Bantam Denies Winds of Winter Is Finished
The publisher dismissed a viral claim that George R.R. Martin has completed the long-awaited sixth Song of Ice and Fire novel.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Books
Bantam Books rejected online rumours that George R.R. Martin has finished The Winds of Winter, calling the chatter about a supposed leak false. The novel still has no official release date as of 1 November 2026.
Why it matters
The sixth book in the Song of Ice and Fire series has been awaited for over a decade, and fans have relied on unverified claims and prediction markets for updates. The publisher's denial offers a clear official signal amid speculation.
Martin said in October 2022 the novel was about three-quarters complete and in January 2026 reported roughly 1,100 manuscript pages written. The book's completion and release timing remain unconfirmed by the author or publisher.
The players
George R.R. Martin
American author best known for the A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series, which inspired the HBO series Game of Thrones.
Bantam Books
Major English-language publishing imprint that has published Martin's Song of Ice and Fire novels in the United States.
Entertainment Weekly
American entertainment magazine that reported Bantam's denial of the leak rumours.
The details
Bantam told Entertainment Weekly that online chatter about a leaked completed manuscript, which circulated after an unverified April post, is false. Martin has suggested he could finish 'pretty soon' if he reduces his workload, and said the book 'could be the longest book in the series.'
Timeline
July 2011: A Dance with Dragons, the fifth book, was published.
October 2022: Martin estimated the novel was three-quarters complete.
January 2026: Martin reported approximately 1,100 manuscript pages written.
April 2026: A viral claim of a completed manuscript for late-2026 release circulated.
1 November 2026: The novel still had no official release date.
Legacy Gap
The sixth Song of Ice and Fire novel remains unpublished fifteen years after A Dance with Dragons appeared in July 2011, making the gap one of the longest waits between installments in modern fantasy publishing. The denial of a leaked manuscript leaves that delay unresolved.
Readers still cannot pre-order or schedule a purchase of The Winds of Winter because no release date or confirmed completion has been announced. Anyone seeking the series in the meantime can continue with the existing five published novels.
The takeaway
Official confirmation from Martin or Bantam is the only reliable signal on The Winds of Winter, so fans should treat leaked manuscripts and prediction-market prices as speculation until the publisher announces a date.
Further reading
For more on upcoming titles and author updates, browse the Books section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by International Business Times UK.
