ABC Q1 2026 Newspapers | A slow start as Free Newspapers steady the ship

Despite a slow start to the year as paid newspapers came under pressure in the first quarter of 2026, a stable performance from free newspapers meant that the overall newspaper circulation declined by only 1.3% year-on-year.

By Danette Breitenbach

21 May 2026

The ABC Q1 2026 shows a slow start to the year, with Free newspapers steadying the ship (Image: @Bizcommunity)

This was the data released by the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) today, Thursday, 21 May.

Paid daily, weekly and weekend newspapers all registered year-on-year declines after stabilising somewhat in 2025.

Daily newspapers fell 7% year-on-year, while weekend newspapers were down 17.1%.

Quarterly declines were much more limited.

Despite this, the total newspaper and magazine circulation registered a fourth consecutive annual increase in the first quarter of 2026, according to the ABC.

The Audit Bureau of Circulations' (ABC) Q4 (October to December) 2025 release shows a decline of 2.5% by newspapers (Image source: Lesely Svenson @ Bizcommunity)

ABC Q4 2025 Newspapers: Dailies up but total sector down

Danette Breitenbach 19 Feb 2026

Daily newspapers

At the end of Q4 2025, Dailies stabilised. In Q1 2026, Dailies lost 1.7% on the previous quarter.

In Q4 2025, Business Day was the best performing daily on the previous quarter and on the prior year and it continued this performance in Q1 2026 with increases on both the quarter and year.

It was one of only three South African newspapers to show an increase on the previous quarter, with The Star and The Witness also showing increases on the previous quarter.

However, Business Day was the only Daily with an increase on the prior year.

It was bad news for The Sowetan with double-figure decreases on the previous quarter and prior year.

Publication	Frequency	Paid circulation	Free circulation	Total circulation	% change quarter	% change year
Daily Nation	MD, Mo-Sat	49,028		49,028	7.7%	-8.3%
Burger, Die Daily	MD, Mo-Fr	26,481		26,481	-4.1%	-9.2%
New Vision	MD, Mo-Fr	14,463	103	14,566	0.2%	-5.0%
Bukedde	MD, Mo-Sat	13,904		13,904	-1.8%	-10.3%
Isolezwe	MD, Mo-Fr	13,015	4,219	17,234	-0.6%	-9.0%
Business Day	MD, Mo-Fr	11,052	2,714	13,766	3.1%	9.5%
Citizen, The (Daily	MD, Mo-Fr	9,956	10,024	19,980	-8.5%	-4.6%
Sowetan	MD, Mo-Fr	9,875	5,084	14,959	-19.4%	-21.7%
Daily Dispatch	MD, Mo-Fr	9,281	566	9,847	-2.0%	-2.4%
Herald, The	MD, Mo-Fr	9,192	500	9,692	-2.6%	-0.5%
Times of Swaziland	MD, Mo-Fr	6,668		6,668	-12.6%
Mercury, The	MD, Mo-Fr	4,484	2,624	7,108	-3.2%	-15.8%
Witness, The	MD, Mo-Fr	3,817	2,277	6,094	10.8%	-0.1%
Star, The	MD, Mo-Fr	3,750	15,002	18,752	2.7%	-5.0%
Daily News	MD, Mo-Fr	3,154	2,624	5,778	-5.8%	-19.3%
Cape Times	MD, Mo-Fr	2,932	4,492	7,424	-2.0%	-10.5%
Cape Argus	MD, Mo-Fr	2,253	5,486	7,739	-1.6%	-8.2%
Total		193,305	55,715	249,020	-1.7%	-5.3%

Weekly newspapers

Seven of the eight Weeklies posted declines on the previous quarter and prior year, leading to a 6.9% decrease on the previous quarter and a 21.1% decrease on the prior year.

Mail & Guardian was unable to capitalise on its gains in Q4 2025. In contrast to its double-figure losses in Q4 2025, Daily Maverick increased by double figures on the previous quarter and the prior year.

Soccer Laduma and Son Weekly both posted double-digit declines on the previous quarter and the prior year.

