ABC Q2 2026 Newspapers | Circulation trends downwards

The Audit Bureau of Circulation’s (ABC) second quarter of 2026 for the newspaper sector shows a decline from the previous quarter.

By Danette Breitenbach

20 Aug 2026

ABC Q2 2026 Newspapers | Circulation trends downwards

Overall newspaper circulation declined by 5.8% year-on-year and 1.6% from the prior quarter. This follows a four-quarter run of increases in total circulation.

Free newspapers, although down 5.2%, still command almost a 90% share of newspaper circulation.

Paid daily (-8.6%) and weekend (-14.5%) newspapers registered year-on-year declines after stabilising somewhat in 2025.

Total newspaper and magazine circulation fell 2% from the first quarter and 3% year-on-year to 8.2 million.

After growing members in the previous year, the number of titles registered with the ABC fell to 366, taking total membership close to where it was at the beginning of 2025. The relatively consistent number of titles being published suggests a decline in per-title print orders and copy sales.

Encouragingly, all member titles checked in the quarter were given clear audits reflecting a strong adherence to quality standards set by the ABC.

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

Danette Breitenbach 21 May 2026

Daily newspapers

A highlight in this sector is the Daily Dispatch with an increase of over eight percent over the previous quarter, and an increase of almost four per cent on the prior year.

The Herald is up eight percent on the previous quarter.

Other titles that also had an increase on the previous quarter are the Cape Times, Cape Argus, The Witness and The Citizen. The Witness conntinued its good run from Q1 2026.

Publication	Frequency	Paid circulation	Free circulation	Total circulation	% change quarter	% change year
Daily Nation	MD, Mo-Sat	45,016		45,016	-8.2%	-11.1%
Burger, Die Daily	MD, Mo-Fr	25,803		25,803	-2.6%	-5.3%
Bukedde	MD, Mo-Sat	14,572		14,572	4.8%	-6.3%
New Vision	MD, Mo-Fr	14,550	100	14,650	0.6%	-3.1%
Isolezwe	MD, Mo-Fr	11,669	3,552	15,221	-11.7%	-12.7%
Business Day	MD, Mo-Fr	11,317	416	11,733	-14.8%	-4.1%
Daily Dispatch	MD, Mo-Fr	10,525	150	10,675	8.4%	3.9%
Citizen, The (Daily)	MD, Mo-Fr	10,238	10,138	20,376	2.0%	-2.9%
Herald, The	MD, Mo-Fr	9,970	500	10,470	8.0%	-1.1%
Sowetan	MD, Mo-Fr	9,062	1,340	10,402	-30.5%	-41.5%
Times of Swaziland	MD, Mo-Fr	7,861		7,861	17.9%	-4.4%
Mercury, The	MD, Mo-Fr	4,473	2,488	6,961	-2.1%	-10.4%
Witness, The	MD, Mo-Fr	3,840	2,260	6,100	0.1%	0%
Star, The	MD, Mo-Fr	3,466	14,889	18,355	-2.1%	-4.0%
Daily News	MD, Mo-Fr	3,163	2,548	5,711	-1.2%	-14.4%
Cape Times	MD, Mo-Fr	3,000	4,614	7,614	2.6%	-3.2%
Cape Argus	MD, Mo-Fr	2,399	5,596	7,995	3.3%	-1.3%
Total		190,924	48,591	239,515	-3.8%	-8.5%

Weekly newspapers

As per Q1 2026 there is not a lot of great news in this category.

That said there are a few newspapers with incremental increases on the prior quarter. Only Mail & Guardian managed an increase of over one percent on the previous quarter.

