Barnes & Noble to Open 60 New Stores in 2026

Barnes & Noble is opening more stores for readers to shop at in the new year. After nearly two decades of "declining store numbers," the bookseller has plans to open 60 new locations across the country in 2026, in addition to the dozens opened this year. While the details are still "being worked out" as far as locations and grand opening dates, the expansion follows a period of "strong sales" in existing stores, Barnes & Noble confirmed to USA TODAY.

Total Retail's Take: Barnes & Noble is proving to be a true retail success story. The bookstore chain has turned around its business by ceding control of each bookstore to its local booksellers, whose superior knowledge of the communities and markets they serve has led to improved performance via curated product assortments (including additional categories beyond books such as games, stationery, in-store cafes) and localized experiences. The effectiveness of the local bookstore approach has led Barnes & Noble to invest in growing its physical footprint. In fact, the retailer opened more new bookstores in 2024 than it had in the whole decade from 2009 to 2019. That expansion will continue in 2026 with 60 new stores planned.