Publication	Frequency	Paid circulation	Free circulation	Total circulation	% change quarter	% change year
Soccer Laduma	Wkly, Th	17,643		17,643	-16.7%	-28.9%
Ilanga	2xW, Mo&Th	17,273		17,273	-0.7%	-17.8%
SON Weekly	Wkly, Th	12,999	60	13,059	-12.0%	-25.6%
Daily Maverick	Wkly, Sat	12,107	1,570	13,677	41.8%	21.4%
Post, The	Wkly, Wed	10,408	2,772	13,180	-2.7%	-13.7%
Lesotho Times	Wkly, Th	4,697	91	4,788	-5.1%	-19.5%
Mail & Guardian	Wkly, Fr	3,891		3,891	-7.3%	-20.7%
Voice, The	Wkly, Fr	No Submission
Total		79,018	4,493	83,511	-6.9%	-21.1%

Weekend newspapers

After finding some stabilisation in 21025, Weekend newspapers all registered year-on-year declines in Q 1 2026.

A third of the Weekend newspapers had increases on the previous quarter, and only one Weekend newspaper, Weekend Witness, also had an increase on the prior year.

In total, the category decline 1.4% on the previous quarter and 11.7% on the prior year.

Publication	Frequency	Paid circulation	Free circulation	Total circulation	% change quarter	% change year
Sunday Nation	Wkly, Sun	50,256		50,256	6.9%	-10.1%
Sunday Times	Wknd	47,142	5,539	52,681	-5.6%	-9.9%
Burger, Die Saturday	Wkly, Sat	31,166		31,166	-2.7%	-12.0%
Weekend Vision	Wkly, Sun	12,286	100	12,386	5.1%	-3.9%
Isolezwe ngeMpelaSonto	Wkly, Sat	12,124	2	12,126	-7.9%	-29.7%
Sunday World	Wknd	7,470	3,350	10,820	-9.8%	-14.9%
Sunday Tribune	Wkly, Sun	6,793	4,789	11,582	-8.4%	-17.3%
Weekend Witness	Wkly, Sat	3,587	2,448	6,035	11.4%	4.0%
Weekend Argus	Wknd	3,150	4,828	7,978	-0.4%	-4.9%
Total		173,974	21,056	195,030	-1.4%	-11.7%

Local newspapers

Of the 20 Local newspapers, eight had increases on the previous quarter and the prior year, while 15 had an increase on the previous quarter and 10 on the prior year.

This strong showing saw the category increase on the previous quarter by 5.7%. Unfortunately, it declined by 3.65 on the prior year.

Stand outs include George Herald, The Weslander, Paarl Post and Mosselbay Advertiser.

Publication	Frequency	Paid circulation	Free circulation	Total circulation	% change quarter	% change year
African Reporter	Wkly, Fr	11,944		11,944	0.4%	-2.7%
George Herald (Thursday	Wkly, Th	6,385	4,306	10,691	13.2%	35.7%
The Kokstad Advertiser	Wkly, Th	5,197	5,812	11,009	0.4%	0.0%
Weslander, The	Wkly, Th	4,385	5,542	9,927	13.0%	43.8%
Paarl Post	Wkly, Th	3,812	4,423	8,235	56.9%	53.4%
South Coast Herald incorporating Ugu District	Wkly, Th	3,674	2,353	6,027	-4.4%	0.6%
Mosselbay Advertiser	Wkly, Fr	2,880	1,997	4,877	12.5%	41.5%
Zululand Observer Weekend (Formerly Friday	Wkly, Th	2,475	2,865	5,340	2.9%	0.6%
Lowvelder	Wkly, Th	2,444	17,063	19,507	0.1%	3.6%
Observer Middelburg	Wkly, Fr	2,413	16,967	19,380	0.3%	2.6%
Witbank News, Fri	Wkly, Fr	2,232	20,527	22,759	2.4%	7.6%
Zululand Observer Monday	Wkly, Mon	1,345	1,229	2,574	-0.5%	-5.3%
Newcastle Advertiser	Wkly, Th	1,036	4,133	5,169	19.0%	-9.0%
Mpumalanga News	Wkly, Wed	1,000	8,677	9,677	-0.1%	4.7%
Die Pos	Wkly, Th	964	756	1,720	-1.5%	-34.6%
Courier	Wkly, Th	906	1,607	2,513	31.8%	-0.8%
Ladysmith Gazette	Wkly, Th	832	2,441	3,273	1.0%	-10.7%
Talk of the Town	Wkly, Th	738		738	-17.5%	-12.7%
Vryheid Herald	Wkly, Th	283	1,692	1,975	107.0%	-31.7%
South Coast Herald-Mid South Coast Edition	Wkly, Wed	16	5,980	5,996	0.1%	-0.2%
Limpopo Mirror	Wkly, Fr	Resigned
Observer Daller	Wkly, Fr	Rebranded
Excelsior News / Nuus	Wkly, Fr	Changed Sector
Knysna Plett Herald	Wkly, Th	Changed Sector
Oudtshoorn Courant	Wkly, Th	Changed Sector
South Cape Forum/Suid Kaap Forum	Wkly, Th	Changed Sector
Vaalweekblad	Wkly, Th	Changed Sector
Streeknuus	Wkly, Fr	Ceased Publishing
Zoutpansberger	Wkly, Th	Ceased Publishing
Total		54,961	108,370	163,331	5.7%	-3.6%