Publication	Frequency	Paid circulation	Free circulation	Total circulation	% change quarter	% change year
Soccer Laduma	Wkly, Th	17,920		17,920	1.6%	-21.3%
Ilanga	2xW, Mo&Th	15,653	1,120	16,773	-0.1%	-15.7%
SON Weekly	Wkly, Th	13,074	60	13,134	0.6%	-15.7%
Die Papier	Wkly, Fr	11,900	260	12,160	New Member
Post, The	Wkly, Wed	10,461	2,821	13,282	0.8%	-8.8%
Daily Maverick,	Wkly, Sat	7,248	1,586	8,834	-35.4%	-15.7%
Lesotho Times	Wkly, Th	4,710	91	4,801	0.3%	-9.0%
Mail & Guardian	Wkly, Fr	3,961		3,961	1.8%	-10.9%
Voice, The	Wkly, Fr	Terminated
Total		84,927	5,938	90,865	9.4%	-7.1%

Weekend newspapers

A poor showing in this category, with only the Weekend Witness, once again, showing an increase on the previous quarter and prior year.

Publication	Frequency	Free circulation	Total circulation	% change quarter	% change year
Sunday Tribune	Wkly, Sun	4,925	11,567	-0.1%	-13.5%
Weekend Argus	Wknd	4,767	7,900	-1.0%	-4.0%
Sunday World	Wknd	3,322	9,487	-12.3%	-18.1%
Weekend Witness	Wkly, Sat	2,599	6,204	2.8%	6.3%
Sunday Times	Wknd	1,576	46,403	-11.9%	-16.8%
Weekend Vision	Wkly, Sun	100	11,378	-8.1%	-5.5%
Isolezwe ngeMpelaSonto	Wkly, Sat	2	11,661	-3.8%	-23.2%
Burger, Die Saturday	Wkly, Sat		29,068	-6.7%	-11.9%
Sunday Nation	Wkly, Sun		45,489	-9.5%	-13.4%
Total		17,291	179,157	-8.1%	-13.7%

Local newspapers

This category fared better than the other categories, with five titles showing an increase on the previous quarter and six on the prior year.

Publication	Frequency	Paid circulation	Free circulation	Total circulation	% change quarter	% change year
African Reporter	Wkly, Fr	11,504		11,504	-3.7%	-9.3%
George Herald (Thursday)	Wkly, Th	5,977	4,821	10,798	1.0%	44.4%
The Kokstad Advertiser	Wkly, Th	5,159	5,812	10,971	-0.3%	-0.2%
South Coast Herald incorporating Ugu District	Wkly, Th	3,488	2,300	5,788	-4.0%	-0.5%
Mosselbay Advertiser	Wkly, Fr	2,615	2,452	5,067	3.9%	57.9%
Lowvelder	Wkly, Th	2,341	17,073	19,414	-0.5%	0.4%
Zululand Observer Weekend (Formerly Friday)	Wkly, Th	2,194	2,865	5,059	-5.3%	-4.4%
Observer Middelburg	Wkly, Fr	2,057	17,141	19,198	-0.9%	1.9%
Witbank News, Fri	Wkly, Fr	1,438	20,694	22,132	-0.8%	4.2%
Zululand Observer Monday	Wkly, Mon	1,212	1,229	2,441	-5.2%	-8.0%
Newcastle Advertiser	Wkly, Th	990	2,842	3,832	-25.9%	-33.5%
Mpumalanga News	Wkly, Wed	965	8,682	9,647	-0.3%	1.7%
Courier	Wkly, Th	909	1,614	2,523	0.4%	-16.5%
Ladysmith Gazette	Wkly, Th	874	1,703	2,577	-21.3%	-31.5%
Die Pos	Wkly, Th	866	756	1,622	-5.7%	-24.3%
Talk of the Town	Wkly, Th	765		765	3.7%	-8.4%
Vryheid Herald	Wkly, Th	288	1,777	2,065	4.6%	-32.2%
South Coast Herald-Mid South Coast Edition	Wkly, Wed	7	5,900	5,907	-1.5%	-1.5%
Limpopo Mirror	Wkly, Fr	Resigned
Knysna Plett Herald	Wkly, Th	Changed Sector
Oudtshoorn Courant	Wkly, Th	Changed Sector
Paarl Post	Wkly, Th	Changed Sector
South Cape Forum/Suid Kaap Forum	Wkly, Th	Changed Sector
Vaalweekblad	Wkly, Th	Changed Sector
Weslander, The	Wkly, Th	Changed Sector
Streeknuus	Wkly, Fr	Ceased Publishing
Zoutpansberger	Wkly, Th	Ceased Publishing
Total		43,649	97,661	141,310	-13.2%	-14.0%

Free newspapers

As always, this is a mixed bag with some incremental increases, with many publications showing no increase or decrease.

