The most popular pirates books of 2026

Books about pirates are full of black flags, buried treasure and battles at sea. Novels sail with rogues and runaways in search of fortune and freedom, and histories tell the truth about the golden age of piracy, which is often wilder than the legend. This list shows the ones first published in 2026.

Cover of The Tapestry of Fate

The Tapestry of Fate

S. A. Chakraborty

Published 2026

496 pages

Cover of Fire Sword and Sea

Fire Sword and Sea

Vanessa Riley

Published 2026

384 pages

Cover of Italian MAS & MS Boats 1915–49

Italian MAS & MS Boats 1915–49

Enrico Cernuschi

Published 2026

48 pages

Cover of Tampa's Gasparilla Pirate Festival (Images of America)

Tampa's Gasparilla Pirate Festival (Images of America)

Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla

Published 2026

128 pages

Cover of Honor Frost Selected Works

Honor Frost Selected Works

Lucy Blue, Sara Rich

Published 2026

300 pages

Cover of Pirates Discover, Press-Out and Play

Pirates Discover, Press-Out and Play

DK

Published 2026

32 pages

Cover of Pirate Academy

Pirate Academy

Justin Somper

Published 2026

256 pages

Cover of How to Make a Pirate Laugh

How to Make a Pirate Laugh

Chris Cate

Published 2026

40 pages

Cover of Treasure Thieves on the High Seas Pirates, Privateers, and Plunder

Treasure Thieves on the High Seas Pirates, Privateers, and Plunder

Roxie Munro

Published 2026

48 pages

Cover of Lighthouse Lives

Lighthouse Lives

Published 2026

400 pages

Cover of Pirate Imperialism Trade, Abolition, and Global Suppression of Maritime Raiding, 1825-1870

Pirate Imperialism Trade, Abolition, and Global Suppression of Maritime Raiding, 1825-1870

Manuel Barcia

Published 2026

296 pages

Cover of The Wreck of the Mentor

The Wreck of the Mentor

Eric Jay Dolin

Published 2026

288 pages

Cover of Sailing Textiles from Prehistory to Early History

Sailing Textiles from Prehistory to Early History

Published 2026

160 pages

Cover of 1001 Pirate Things to Spot

1001 Pirate Things to Spot

Rob Jones

Published 2026

32 pages

Cover of A Prince Among Pirates

A Prince Among Pirates

Katie Abdou

Published 2026

320 pages

Cover of My Big Sticker and Activity Book - Packed with Pirates, Discovery and the World Around Us!

My Big Sticker and Activity Book - Packed with Pirates, Discovery and the World Around Us!

BOOKTOPUS

Published 2026

48 pages

Cover of SHIPPING FORECAST.

SHIPPING FORECAST.

Meg Clothier

Published 2026

240 pages

Cover of Nagato-class Battleships 1920–46 The Imperial Japanese Navy's Super-dreadnoughts

Nagato-class Battleships 1920–46 The Imperial Japanese Navy's Super-dreadnoughts

Stefan Draminski

Published 2026

48 pages

Cover of Soviet Cold War Destroyers

Soviet Cold War Destroyers

Jan Radziemski

Published 2026

320 pages

Cover of Pirates Discover, Press-Out and Play

Pirates Discover, Press-Out and Play

DK

Published 2026

32 pages

Cover of Postman Planet

Postman Planet

Ben Davis

Published 2026

160 pages

Cover of Pirate Academy

Pirate Academy

Justin Somper

Published 2026

304 pages

Cover of Royal Navy Mediterranean Fleet 1793–1805 The war at sea against Napoleon

Royal Navy Mediterranean Fleet 1793–1805 The war at sea against Napoleon

Casey Baker

Published 2026

80 pages

Cover of ABDA Command Striking Force 1942 The American-British-Dutch-Australian fleet that tackled the IJN

ABDA Command Striking Force 1942 The American-British-Dutch-Australian fleet that tackled the IJN

Angus Konstam

Published 2026

80 pages