Free newspapers

Free newspapers had a stable performance in Q1 2026, which helped to slow the total newspaper category decline for the year.

Free newspapers showed a decline of 3% on the previous quarter and 0.2% on the prior year. The majority of the newspapers in this category showed incremental gains or losses.

Publication	Frequency	Total circulation	% change quarter	% change year
PE Express	Wkly, Wed	120,148
Soweto Urban News	Wkly, Th	99,100		-9.2%
Plainsman	Wkly, Wed	85,235
City Vision	Wkly, Th	85,000
Vukani	Wkly, Wed	76,009
Mthatha Express	Wkly, Wed	69,996
Asambeni Taxi Times	F	69,850	-53.4%
Tabletalk	Wkly, Wed	65,225
Merebank & Chatsworth Tabloid	Wkly, Tue	64,980
North Coast Rising Sun	Wkly, Wed	64,800		-0.1%
The Springfield Weekly Gazette	Wkly, Th	59,980	4.7%	12.2%
Rekord Centurion	Wkly, Wed	59,861	-0.1%
Phoenix Tabloid	Wkly, Tue	55,980
Randburg Sun	Wkly, Th	55,290	0.1%	0.6%
Highway Mail	Wkly, Fr	54,102		0.2%
Chatsworth Rising Sun	Wkly, Tue	52,700		-0.7%
Athlone News	Wkly, Wed	51,100
Sandton Chronicle	Wkly, Wed	49,847	-0.3%	-1.3%
Thembisan	F	49,835		0.3%
Roodepoort Record	Wkly, Th	46,460	0.1%	-0.1%
Southern Mail	Wkly, Wed	46,214
Bedfordview & Edenvale News	Wkly, Wed	45,531	1.8%	2.5%
Southern Suburbs Tatler	Wkly, Th	44,985
Sedibeng Ster	Wkly, Th	44,980		-50.6%
Bloemfontein Courant (formerly Krant	Wkly, Th	44,890
Community Newspapers Rising Sun	Wkly, Th	44,800		-0.1%
Boksburg Advertiser	Wkly, Tue	42,950	0.2%	-0.6%
Rekord Far East	Wkly, Tue	42,887		-0.2%
Ster, South	Wkly, Tue	41,460
Ethekwini Times	Wkly, Wed	40,980
Umlazi Times	Wkly, Wed	40,980
Rosebank Killarney Gazette	Wkly, Tue	40,963		-0.6%
Bloemnuus	Wkly, Th	40,216	-0.5%	-1.6%
Tygerburger Mitchells Plain	Wkly, Wed	40,024
Rekord North	Wkly, Th	39,954	0.1%	0.3%
Echo Eyethu	Wkly, Th	39,948
Kempton Express	Wkly, Th	39,424		-19.2%
Benoni City Times	Wkly, Th	38,683	-0.3%	-0.4%
Fourways Review	Wkly, Wed	38,147		-0.1%
Alberton Record	Wkly, Wed	38,075	0.3%	0.1%
Helderberg Gazette & District Mail	Wkly, Wed	36,633	-0.2%	-0.8%
Rekord East	Wkly, Tue	35,906		-0.1%
Noordkaap Bulletin	Wkly, Th	35,184	-0.2%	-0.3%
Tongaat & Verulam Tabloid (former Northern Star	Wkly, Wed	34,980
North Coast Courier	Wkly, Wed	34,873	2.2%	-0.1%
South Coast Fever	Wkly, Th	34,800	2.4%
Ridge Times	Wkly, Tue	34,400
Eyethu Bay Watch (Formerly Baywatch	Wkly, Wed	33,970	6.5%	9.7%
Go & Express	Wkly, Th	33,819		0.4%
Rekord Moot	Wkly, Th	33,570	0.1%	0.1%
Ster, North	Wkly, Tue	32,760
Northcliff & Melville Times	Wkly, Tue	30,784	-0.2%	-1.1%
Constantiaberg Bulletin	Wkly, Th	30,690
