Barbie Debuts Its First Ever Original Barbie Novel, Barbie: Dreamscape by Bestselling Author Alex Aster, Worldwide This Summer

Mattel, Inc. (Nasdaq: MAT), a leading global play and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world, today announced that Barbie: Dreamscape, a new original Barbie® young adult novel set in a magical dreamworld written by #1 New York Times Bestselling author Alex Aster, will be available across 237 countries and territories worldwide beginning August 18, 2026.

From Mattel Press, the company’s own publishing platform, and brought to life through Alex Aster’s signature fantasy voice, Barbie: Dreamscape is a richly imagined coming-of-age story about teenaged Barbie, whose perfectly planned future is shattered when she is declared Fateless at her enchanted school’s graduation. To earn a Fate, she must journey across treacherous, magical lands in search of the mysterious beings who control the destinies of everyone in Heartland - and the buried truths that could change her world forever.

Barbie: Dreamscape is the first ever original Barbie YA novel and features the iconic protagonist in a magical dreamworld, defying expectations, rewriting the rules, and stepping out of the box into the unexpected.

This first ever Barbie YA novel will truly be a universal storytelling moment with an internationally recognized author and the world’s biggest publishers collaborating with Mattel.

Launch dates vary by territory, and all currently confirmed publication dates are listed below.

BARBIE: DREAMSCAPE

Publication Date: August 18, 2026: Mattel Press: Ages 12 and up: 9781640366008

Available for preorder HERE

BARBIE: DREAMSCAPE

Publication Date: August 20, 2026: Penguin Random House UK: Ages 12 and up: 9780241851937

Available for preorder HERE

BARBIE: DREAMSCAPE

Publication Date: August 18, 2026: Hardie Grant: Ages 12 and up: 9781761219115

Available for preorder HERE

Since 1959, Barbie has empowered generations to dream big and believe they can be anything, bringing stories to life with innovative products and inspiring content that encourages endless storytelling for fans of all ages. The brand boasts over 175 inclusive looks and offers a unique voice across multiple platforms to engage a wide range of audiences.

ABOUT BARBIE: DREAMSCAPE

Barbie’s life is perfect. She lives in a pink-hued paradise called Heartland where everything is in order and everyone has a role to play. Thanks to the mysterious and all-powerful beings there, she will soon be assigned a Fate at her graduation from the enchanted Swancrest Academy. She’s worked hard to earn a good Fate, and her years of endless studying and acing every challenge are about to pay off. But then the unthinkable happens. Barbie is left Fateless - the first in Heartland’s history - and her carefully ordered world shatters. Shaken and uncertain, Barbie must confront a future she never imagined: one with no clear path forward.

When a mysterious necklace begins to pulse with hidden power, she is drawn beyond Heartland’s protective mists into a daring journey across extraordinary lands. From sun-drenched shores to treacherous, ever-shifting landscapes, to shadowed forests steeped in secrets and magic, each realm will test Barbie’s courage, sharpen her wits, and awaken strengths she never knew she possessed - all while drawing her ever closer to a buried truth that could change her world forever.

A richly imagined coming-of-age tale from the premier voice in teen fiction, Barbie: Dreamscape is about defying expectations, rewriting the rules, and discovering that the greatest possibilities lie in stepping out of the box…and into the unexpected.

ABOUT ALEX ASTER

Alex Aster is one of the most-followed authors in the world, with over 2 million followers, and over half a billion views on her videos. Aster is the #1 New York Times bestselling, #1 Publishers Weekly bestselling, #1 Indie bestselling, and USA Today bestselling author of the wildly popular LIGHTLARK series. LIGHTLARK has been sold in 30+ countries worldwide and Aster inked a major movie deal with Universal Pictures to adapt LIGHTLARK into a film before the book was even published via Abrams. 

Since its release in August of 2022, Aster has sold over 4 million copies of LIGHTLARK in the US alone and has spent over 140 weeks on the New York Times Best Sellers list for the series. Aster was celebrated in the annual 2023 Forbes 30 Under 30 list following the meteoric success of the series. The second and third books in the LIGHTLARK series, NIGHTBANE and SKYSHADE, were published in 2023 and 2024, respectively. In 2025, Aster also released two brand-new novellas, GRIM AND ORO, as a companion book to the series as well as the fourth book in the series, CROWNTIDE, which became an instant New York Times bestseller.

Most recently, Aster released her debut in the adult romantasy space with the instant #1 New York Times bestseller STARSIDE, which hit shelves on March 31, 2026, and has spent eight consecutive weeks on the bestsellers list. Following the books huge success, it was announced that Aster will release the sequel STORMSIDE in Fall 2026. In Spring 2025, Aster also published her debut adult novel SUMMER IN THE CITY, a romantic comedy that instantly became a New York Times bestseller. The project rights were immediately snapped up and is now set to become a feature film via New Line Cinema. 

In 2020, Aster published her first novel, the first book in the young adult Emblem Island series, CURSE OF THE NIGHT WITCH. The second book of the series was released shortly after in 2021. Aster graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied creative writing.  A

About Mattel

Mattel is a leading global play and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world. We engage consumers and fans through our franchise brands, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, Fisher-Price®, American Girl®, Thomas & Friends™, UNO®, Masters of the Universe®, Matchbox®, Monster High®, Polly Pocket®, as well as other popular properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include toys, content, consumer products, digital and live experiences. Our products are sold in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and ecommerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential. Visit us at mattel.com.