2026 I Read Horror Year-Round Challenge

Welcome to year six of our fun and terrifying horror reading challenge!

This year I'm adding an optional bonus challenge. Full details explained below.

Once again, there are 12 categories and 4 levels of participation.

Here are the categories, or themes:

• Winter - set in winter or snow on the cover or winter in the title
• Epistolary horror - found footage, told in letters and/or diaries
• Cult and/or ritual
• Haunted house
• Full moon and/or woods on the cover
• Indigenous, Asian, or Latino author
• Pumpkins/Jack O' Lanterns on the cover
• Black author
• Book published in the 60's, 70's, or 80's
• Social justice horror
• Yule/Christmas holiday themed
• Whatever scares you the most

Levels:

Spooky: Read 6 books from 6 categories
Chilling: Read 12 Books from all 12 categories
Frightful: Read 2 books from each category for a total of 24 books
Horrifying: Read 3 books from each category for a total of 36 books

Challenge runs from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026. Cross overs with other challenges count. Short stories are allowed if you're reading an entire collection or anthology. Books must be over 100 pages (one book under 100 pages is permitted). You do not have to pick your books ahead of time, but you can if you want.
Hashtag for social media: #IReadHorror

Details for the optional bonus challenge - Complete the word:

Read a book with a title that starts with each letter of your chosen word. Complete as many as you want. One of your main challenge books can count for one of the letters. 

The words

DREAD

FEAR

FRIGHT

HORROR

SCARED

TERROR

Any questions? Leave a comment or contact me (via image in sidebar). Grab the button and spread the word. Thanks!

Sign up here:

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Image used in graphic by Nanne Tiggelman from Pixabay