Standard Breederivier Gazette	Wkly, Th	30,452	-0.9%	-0.6%
Vista	Wkly, Th	30,142	-0.2%	-0.2%
UD Express	Wkly, Wed	30,087		-0.1%
Diamond Fields Advertiser	Wkly, Fr	30,000
Record Mamelodi	Wkly, Fr	29,980	0.1%	0.1%
Rising Sun Lenasia	Wkly, Wed	29,972		-0.1%
Maritzburg Sun	Wkly, Wed	29,956
Public Eye	Wkly, Th	29,952
Dolphin Coast Mail	Wkly, Wed	29,920	5.8%
East Coast Mail	Wkly, Wed	29,920	2.1%
Issue Mangaung	Wkly, Wed	29,900
Umlazi Eyethu	Wkly, Th	29,881
Polokwane Observer	Wkly, Th	29,763	-0.2%	0.1%
Midrand Reporter	Wkly, Th	29,640	-0.2%	-0.3%
Germiston City News	Wkly, Tue	29,427	-0.5%	-0.7%
False Bay Echo	Wkly, Th	29,269
Tygerburger Table View	Wkly, Wed	29,042		-0.1%
Record Noweto	F	28,980	0.1%	0.1%
Atlantic Sun	Wkly, Th	28,677
Roodepoort Northsider (FormerlyNorthside Chronicle	Wkly, Th	28,492	0.4%	-0.1%
People s Post Athlone & Landsdowne	Wkly, Tue	28,000
Northglen News	Wkly, Fr	27,510
Bolander	Wkly, Wed	27,358
Berea Mail	Wkly, Th	27,145
Krugersdorp News	Wkly, Wed	26,490
Springs Advertiser	Wkly, Th	25,894	0.3%	0.2%
Southern Courier	Wkly, Tue	25,284	0.4%	-0.4%
People s Post Woodstock & City	Wkly, Tue	25,000
People s Post Grassy Park & Retreat	Wkly, Tue	25,000
Tygerburger Elsies-, Eersterivier & Ravensmead	Wkly, Wed	24,036		-0.1%
Eikestadnuus	Wkly, Th	23,797	-0.4%	-1.0%
Intshonalanga Eyethu	Wkly, Wed	23,780
People s Post False Bay	Wkly, Tue	22,000
Xpress Times	Wkly, Wed	21,980
Issue, Eastern Free State	Wkly, Th	21,900
Tygerburger Durbanville	Wkly, Wed	21,793	-0.2%	-0.4%
Comaro Chronicle	Wkly, Wed	21,001	0.1%	0.1%
Hermanus Times	Wkly, Wed	20,630	-0.5%	-1.6%
Swartland Gazette (formerly Swartland Monitor	Wkly, Tue	20,309	-0.4%	-0.7%
Kouga Express	Wkly, Th	20,268	-0.1%	-0.2%
Rekord West	F	20,230	0.2%	0.1%
Isolezwe IesiXhosa	Mtly	20,000
People s Post Claremont/Rondebosch	Wkly, Tue	20,000
People s Post Constantia/Wynberg	Wkly, Tue	20,000
South Coast Sun	Wkly, Fr	19,964	0.3%	0.5%
Bonus Review	F	19,899	-0.3%	0.1%
Express	Wkly, Wed	19,858		-0.1%
Merebank Rising Sun	Wkly, Tue	19,800		-0.3%
Mid South Coast Rising Sun	Wkly, Tue	19,800		-0.3%
Lowvelder Express	Wkly, Th	19,760
Limpopo Today	Wkly, Th	19,600
Heidelberg/Nigel Heraut	Wkly, Wed	19,566	-0.7%	0.4%
Brakpan Herald	Wkly, Fr	19,365	0.1%	-0.4%
Tygerburger Bellville	Wkly, Wed	19,226	-0.2%	-0.9%
UGU Eyethu	Wkly, Wed	19,100	-0.3%	-3.8%
Tygerburger Kuilsrivier	Wkly, Wed	18,568		-0.1%
Record Central	F	18,535	0.2%	0.2%
Tygerburger Brackenfell	Wkly, Wed	18,195		-0.3%
Randfontein / Westonaria Herald	Wkly, Tue	18,185	0.2%	-0.3%
TygerBurger De Grendel	Wkly, Wed	18,075		-0.3%
Southlands Sun	Wkly, Fr	17,815	0.1%	0.2%
