Celebrate the first ever #LitMagWeek with these three journals.

The article introduces #LitMagWeek, a newly created event running from the publication date (September 30, 2026) through Friday, dedicated to celebrating literary magazines. Initiated by Brett Van Emst, editor and publisher of the online journal Midnight Mind, the event is supported by the Community of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP) and over 100 participating journals. The goal is to highlight the innovative and dynamic nature of literary magazines, which are often unfairly perceived as dull or outdated. During the week, participating magazines offer discounts on print copies, free digital access, and share their origin stories and inspirations with readers. Van Emst explained that the week-long celebration aims to showcase the cutting-edge work being done by literary magazines, which are far from boring.

The article emphasizes that literary magazines are thriving despite common perceptions that literature is in decline. It highlights recent trends such as rebrands (The Rumpus by Roxane Gay and Debbie Millman), new international-focused magazines (Equator), and the rise of niche publications like AFM, which blends dating app culture with literary content. Established magazines like The Baffler, Granta, and The Dial continue to receive critical acclaim, challenging the narrative that literary magazines are fading. The article suggests that these magazines play a vital role in nurturing new voices, fostering intellectual discourse, and experimenting with form and content, making them essential to the literary landscape.

N+1 is a Brooklyn-based literary magazine founded in 2004 to counter what its founders saw as a fragmented intellectual scene. Known for its erudite and witty content, N+1 publishes fiction, non-fiction, and criticism with a materialist perspective. The fall 2026 issue features a short story by Walker Caplan titled Attention, which follows a disillusioned copywriter navigating a corporate advertising agency. The story is described as an example of corporate surrealism, blending mundane corporate life with imaginative elements. The issue also includes non-fiction by Mary Turfah and Colin Vanderburg, as well as an excerpt from Chad Harbach’s upcoming novel The Brightness. The magazine is available now for purchase.

Protean is an independent, ad-free leftist magazine that publishes critical essays, poetry, fiction, and art. In its eighth year, the magazine focuses on accessible yet rigorous analysis, aiming to bridge intellectual depth with moral urgency. The forthcoming issue (Issue VI) includes contributions from Hanif Abdurraqib, Ish Ibrahim, and Bayan Haddad, as well as an essay by Kate Wagner, architecture critic at The Nation. Wagner’s essay explores the life and work of Friedrich Hölderlin, a poet-philosopher whose mental disintegration is framed as a metaphor for modern struggles with political and personal crises. The issue will be released in print on October 3, 2026, with print subscribers receiving their copies in November.

The Toronto Review is a newer online literary magazine that aims to center Canadian voices in literature and criticism. Run by volunteers, the magazine seeks to identify and promote emerging critics, poets, and authors. Its latest issues feature an excerpt from Lucy Ives’ novel three, six, five, as well as a column on 2SLBTQIA+ aesthetics, which applies theoretical frameworks to prose. A notable essay by Joshua Whitehead discusses Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick’s work in relation to Indigenous literature. The magazine positions itself as a platform for innovative and inclusive literary criticism, particularly focused on Canadian and queer perspectives.