Adventurers and admirers gather around: there are some excellent romantasies to look out for in 2026.
Romantasy, combining the fantasy and romance genres, continues to be a big hit on the shelves. Featuring a central love story with a Happily Ever After/Happily For Now ending in a fantasy world setting, the subgenre gives readers a chance to experience fantastical worlds and love simultaneously. Romantasy has a foothold in the zeitgeist, speaking to our collective longing for magic, myth, legend, and romance made manifest in novels where, although impossible odds may impede you, you will always have someone by your side, rooting for your success. Romantasy is a hope-forward subgenre that I find absolutely enchanting.
One thing is for sure: in 2026, publishers are not leaving anything on the table. Now that the subgenre is more established, authors have a chance to play within the space and take chances with new ideas, from funny cozy concepts to darker plots. While there are some incredibly exciting series continuations, the market is also full of new worlds from brand-new debut authors and returning greats.
Although not all the books here are available for preorder quite yet, they are currently scheduled to come out this year. The following romantasy books to look out for in 2026 are only a fraction of what’s to come, but they are the ones I am most excited about. Shall we begin?
All Access members, read on for 13 new romantasy books out in 2026.
New Romantasy Books of 2026
The Last Thorn by Talia Hibbert (July 1, 2026)
Hibbert’s first romantasy has every indication of being devastatingly good. This sexy Beauty and the Beast retelling is set in an alternative modern-day post-civil war Britain. It’s a high-stakes fantasy with an enemies-to-lovers romance between Serenia, a woman on trial before the magical council, and Casimir, a war hero who struggles to leave his pain in the past. I cannot wait to witness their cataclysmic relationship.
The Feywild Job by C.L. Polk (June 30, 2026)
When exes team up to complete a Feywild heist, they rediscover the spark that made them fall for each other in the first place. Saeldian swore a magical pact to never fall in love; in return, they are granted power. Avoiding love has never been hard, but a con-job gone awry forces their hand. A new patron wants Saeldian and their ex-partner, Kell, to swipe “The Kiss of Enduring Love” gem and deliver it to the Feywild. Kell is a bard who spent a decade confused over how things ended with Saeldian, but he cannot turn down a job in the Feywild. Travelling together, Kell and Saeldian unravel unexpected romance and a mystery in this D&D-set queer romantasy.
Call Me Traitor by Everina Maxwell (October 27, 2026)
En is the empire’s magically compelled weapon. Tamol is an incompetent foot soldier, too clever, beautiful, and magically adept for her own good. When the empire sends them to retrieve infamous traitors from exile, En and Tamol fall into an unlikely infatuation… Until En discovers Tamol is one of the traitors, too. Students with dreams of a better kingdom fought, lost, and were exiled for their beliefs. In the Far Peninsula, the traitors found something dangerous that the empire will do anything to get. Now it’s up to En and Tamol to save the kingdom, even if it means working against the people in charge.
Dreamslayer by A. K. Mulford (Fall 2026)
From the undisputed ruler of queer romantasy, Mulford delivers a brand new dark sapphic trilogy this fall. When a dream falls in love with a nightmare, the two will have to work together to escape hell together. Although much is still unknown about this upcoming release, including the exact release date, book cover, and official description, I am anticipating sexy, heart-shattering sapphic magic to come.
The Winged Game by Sophie Kim (June 30, 2026)
A disgraced magical sports star teams up with her career-destroying rival in this slow-burn rivals-to-lovers sports romantasy. Playing a rugby-like game astride winged beasts is what makes Carriwitchet the kind of violent, difficult sport Taissa Cho was perfect for—before Kion Locke ruined her career. Two years of revenge fantasies drove Taissa before she was offered a chance at redemption. One catch: she has to be in a fake relationship with Kion to do so. As they work together, they begin to realize they might just have a real relationship on their hands.
Bromantasy by Máire Roche (May 26, 2026)
Two platonic himbos fall in love while questing in this cozy queer romantasy. Juniper O’Reilly does a great job of maintaining his beauty, his friendships, and not much else; that is all left to his far more competent best friend, Mo Elmthorn. So, when Juniper accidentally volunteers them both to kill a monster they do not have the training or talent to defeat, Mo agrees to go with him, giving them both a chance to fall for each other along the way. But when the monster turns out to be a scared little girl, Mo and Juniper will have to do their best to be the kind of heroes who can save her.
