What will enter the public domain in 2026?

Each year, new works become freely available as they enter the public domain, though exact dates and criteria vary globally. In 2026, works by individuals who died in 1955 will be released in regions using a "life plus 70 years" copyright term. For regions with "life plus 50 years," this applies to creators who died in 1975. In the United States, films and books published in 1930 will become public domain. A countdown highlights notable anticipated entries, including works by Langston Hughes, Albert Einstein, Franz Kafka, and films like All Quiet on the Western Front. The text also references resources for exploring these new additions and notes the organization's community interest status and reliance on reader support.