Best known worldwide as the creator of the Moomins, Tove Jansson will bring her unique artistic vision to English-language readers this September with the first English edition of The Hobbit featuring her celebrated illustrations.
Fans of both The Hobbit and Tove Jansson have something special to look forward to in 2026. To celebrate the 90th anniversary of J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic fantasy novel, HarperCollins will publish a landmark new English-language edition of The Hobbit featuring Tove Jansson’s celebrated illustrations for the very first time. The edition is scheduled for release in the UK on 24 September 2026, with a US edition following in early October.
Although millions of readers know Tove Jansson as the creator of the beloved Moomins, relatively few English-speaking fans have seen her distinctive interpretation of Tolkien’s Middle-earth. Her illustrations were originally created in 1960 for the Swedish translation, Bilbo – En Hobbits Äventyr, after an invitation from the celebrated Swedish children’s author Astrid Lindgren, who was then working as an editor and publisher. Lindgren was convinced the collaboration would produce something extraordinary, and history has proved her right.
Jansson deliberately avoided the familiar style she had developed for the Moomin books. Instead, she sought to create a fresh visual language that reflected Tolkien’s fantasy while remaining unmistakably her own. She reportedly produced dozens of studies for many of the principal characters before settling on the final designs. Her illustrations are atmospheric and expressive, using dramatic black-and-white line work to create an almost dreamlike vision of Bilbo’s adventure.
Among the most memorable illustrations are her interpretations of Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf, Smaug and Gollum. Jansson’s depiction of Gollum in particular attracted attention because she portrayed him as a much larger and more imposing creature than readers had imagined. The illustration even prompted discussion with Tolkien himself and is often cited by scholars as one of the reasons Tolkien later clarified Gollum’s small stature in revised editions of The Hobbit.
Literary historians regard Jansson’s illustrations as an important chapter in the visual history of Middle-earth. Rather than concentrating on epic spectacle, her drawings emphasise mood, mystery and the vulnerability of Bilbo’s journey. Her interpretation captures the quiet humour and intimacy of Tolkien’s storytelling while maintaining the darker atmosphere that develops as the adventure progresses. The illustrations have long been admired in Scandinavia, where they appeared in Swedish and Finnish editions, but they have never before accompanied the English text.
The new anniversary edition therefore represents more than simply another illustrated version of Tolkien’s masterpiece. It reunites one of the twentieth century’s greatest fantasy novels with artwork that has achieved almost mythical status among collectors of Tolkien and Jansson alike. For admirers of classic children’s literature, fantasy illustration and book collecting, the publication offers a rare opportunity to experience The Hobbit through the eyes of one of the Nordic world’s most celebrated artists.
With The Hobbit first published in 1937, its 90th anniversary provides an ideal moment to introduce Jansson’s remarkable artwork to a new generation of readers. The combination of Tolkien’s timeless storytelling and Jansson’s beautifully expressive illustrations promises to make this one of the most anticipated illustrated book releases of 2026.
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