In the Quebec book market, growth is continuing, but not all bookstores are benefiting equally. Data published on September 24, 2026 by the Institut de la statistique du Québec (ISQ) reveal a significant gap: sales by licensed bookstores declined by 2.9% in 2025, while those of unlicensed bookstores surged by 10%. The market has returned to its highest level since 2010, but the balances are shifting. Final sales of new books reached 727.7 million $ in 2025, an improvement of 3.2% compared to the previous year. Publishers' final transactions increased by 17.8%, while bookstores remained almost stationary, at 469.6 million $. In constant dollars, the value reached 610 million $, an increase of 6% compared to 2024 and more than the average of 597 million $ recorded between 2015 and 2019. However, caution is needed: the survey does not account for the number of copies sold or their average price. It is therefore impossible to deduce an increase in the actual number of books sold. Licensed, but not rewarded. The general stability of bookstores hides opposing trajectories. Establishments belonging to a chain showed +0.9%, while independent ones showed -0.9%. The gap becomes much clearer when the license is taken into account: -2.9% on one side, +10% for bookstores that do not have it. This distinction is important. Under the Law on the Development of Quebec Enterprises in the Book Industry, certain institutions must source, for the concerned books, from at least three licensed bookstores in their administrative region. Several categories, notably certain materials and school textbooks, however, benefit from exemptions. At the same time, purchases by communities from bookstores decreased by 3.3%, dropping from 107 to 103 million $. The ISQ does not establish a causal link between these two evolutions. Over four years, the picture remains favorable: these institutional orders have increased by 14% since 2021. On the side of individuals, the movement is much more moderate: +0.8%, at 367 million $. Geography also holds some surprises. Revenues increased in 12 administrative regions, led by Laval (+12%), Chaudière-Appalaches (+10%), and Estrie (+9%). The Capitale-Nationale dropped by 11%, while the Bas-Saint-Laurent–Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine grouping lost 9.3%, Abitibi-Témiscamingue 5.3%, and Montreal 2.1%. The latter remains by far the largest market, with 36% of bookstore sales. Publishers take the other staircase. On the side of publishers, the newly available data finally clarify the mechanism. Their net sales reached 246 million $ in 2025, compared to 212 million a year earlier, an increase of 16%. Final sales of general books gained 14%, those of school textbooks 22%, reaching 61 million $, while educational works increased by 38%, without however returning to their pre-pandemic level. The Quebec market thus shows 728 million $ in final sales and its best performance since 2010. But the overall figure now tells less than the movements that make it up: licensed and unlicensed bookstores, individuals and communities, regions and publishers no longer clearly follow the same slope. The pie is growing. Still, one must look at who is reclaiming the shares. Other developments include a Brazilian publisher withdrawing books from Amazon due to discount disputes, a major U.S. publishing revenue increase of 14% in July 2026, and a U.K. printed book market surpassing 1.003 billion £ in sales. In France, a new bookstore-café specializing in English-language romance is set to open in La Rochelle, while in Argentina, bookstores face a 41.5% drop in turnover. In Russia, municipal libraries could see up to 70% of their collections removed from general access. In Yemen, the book trade continues despite war and economic challenges. In Japan, the government aims for 1,000 billion yen in international manga sales by 2033. In the U.S., concerns arise about potential impacts of anti-terrorism policies on independent bookstores. In France, a new publishing house, ediSens, acquires Éditions Marie Romaine, and a new collection, "Illumination," is launched by Éditions du Félin. In Argentina, Córdoba province orders 50,000 books to support local publishers. In Italy, a library opens a "Rare Book Petting Zoo" to increase public access to special collections. In the U.S., a study suggests that digital lending from libraries may lower book sales. In France, a new bookstore, Aya Books, expands from Lille to Marseille. In the U.S., a new self-publishing platform, GoRead, introduces AI translation. In the U.S., a new bookstore, The Lamp-Post, is set to open in Paris. In France, a new bookstore, Arche BD, opens in the Pays de Gex. In the U.S., a new bookstore, The Passage, opens in the 4th arrondissement of Paris. In the U.S., a new bookstore, The Passage, opens in the 4th arrondissement of Paris.