens, and in some cases hundreds. However, using AI programs to write books is just one part of the self-publishing journey that’s being impacted by AI.

If you’re an Australian author, and you’ve written a book and need help with professional self-publishing services such as editing, including developmental editing, copyediting, proofreading, or beta reading, together with print and ebook formatting, ghostwriting, and cover design, please don’t hesitate to contact us at Author Services Australia.

If you’re considering self-publishing on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), check out the Complete Guide to Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), where we cover everything you need to know about self-publishing on the world’s biggest book marketplace.

More Self-Published Authors Will Sell Directly to Customers

Local in-person events, including libraries, bookstores, markets, fairs, and shows, are great ways not only to sell your book but also to make valuable face-to-face connections with readers who may go on to support you and your books throughout your career. These aren’t a new self-publishing trend in 2026, but their significance will be.

In a time where it’s getting harder and harder to verify if someone or something is real or AI, it’s hard to argue with an author standing behind a table holding a physical copy of their book.

The trick to in-person events as a self-published author is working out which ones are profitable and which ones aren’t. Your time and any table or entry fees need to be covered. When you first start tracking, record how much it costs to attend, how many sales you made, what the experience was like, and how long you spent at the event. Over the course of a year, you’ll be able to weed out the events that weren’t worth the investment of time and money, and which ones were, and dedicate your time and money accordingly.

Remember, one sale could be worth many more if you sell a book to someone who then becomes a lifelong fan.

Another aspect of direct selling is selling books through your own website or platforms such as Shopify or Kickstarter. These websites allow you to cut out royalties charged by sites such as IngramSpark Publishing and Amazon KDP and let you maximize your profit on each copy sold. It involves a little more setup, processing, and shipping and handling on your part, but it can be a great way to personalize deliveries, especially for special editions.

Another significant increase in direct-to-customer sales is on social media platforms and their associated shops. Platforms such as TikTok are increasingly improving their product sales, and TikTok Shop is an excellent resource for authors looking to sell directly to their followers.

AI-Assisted Audio Books and Narration Are Heading Mainstream

As noted above, AI will significantly impact the self-publishing landscape, particularly in audiobook narration. Amazon itself has been experimenting with this by offering authors free audiobook conversion through their Audible audiobooks with Virtual Voice (AVV). However, you don’t own the rights to these files and can’t add them to any other self-publishing service.

The number of AI-generated audio programs is increasing daily, and their quality is improving, making them an attractive option for authors on a tight budget.

AI-assisted or automated audio book narration since about 2018-2019. However, in 2025, it reached a point at which many more authors rated the quality satisfactory.

Human narration of audiobooks is still considered the premium level of audiobook narration. Still, for many self-published authors, the associated $3k plus price tag makes it almost impossible, especially at the start of a self-publishing career.

AI-assisted audiobook narration isn’t something that only self-published authors are delving into. Large traditional publishing companies, including Macmillan Publishers, are selling audiobooks on their website with AI-narrated labels.

If you have an extensive back catalogue of books that could benefit from an audiobook version, AI narration could be a viable, cost-effective option for self-published Australian authors. However, human narration remains the gold standard in audiobooks, and authors should consider labelling audiobooks that feature AI narration to inform listeners before purchase.

AI Books Will Become More Prominent In 2026

As you’re probably aware, AI books are already starting to flood the market in some categories. Children’s books and non-fiction self-help books are increasingly targeted by authors who also produce AI-generated books alongside romance titles.

The most significant cost barrier for many people entering the children’s book market is the cost of illustrations. However, AI-generated illustrations have removed this cost barrier. The only positive for children’s book authors who don’t use AI is that AI-generated illustrations typically look like they were made by AI, feature the same style, and nuances within the programs make them extremely hard to get perfect.

AI will impact the self-publishing industry. However, like other trends that have opened up publishing, Australian authors can stay ahead by improving and investing more in their books. 2026 isn’t the year for mediocracy. It’s the year for excellence.

High-quality books will float to the top, while AI slop will sink to the bottom.