Steelburger News	Wkly, Th	17,715
TygerBurger Tyger Valley	Wkly, Wed	17,067	-0.1%	-0.2%
Potchefstroom Herald	Wkly, Fr	16,900	-0.2%	-0.2%
Tygerburger Milnerton	Wkly, Wed	16,029		-0.1%
Weskus Nuus	F	15,382	-0.4%	-0.5%
Tygerburger Kraaifontein	Wkly, Wed	15,053	-0.1%	-0.1%
Alex News	F	14,796
Tygerburger Goodwood	Wkly, Wed	14,060		-0.1%
Tygerburger Parow	Wkly, Wed	14,054	-0.1%	-0.2%
Queensburgh News	F	13,031	0.1%	-0.1%
Vrystaat Kroon	F	12,202	-0.3%	-1.9%
Carletonville Herald	Wkly, Fr	11,990
Village Talk	Wkly, Wed	11,946
Highvelder, The	Wkly, Fr	11,790
The Rep	Wkly, Mon	9,966		0.2%
Greytown Gazette	Wkly, Wed	9,885
Hazyview Herald	F	9,795
Observer Daller	Wkly, Fr	9,740
Corridor Gazette	F	9,665
Herrie	Wkly, Th	9,591	5.5%	27.9%
Uthukela Eyethu	F	9,573	-0.1%	-4.2%
Ystervark	Wkly, Th	7,925
Parys Gazette	Wkly, Fr	7,480
Sentinel News	Wkly, Fr	7,265
Capricorn Voice	Wkly, Wed	5,842	-1.6%	0.3%
Standerton Advertiser	Wkly, Th	4,990
The Hilton	Mtly	4,960
Vaalweekblad	Wkly, Fr	4,950
Free State Sun	Wkly, Th	4,937
Polokwane Review	Wkly, Wed	4,824	-1.5%
Oudtshoorn Courant	Wkly, Th	3,984	-0.1%
Excelsior News / Nuus	Wkly, Fr	3,000
Suid Kaap / South Cape Forum	Wkly, Fr	2,988	-0.1%
Knysna-Plett Herald	Wkly, Th	2,964	-2.8%
Bosvelder Review	Wkly, Th	2,918	0.9%	1.6%
Estcourt	Wkly, Th	2,270	13.8%	-9.1%
BT News	Mtly	Terminated
Dizindaba iphephandaba lesiXhosa	Wkly, Th	Terminated
East Griqualand Post	Wkly, Fr	Terminated
Hamitown Journal	Mtly	Terminated
Highveld Chronicle	Wkly, Fr	Terminated
Inkundla Yezindaba	Wkly, Fr	Terminated
Inner City Gazette	F	Terminated
Kagisano Molopo News	Mtly	Terminated
Naledi News	F	Terminated
Sivubela Intuthuko	F	Terminated
Thabachweu News/Nuus	Mtly	Terminated
The Guard Newspaper	F	Terminated
The Reporter	F	Terminated
Weekly SA Mirror	Wkly, Fr	Terminated
Observer Express	Wkly, Fr	Rebranded
Kathorus Mail	F	Ceased Publishing
Northern Eyethu	Mtly	Ceased Publishing
Zululand Eyethu (formerly Eshowe Watch	Mtly	Ceased Publishing
Total		4,433,653	-3.0%	-0.2%

ABC Q1 2026 Magazines | Custom mags continued buoyancy lifts print growth

Danette Breitenbach 1 day

Danette Breitenbach

About Danette Breitenbach

Danette Breitenbach is a marketing & media editor at Bizcommunity.com. Previously she freelanced in the marketing and media sector, including for Bizcommunity. She was editor and publisher of AdVantage, the publication that served the marketing, media and advertising industry in southern Africa. She has worked extensively in print media, mainly B2B. She has a Masters in Financial Journalism from Wits.