UK poetry sales are on track for a record year in 2026, with figures buoyed by the release of Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster film adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey. Data from market researchers NielsenIQ shows that poetry sales surpassed £8m during the first 30 weeks of 2026, marking a 13.3% increase compared to the same period last year.
The category is projected to exceed £15m in annual sales for the first time since accurate records began, and could potentially reach £17m if current momentum continues. Homer’s 2,700-year-old epic poem has significantly contributed to this growth, with UK print sales of The Odyssey rising by 1,400% in the four weeks to 25 July, following the film's mid-July release.
Editions of The Odyssey and The Iliad have generated £980,000 in poetry sales this year, accounting for £1.20 of every £10 spent on poetry books in Britain. This surge has led to speculation that Homer could challenge the record for highest annual sales by a poet in the UK, currently held by Rupi Kaur with £1.2m in 2017.
Beyond ancient epics, the poetry market has seen broader growth. Even excluding sales of The Odyssey and The Iliad, the category is up 7.2% and is still on course for its best year, following lucrative periods from 2023 to 2025. This wider trend is partly attributed to the popularity of commercial, social media-friendly poets, with Donna Ashworth remaining Britain’s bestselling living poet of the decade.