Which book will win Canada Reads 2026? Find out today

Canada Reads 2026: daylight quadruplet - The coda

Canada Reads 2026: Day 2

A Canada Reads 2026 crash course

Canada Reads 2026: Day 1

Canada Reads 2026 Trailer

It's Different This Time by Joss Richard | Canada Reads 2026 trailer

The Cure for Drowning by Loghan Paylor | Canada Reads 2026 trailer

Searching for Terry Punchout by Tyler Hellard | Canada Reads 2026 trailer

Yes, 10:05 a.m. ET is a weird time to start a show, but that's because Canada Reads airs on so many platforms — and that's part of the fun.

Here are the different ways you can tune in.

Listen as a podcast: Episodes will be posted every day on the podcast platform of your choice. The radio news break at the top of every hour is the reason for the 10:05 start! And here's a Canada Reads pro tip: There's bonus post-show content on the livestreams and TV.

Three days filled with exciting debates are behind us. Today, we’ll find out the winner of Canada Reads 2026.

There are just two books and two champions remaining in the competition.

Steve (Dangle) Glynn is championing Searching for Terry Punchout by Tyler Hellard and Tegan Quin is defending The Cure for Drowning by Loghan Paylor.

We’re looking for the one book that brings people together and builds bridges through story.

The debates start at 10:05 a.m. ET. I can’t wait to see who takes it home

As we head into the finale of Canada Reads, the champions of the two remaining titles made the case for why their books should take the crown.

Quin said The Cure for Drowning blends multiple genres and speaks to a wide range of readers.

“It is nostalgic. It is romantic. It's well-written, it's accessible. It crosses all of Canada,” she said.

“I still believe this is the book that most Canadians would read and love.”

Meanwhile, Glynn highlighted the romantic twist that’s also found in Searching for Terry Punchout. 

“It’s a lovely, funny read. I think you're really going to enjoy it.

“Like [It's Different This Time], it does involve an awkward encounter with an old flame.”

We’re all for sharing the love — but when you’re as invested in the panellists and books as we are, it can get nerve-racking when a favourite contender opts to praise the book it’s up against.

That being said, there really is something to say for the honesty of this group in answering the questions. It’s pretty amazing.

Book said she and Richard have been sending voice notes back and forth all week during Canada Reads, joking that they keep promising to keep them short — only for those “three-minute” messages to turn into much longer conversations. 

She added that they’ve been in constant communication throughout the process, and said Richard's “support has been unwavering.” 

“I’m so proud of her and I'm proud to be here.”

After It’s Different This Time was eliminated, Tailfeathers shared that she felt a connection to the main character June, who at the start of the novel is trying to make it as an actor.

“I actually really related to the main character, as an actor who is mixed-race,” she said. “I had to start making my own films 15 years ago in order to make space for myself in this industry.”

It’s Different This Time was eliminated on Day Three of Canada Reads, but Book said she loved every moment of the experience, and was proud to have taken a romance novel further in the competition than ever before.

“This was a massive win for romance as a whole,” she said. 

“I am over the moon excited that I made it to Day Three with a romance title.

“I think it sets up future years of Canada Reads to allow other champions like us who love other genres, even like horror and thriller, to feel welcome to come to this show to talk about what they love.”

“It's such an impactful book,” Book said about It’s Different This Time. “The characters just feel really real to me and I love choosing a [writer’s] debut romance.”

“Historically — I mentioned this yesterday — romance has not done well on the show. I'm ecstatic that we now have two — I know your book is not all romance —,” she said, referring to The Cure for Drowning.

“Romance is not a dirty word,” said Quin.

“Thank you. I think it's just incredible that we have romance this far in the show,” said Book.

Glynn, Tailfeathers and Quin voted against It’s Different This Time by Joss Richard.

Book and Dela Cruz voted against Searching for Terry Punchout by Tyler Hellard.

The Cure for Drowning by Loghan Paylor still has yet to receive a vote against it.

It's Different This Time by Joss Richard is the third book to be eliminated on Canada Reads.

Tailfeathers said she connected with the human moments in Searching for Terry Punchout, especially the way it captures the lived experiences of people on the East Coast.

“There’s just like a richness and a rawness to that part of the world and a survivor mentality, which I appreciated in this book,” she said.  

“It looks at the ways that communities that struggle with poverty in a really interesting way, [and] the way that they find joy, regardless of that. 

“I appreciated seeing this single mom with her son, still like finding joy and contentment.”

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