Top 10 Most Popular Bible Reading Plans for 2026

A new year often brings a renewed desire to connect with God through His Word. Many of us set a goal to read the Bible more consistently, but the biggest hurdle isn’t desire—it’s direction. With countless reading plans available, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming, and picking the wrong one can lead to burnout and discouragement.

The good news is that you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Certain Bible reading plans have become popular for a reason: they are effective, engaging, and have helped millions of people build a sustainable reading habit. Whether you’re looking for an intense challenge or a slow, reflective journey, here are the top 10 most popular types of Bible reading plans to consider for the year ahead.

1. The Classic: Bible in a Year (Canonical)

This is the quintessential Bible reading plan. The goal is simple: read from Genesis to Revelation in 365 days, following the standard order of the books in the Bible. It’s a fantastic way to get a comprehensive overview of the entire biblical library.

• Best for: Anyone wanting to read the whole Bible for the first time.
• Pace: Moderate to heavy, typically 3-4 chapters per day.

2. The Storyteller: Chronological Bible in a Year

This popular alternative to the classic plan rearranges the entire Bible into a single, cohesive story according to its historical timeline. Reading the Psalms in the context of David’s life or the prophets alongside the historical events they address brings the narrative to life in a powerful new way.

• Best for: Readers who want to understand the overarching story of Scripture.
• Pace: Moderate to heavy, also 3-4 chapters per day.

3. The Sprinter: New Testament in 90 Days

If a year-long commitment feels daunting, an intensive 90-day challenge can be a great way to build momentum. This plan focuses solely on the New Testament, allowing you to immerse yourself in the life of Christ and the birth of the early church in a single season.

• Best for: Building a strong habit or re-engaging with Scripture after a long break.
• Pace: Intensive, requiring about 3 chapters per day.

4. The Foundation: The Gospels in 40 Days

This plan is perfect for new believers or for anyone wanting to re-center their faith on Jesus. By focusing exclusively on Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John over a 40-day period (often aligned with Lent), you get a rich, multi-faceted portrait of Christ’s life, ministry, death, and resurrection.

• Best for: New Christians or as a seasonal focus for Easter.
• Pace: Moderate and highly focused.

5. The Wisdom Seeker: Psalms & Proverbs in 31 Days

For those seeking daily wisdom and a heart of worship, this is a beloved choice. This plan typically involves reading one Proverb and a selection of Psalms each day. It’s less about narrative and more about daily nourishment for the soul.

• Best for: Daily devotional reading and practical application.
• Pace: Light and easily digestible.

6. The Deep Dive: One Book at a Time

Instead of trying to cover vast portions of Scripture, this approach focuses on slow, repetitive reading of a single book. For example, you might spend 30 days reading the book of Ephesians, or 60 days in Genesis. This allows for deeper study, meditation, and understanding.

• Best for: Small group studies or in-depth personal learning.
• Pace: Slow and reflective.

7. The Balanced Diet: The M’Cheyne Plan

Developed by 19th-century minister Robert Murray M’Cheyne, this classic plan has you read from four different places in the Bible every day. This provides a “balanced diet” of Scripture, exposing you to the Old Testament, New Testament, and Gospels simultaneously and showing how they connect.

• Best for: Seeing the thematic unity of the entire Bible.
• Pace: Heavy, as it involves four separate readings daily.

8. The Marathoner: The 3-Year Plan

For those in a busy season of life, the thought of reading four chapters a day can be overwhelming. A 3-year plan breaks the Bible down into a single chapter per day. It’s a slow, steady, and incredibly sustainable pace that makes a whole-Bible reading feel achievable.

• Best for: Busy professionals, parents of young children, or anyone who feels overwhelmed by longer plans.
• Pace: Very light, just one chapter per day.

9. The Historical Overview: Old Testament in 6 Months

The Old Testament can be intimidating. This type of plan focuses on the major narrative and poetic books, giving you a solid grasp of Israel’s history and the foundational story leading up to Jesus, without getting bogged down in the finer points of the law or genealogies.

• Best for: Gaining confidence and context for the Old Testament.
• Pace: Moderate.

10. The New Believer’s Start

This isn’t a single plan, but a curated pathway through foundational books and passages. It typically starts with one of the Gospels (like John), moves to a practical epistle (like Ephesians), and includes key Old Testament stories (like Genesis and Exodus) to provide a solid footing in the Christian faith.

• Best for: Brand new Christians or those returning to the faith.
• Pace: Gentle and intentionally structured for learning.

Find or Create Your Perfect Plan

The beauty of these popular plans is their flexibility. At Bible Plan Generator, many of these are available in our library of over 20 free, curated plans. You can start a Chronological, New Testament, or Wisdom Books plan with a single click.

Even better, our custom plan generator lets you take any of these popular ideas and tailor them to your life.

• Love the Bible in a Year idea but have a busy schedule? Create a plan for the Whole Bible over 500 days and set it to weekdays only.
• Want to do the New Testament in 90 Days but ensure the daily time is consistent? Set the distribution to verse-balanced, and our tool will do the math for you.
• Inspired to do a Deep Dive into Isaiah? You can create a plan for that single book over any duration you choose.

You don’t have to search for the perfect plan—you can build it. Once your plan is ready, you can track your progress and use the built-in links to read in your favorite translation on YouVersion, Bible Gateway, or Blue Letter Bible.

The best plan for 2026 is the one you’ll actually stick with. Take inspiration from these popular frameworks and find a rhythm that works for you.

Browse our most popular plans. Explore our curated library or use the custom generator to create a plan that fits your life and spiritual goals perfectly.

Explore Plans