Spotify is expanding its audiobook service to more than 180 countries by the end of 2026, starting with a rollout this Wednesday. The music and podcast streaming platform currently operates in 22 markets, including France, where it launched in 2024. By the end of November, additional European countries such as Spain and Italy, as well as regions in Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, are expected to be included. In the United States and the United Kingdom, Spotify has seen a 39% increase in monthly listeners and a 32% rise in listening hours over the past year. These figures suggest growing popularity among younger users, especially through a feature called Page Match, introduced earlier this year. This tool allows users to switch from printed or digital books to audiobooks by scanning the page, and it is used by two-thirds of users under the age of 35. Spotify claims its users read 2.5 times faster than those on other platforms. Spotify has formed partnerships with over 300 publishers worldwide, using non-exclusive agreements that let authors remain on other platforms. Duncan Bruce, director of partnerships for Spotify Books, said the company's goal is "not to compete with other platforms, but to grow the entire sector." Unlike classic audiobook platforms such as Audible, Apple Books, or Google Play Books, Spotify offers a mix of audiobooks, music, and podcasts. This allows for cross-promotional recommendations based on billions of daily listening signals. A former audio head at Penguin Random House UK noted that if users are interested in podcasts about football or gardening, Spotify can suggest audiobooks in those areas. The company also provides detailed audience data to partner publishers and offers "self-service" tools called Spotify for Authors, enabling micro-publishers or self-published authors to upload their content easily. For consumers, Spotify offers three distinct access models: audiobooks included with a Premium subscription (12 hours of audiobook content per month), a separate Audiobooks Plus subscription, and a pay-per-title model for on-demand audiobooks. Pricing and access models will vary by market. This approach aims to generate recurring revenue, maximize audience reach, and keep users engaged through an integrated experience. However, it also requires more complex commercial negotiations, as payment rates and volumes differ depending on the access model. At launch in the new territories, Spotify will offer 350,000 audiobook titles in 120 languages. Spain, which begins its rollout on October 7, will have over 45,000 Spanish-language titles, thanks to a partnership with Planeta, among others. Spotify has also expressed ambitions for the African continent, where it is focusing on a "training effect" to build local content ecosystems. Duncan Bruce noted that Spotify's arrival in new markets has allowed the company to find an economically viable model to invest in audiobook catalogs. However, the new markets will not be included in Wrapped 2026, Spotify's annual personalized listening summary for users. This decision suggests that the company is still refining how it integrates audiobooks into its broader user experience and data-driven features.