Publication	Frequency	Total circulation	% change quarter	% change year
PE Express	Wkly, Wed	120,134	0%	0%
Soweto Urban News	Wkly, Th	99,100	0%	-9.2%
Plainsman	Wkly, Wed	85,235	0%	0%
City Vision	Wkly, Th	85,000	0%	0%
Vukani	Wkly, Wed	76,009	0%	0%
Mthatha Express	Wkly, Wed	69,995	0%	0%
Tabletalk	Wkly, Wed	65,225	0%	0%
Merebank & Chatsworth Tabloid	Wkly, Tue	64,980	0%	0%
North Coast Rising Sun	Wkly, Wed	64,800	0%	0%
Rekord Centurion	Wkly, Wed	60,033	0.3%	0.1%
The Springfield Weekly Gazette	Wkly, Th	59,980	0%	12.2%
Phoenix Tabloid	Wkly, Tue	55,980	0%	0%
Bloemnews Express	Wkly, Th	55,271
Randburg Sun	Wkly, Th	55,201	-0.2%	-0.1%
Highway Mail	Wkly, Fr	54,131	0.1%	0.2%
Chatsworth Rising Sun	Wkly, Tue	52,700	0%	0%
Athlone News	Wkly, Wed	51,100	0%	0%
Sandton Chronicle	Wkly, Wed	50,226	0.8%	0.7%
Thembisan	F	49,835	0%	0%
Roodepoort Record	Wkly, Th	46,417	-0.1%	-0.1%
Bedfordview & Edenvale News	Wkly, Wed	46,221	1.5%	4.8%
Southern Mail	Wkly, Wed	46,214	0%	0%
Southern Suburbs Tatler	Wkly, Th	44,985	0%	0%
Sedibeng Ster	Wkly, Th	44,980	0%	-50.6%
Bloemfontein Courant (formerly Krant)	Wkly, Th	44,890	0%	0%
Community Newspapers Rising Sun	Wkly, Th	44,800	0%	0%
Boksburg Advertiser	Wkly, Tue	42,979	0.1%	-0.4%
Rekord Far East	Wkly, Tue	42,911	0.1%	0.1%
Ster, South	Wkly, Tue	41,460	0%	0%
Rosebank Killarney Gazette	Wkly, Tue	41,071	0.3%	0%
Ethekwini Times	Wkly, Wed	40,980	0%	0%
Umlazi Times	Wkly, Wed	40,980	0%	0%
Tygerburger Mitchells Plain	Wkly, Wed	40,021	0%	0%
Rekord North	Wkly, Th	39,974	0.1%	0.2%
Echo Eyethu	Wkly, Th	39,948	0%	0%
Kempton Express	Wkly, Th	39,490	0.2%	-18.2%
Benoni City Times	Wkly, Th	38,630	-0.1%	0.2%
Alberton Record	Wkly, Wed	38,302	0.6%	0.7%
Fourways Review	Wkly, Wed	38,131	0%	0%
Helderberg Gazette & District Mail	Wkly, Wed	36,671	0.1%	0.5%
Rekord East	Wkly, Tue	36,011	0.3%	0.2%
Noordkaap Bulletin	Wkly, Th	35,218	0.1%	-0.2%
Tongaat & Verulam Tabloid (former Northern Star)	Wkly, Wed	34,980	0%	0%
North Coast Courier	Wkly, Wed	34,622	-0.7%	-0.8%
Ridge Times	Wkly, Tue	34,400	0%	0%
South Coast Fever	Wkly, Th	34,280	-1.5%	-1.5%
Eyethu Bay Watch (Formerly Baywatch)	Wkly, Wed	33,970	0%	9.7%
Go & Express	Wkly, Th	33,813	0%	0.3%
Rekord Moot	Wkly, Th	33,583	0%	0.1%
Ster, North	Wkly, Tue	32,760	0%	0%
Northcliff & Melville Times	Wkly, Tue	30,838	0.2%	-0.4%
Constantiaberg Bulletin	Wkly, Th	30,690	0%	0%
