Public Domain Day 2026

Duke University School of Law has released their list for Public Domain Day 2026, Public Domain Day 2026 | Duke University School of Law. On January 1, 2026, Betty Boop, the first four Nancy Drew books, Georgia on My Mind, and a host of other artistic works will become public domain. That means they can be used freely by anyone without having to pay or get permission.

I don’t find this year’s crop particularly exciting. I like some of the musical compositions, but I’ve never read any of the books or seen any of the movies. None of my favorite characters are featured either. So, I’m not likely to do anything with this year’s batch, but I’m sure someone out there will be excited by the possibilities.

It’s always nice to see more art freely available. I hope schools, community theaters, and such do take advantage of this. And, if I do decide to consume any of these works, it’s nice to know that I’ll be able to do so for free.