At PARIX Audio Day, held in Madrid on 19 February 2026, Audible’s Barbara Knabe presents research into audiobook consumption in Germany, France, Italy and Spain. The study finds that spoken-word audio has achieved broad adoption across Europe and that audiobooks constitute the fastest-growing segment of publishing. Spain emerges as an especially dynamic market, with 77% of respondents consuming spoken content.
The findings challenge the idea that audio cannibalises printed books. Eighty percent of respondents both listen to audiobooks and read books, rising to 85% in Spain. Listening can stimulate further reading and purchasing, while audiobooks help audiences discover unfamiliar stories, subjects and genres. Films, television series, graphic novels and performers also lead listeners towards related audio productions.
Listeners value audiobooks as high-quality entertainment, a source of knowledge and a way to relax or support mental well-being. Preferences vary culturally, but mystery, crime, fantasy, science fiction and historical fiction perform strongly. Narrators have considerable influence over purchasing decisions, while local-language content remains essential, particularly in southern Europe and Spain.
Knabe sees major potential in productions conceived specifically for audio and in carefully designed dramatisations combining a strong story, the right narrator, music and immersive sound. Although human narration remains the foundation of the sector, AI could help convert the enormous number of books still unavailable in audio. She presents technology as an additional production option rather than a universal substitute for human performance.
Original title: Hábitos de consumo de audiolibros en Europa y sinergias con la lectura