Standard Breederivier Gazette	Wkly, Th	30,681	0.8%	0.5%
Vista	Wkly, Th	30,137	0%	-0.2%
UD Express	Wkly, Wed	30,092	0%	-0.1%
Diamond Fields Advertiser	Wkly, Fr	30,000	0%	0%
Record Mamelodi	Wkly, Fr	29,980	0%	0.1%
Rising Sun Lenasia	Wkly, Wed	29,963	0%	0%
Maritzburg Sun	Wkly, Wed	29,956	0%	0%
Public Eye	Wkly, Th	29,952	0%	0%
Dolphin Coast Mail	Wkly, Wed	29,920	0%	0%
East Coast Mail	Wkly, Wed	29,920	0%	0%
Issue Mangaung	Wkly, Wed	29,900	0%	0%
Umlazi Eyethu	Wkly, Th	29,881	0%	0%
Polokwane Observer.	Wkly, Th	29,763	0%	0%
Midrand Reporter	Wkly, Th	29,632	0%	-0.4%
Germiston City News	Wkly, Tue	29,387	-0.1%	-0.9%
False Bay Echo	Wkly, Th	29,269	0%	0%
Tygerburger Table View	Wkly, Wed	29,041	0%	-0.1%
Record Noweto	F	28,935	-0.2%	-0.1%
Atlantic Sun	Wkly, Th	28,677	0%	0%
Roodepoort Northsider (FormerlyNorthside Chronicle	Wkly, Th	28,528	0.1%	0%
People s Post Athlone & Landsdowne	Wkly, Tue	28,000	0%	0%
Northglen News	Wkly, Fr	27,530	0.1%	0.1%
Bolander	Wkly, Wed	27,358	0%	0%
Berea Mail	Wkly, Th	27,160	0.1%	0%
Krugersdorp News	Wkly, Wed	26,432	-0.2%	-0.2%
Southern Courier	Wkly, Tue	26,416	4.5%	4.5%
Springs Advertiser	Wkly, Th	25,786	-0.4%	-0.1%
People s Post Woodstock & City	Wkly, Tue	25,000	0%	0%
People s Post Grassy Park & Retreat	Wkly, Tue	25,000	0%	0%
Tygerburger Elsies-, Eersterivier & Ravensmead	Wkly, Wed	24,037	0%	0%
Eikestadnuus.	Wkly, Th	23,788	0%	0.4%
Intshonalanga Eyethu	Wkly, Wed	23,780	0%	0%
People s Post False Bay	Wkly, Tue	22,000	0%	0%
Xpress Times	Wkly, Wed	21,980	0%	0%
Issue, Eastern Free State	Wkly, Th	21,900	0%	0%
Tygerburger Durbanville	Wkly, Wed	21,778	-0.1%	-0.3%
Comaro Chronicle	Wkly, Wed	21,004	0%	0.3%
Hermanus Times.	Wkly, Wed	20,656	0.1%	0.4%
Swartland Gazette (formerly Swartland Monitor).	Wkly, Tue	20,293	-0.1%	-0.3%
Kouga Express	Wkly, Th	20,278	0%	-0.1%
Rekord West	F	20,230	0%	0.1%
South Coast Sun	Wkly, Fr	20,011	0.2%	0.7%
Isolezwe IesiXhosa	Mtly	20,000	0%	0%
People s Post Claremont/Rondebosch	Wkly, Tue	20,000	0%	0%
People s Post Constantia/Wynberg	Wkly, Tue	20,000	0%	0%
Bonus Review	F	19,899	0%	0%
Heidelberg/Nigel Heraut	Wkly, Wed	19,864	1.5%	2.4%
Merebank Rising Sun	Wkly, Tue	19,800	0%	0%
Mid South Coast Rising Sun	Wkly, Tue	19,800	0%	0%
Lowvelder Express	Wkly, Th	19,760	0%	0%
Limpopo Today	Wkly, Th	19,600	0%
Brakpan Herald	Wkly, Fr	19,300	-0.3%	-0.8%
UGU Eyethu	Wkly, Wed	19,250	0.8%	-3.0%
