Life Magazine Returns: Print, Digital & Live Experiences

Life magazine is set to make its return to print on November 23, marking its 90th anniversary since its 1936 debut. The publication will be a premium, quarterly offering priced at $45 per issue. In a strategic move, the new Life will entirely avoid traditional print advertising, focusing instead on brand partnerships across its various platforms.

The inaugural 248-page issue, themed "Where Are We Now?", will be available nationwide at select bookstores and newsstands. Complementing the print edition, Life is launching a free digital platform. This digital space will feature original stories, photography, documentaries, and video content, aiming to establish a comprehensive modern media brand.

Bedford Media, which also owns i-D, is backing this relaunch. The company has stated that Life's editorial team will maintain full editorial independence and creative control. This revival comes as a notable bet on premium print journalism amid broader industry challenges with declining print circulation and advertising revenue.

Originally founded by Time's Henry Luce in 1936, Life became an influential publication renowned for its photography documenting historical events. Its weekly run concluded in 1972, with subsequent returns in various formats, the last ceasing publication in 2007. The current revival, initially expected in early 2025, is now set for November 23.