20 August 2026
Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) Q2 (April to June) 2026 Circulation Release

South African newspaper and magazine circulation declined in the second quarter of 2026 from the
previous quarter, according to data released by the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) on the 20th of August
2026.

This follows a four-quarter run of increases in total circulation and an eight consecutive quarter growth in
custom magazines, which was the only sector to show growth over a year. Total newspaper and magazine
circulation fell 2% from the first quarter and 3% year-on-year to 8.2 million.

Paid daily (-8.6%) and weekend (-14.5%) newspapers as well as consumer magazines (-12%) all registered
year-on-year declines after stabilising somewhat in 2025.

Overall newspaper circulation declined by 5.8% year-on-year and 1.6% from the prior quarter. Free
newspapers, although down 5.2% still command almost a 90% share of newspaper circulation.

Magazines grew 1.5% in the year, buoyed by growth in custom magazines of 12%.

After growing members in the previous year, the number of titles registered with the ABC fell to 366, taking
total membership close to where it was at the beginning of 2025. The relatively consistent number of titles
being published suggests a decline in per title print orders and copy sales.

Encouragingly, all member titles checked in the quarter were given clear audits reflecting a strong
adherence to quality standards set by the ABC.

Andrew Gill
ABC – President