Dominion by Jean Kwok (July 14, 2026)
Rubi Morningtail has scant power, no homeland, and a bleak future as an Azure refugee ribbon dancer. Then she wounds a battle tyger, attracting the attention of the leader of the royal tyger warriors and supreme metal mage, Blake Axefire. For wounding the creature, Rubi is sentenced to the Bonding: a trial where tygers select their riders and the unselected die. Against all odds, she survives and becomes part of Blake’s team, resealing the demon realm. Now she has to discover the truth behind her magic and avoid her attraction to Blake before power or love destroys her life. I cannot wait to be enthralled by Kwok’s Chinese-inspired romantasy.
Romantasy Sequels of 2026
These are all new books in romantasy series in process, so beware of light spoilers in the descriptions!
The Fake Divination Offense by Sara Raasch (May 19, 2026)
Raasch’s Magic and Romance sequel follows the lovely magic sports star Orok and his budding devotion to his fake PR boyfriend, an adorable cheerleader with a mysterious past. When Orok saved Alexo from a bar fight, he wasn’t expecting that his professional rawball team and church patron would want to capitalize on the viral moment by proposing a PR relationship. If he can wrangle his possessive tendencies and stop himself from renouncing the patron god he resents, Orok might have a chance at a real relationship with the guy of his dreams.
Archangel’s Eternity by Nalini Singh (May 5, 2026)
The heart-pounding conclusion to Singh’s Guild Hunter series is almost here. Elena first met Archangel Raphael a millennium ago, and their love has shaped their lives ever since. But there is a change coming around the corner that could upend their universe forever. Meanwhile, dangerous political lines are being drawn in a coming war that could destroy everyone. If they want to love each other for another millennium, Elena and Raphael will have to do their best in the worst of times. If you start now, you have plenty of time to read the first 17 books in the series.
Daggerbound by T. Kingfisher (August 25, 2026)
Swordheart’s queer cozy romantasy sequel is something to look out for. Like Sarkis, Dervish’s soul was also sentenced to be trapped in a blade for hundreds of years. The latest man to wield him is scholar Learned Edmund, who encounters trouble while traveling to deliver the magic sword. When Learned draws the blade for protection, he quickly discovers Dervish hidden inside. Although the attractive warrior is magically bound to protect Learned, their budding attraction might become an even stronger link between them.
Captive Traitor King by Brigid Kemmerer (November 5, 2026)
Much like Warrior Princess Assassin, book two in the queer Braided Fate series features the iconic power throuple: a captive, a traitor, and a king. Asher refuses to be held captive to his past now that he has his princess and king to love and protect. Princess Jory knows if she wants to protect her lovers, she must take the throne and become a traitor, even as dark secrets threaten her from every side. King Maddox Kyronan is struggling to protect his bride, her protector, and his kingdom as enemies descend. Asher, Jory, and Ky will have to confront their desires and pasts if they want to build a future together.
Light Burned by Jayci Lee (April 14, 2026)
The Realm of Four Kingdoms finale will set hearts racing as one fox spirit makes her best attempt to save the worlds. Sunny knows her power could save the world from the eternal darkness that threatens everyone, but her failure means the destruction of worlds. As prophecies come to pass, Sunny and the King of the mountains, Ethan, find their love at the center of it all. They might not be able to choose love and save the world, but Sunny and Ethan will try their best.
Prince of Storms by Kit Rocha (June 16, 2026)
Rocha’s second book in the Born to Sea & Storms series follows three lovers looking to defeat their enemies and stay alive in the process. Naia, the water nymph, Aleksi, God of love, and Einar, the pirate lord, just survived a kidnapping by the skin of their teeth. Sailing back to the kingdom of ice should offer respite, but a hidden enemy still threatens their happiness. Love is their greatest weapon as they face an enemy who threatens the world.
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I hope you enjoy these romantasies to look out for in 2026. If you are interested in other 2026 releases, check out Book Riot’s Most Anticipated Books of 2026. If you are looking for other romantasy books to read right now, try Romantasy with Compelling Magic, Romantasy Books with the Best Banter, Romantasy Series, and LGBTQ Romantasy. Have fun!
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