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Spotify has expanded its services in Nigeria with the introduction of audiobooks, giving listeners another way to enjoy books through the streaming platform.
The rollout began on October 14, 2026, allowing users in the country to explore spoken-word versions of books alongside the music and podcasts already available on the service.
The launch forms part of Spotify’s international expansion of its audiobook offering, which the company plans to extend from 22 markets to more than 180 by the end of 2026. The expansion is expected to make audiobooks accessible to more than 750 million people worldwide.
Nigerian subscribers can access the new service through Audiobooks+, an optional monthly package available to both Spotify Free and Premium users for ₦2,300.
The subscription provides 15 hours of audiobook listening during each billing cycle. Only time spent actively listening counts towards the allowance, while unused hours reset when the next billing period begins.
Users who exhaust their monthly allocation can purchase an additional 10 hours for ₦2,700. Alternatively, they can buy individual audiobook titles to keep.
Spotify’s Vice President of Audiobooks, Owen Smith, said the expansion would give more people opportunities to discover books while helping authors and publishers connect with new audiences.
The company is also introducing features designed to make listening more convenient, particularly for people who want to enjoy books while commuting, travelling or relaxing at home.
One of the features is Page Match, which allows listeners to switch between a physical book, an ebook and its audio version. Users can scan a book’s ISBN barcode and use page numbers to locate where they stopped reading. The feature supports more than 30 languages.
Spotify has also created a dedicated section within its app for audiobooks, allowing users to browse titles and receive recommendations based on their interests across music, podcasts and books.
Other features include a sleep timer, offline listening and synchronised playback progress across compatible devices. These options allow users to download books for listening without an internet connection or continue a story on another device without losing their place.
Beyond providing Nigerian listeners with additional entertainment options, the development could create new opportunities for local writers and publishers seeking wider distribution for their work.
Spotify said its audiobook partnerships are non-exclusive, allowing authors and publishers to distribute their work through other platforms while making it available to Spotify audiences.
Through Spotify for Authors, Nigerian publishers and independent writers can upload audiobooks and access listening insights. The company expects its local catalogue to expand as more publishing partners and authors join the platform.
Spotify’s audiobook business has also recorded growth internationally. According to the company, monthly audiobook listeners increased by nearly 40 per cent over the preceding year, while listening hours rose by more than 30 per cent. Audiobooks+, launched internationally just over a year ago, has surpassed one million subscribers.
To access the service in Nigeria, users need to update their Spotify application, open the Audiobooks section or search for a specific title, select a book and add Audiobooks+ where required.
The expansion marks another step in Spotify’s efforts to establish audiobooks alongside music and podcasts, while providing Nigerian audiences with more ways to discover and consume written content.
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