Tygerburger Bellville	Wkly, Wed	19,235	0%	-0.3%
Tygerburger Kuilsrivier	Wkly, Wed	18,567	0%	0%
Record Central	F	18,535	0%	0.2%
Randfontein / Westonaria Herald.	Wkly, Tue	18,288	0.6%	0.3%
Tygerburger Brackenfell	Wkly, Wed	18,188	0%	-0.1%
TygerBurger De Grendel	Wkly, Wed	18,060	-0.1%	-0.1%
Southlands Sun	Wkly, Fr	17,831	0.1%	0.4%
Steelburger News	Wkly, Th	17,715	0%	0%
TygerBurger Tyger Valley	Wkly, Wed	17,066	0%	-0.2%
Potchefstroom Herald.	Wkly, Fr	16,880	-0.1%	-0.3%
Tygerburger Milnerton	Wkly, Wed	16,031	0%	-0.1%
Weskus Nuus	F	15,299	-0.5%	-0.7%
Tygerburger Kraaifontein	Wkly, Wed	15,067	0.1%	0%
Alex News	F	14,766	-0.2%	0.4%
Tygerburger Parow	Wkly, Wed	14,055	0%	-0.1%
Tygerburger Goodwood	Wkly, Wed	14,054	0%	0%
Paarl Post	Wkly, Th	13,186
Queensburgh News	F	13,026	0%	0.2%
Weslander	Wkly, Th	12,973
Vrystaat Kroon	F	12,167	-0.3%	-1.2%
Carletonville Herald.	Wkly, Fr	11,990	0%	0%
Village Talk	Wkly, Wed	11,946	0%	0%
Highvelder, The	Wkly, Fr	11,790	0%	0%
The Rep	Wkly, Mon	9,966	0%	-0.3%
Greytown Gazette	Wkly, Wed	9,885	0%	0%
Hazyview Herald	F	9,795	0%	0%
Observer Daller,	Wkly, Fr	9,740	0%	0%
Corridor Gazette	F	9,665	0%	0%
Uthukela Eyethu	F	9,578	0.1%	-2.3%
Herrie	Wkly, Th	8,663	-9.7%	18.0%
Capricorn Voice ..	Wkly, Wed	8,611	47.4%	47.9%
Ystervark	Wkly, Th	7,925	0%	0%
Parys Gazette	Wkly, Fr	7,480	0%	0%
Sentinel News	Wkly, Fr	7,265	0%	0%
Standerton Advertiser.	Wkly, Th	4,990	0%	0%
The Hilton	Mtly	4,960	0%	0%
Vaalweekblad..	Wkly, Fr	4,950	0%
Free State Sun	Wkly, Th	4,916	-0.4%	7.9%
Polokwane Review	Wkly, Wed	4,824	0%	0%
Oudtshoorn Courant	Wkly, Th	3,984	0%
Excelsior News / Nuus	Wkly, Fr	3,000	0%	0%
Suid Kaap / South Cape Forum	Wkly, Fr	2,988	0%
Knysna-Plett Herald..	Wkly, Th	2,964	0%
Bosvelder Review	Wkly, Th	2,828	-3.1%	-1.6%
Estcourt	Wkly, Th	2,342	3.2%	-2.4%
BT News	Mtly	Terminated
Dizindaba iphephandaba lesiXhosa	Wkly, Th	Terminated
Hamitown Journal	Mtly	Terminated
Phethoho Newspaper	F	Terminated
Sivubela Intuthuko	F	Terminated
The Guard Newspaper	F	Terminated
The Reporter	F	Terminated
Weekly SA Mirror	Wkly, Fr	Terminated
Bloemnuus	Wkly, Th	Rebranded
Express	Wkly, Wed	Rebranded
Asambeni Taxi Times	F	Ceased Publishing
Kathorus Mail	F	Ceased Publishing
Northern Eyethu	Mtly	Ceased Publishing
Zululand Eyethu (formerly Eshowe Watch)	Mtly	Ceased Publishing
Total		4,389,493	-1.0%	-5.2%

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.