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INCOME TAXES - Narrative (Detail) - USD ($)
 12 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2026
Apr. 30, 2025
Apr. 30, 2024
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]      
Unrecognized tax benefits $ 10,574,000 $ 13,269,000 $ 7,580,000
Unrecognized tax benefits, income tax penalties accrued 1,600,000    
Amount of unrecognized tax benefits that would affect effective tax rate, if recognized 11,600,000    
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Gross 83,472,000 104,862,000  
Provision for income taxes 16,816,000 25,710,000  
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest $ 26,029,000 $ 119,292,000  
Effective income tax rate 64.61% 21.55%  
Effective tax rate amount $ 5,466,000    
Valuation allowance on deferred tax assets 80,491,000 $ 80,079,000  
Foreign tax authority      
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]      
Net operating loss carryforwards 0    
Foreign tax authority | Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.      
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]      
Net operating loss carryforwards 0    
Foreign tax authority | Canada | Research and development      
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]      
Tax credit carryforwards 1,500,000    
Federal      
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]      
Net operating loss carryforwards 0    
Federal | Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.      
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]      
Net operating loss carryforwards 195,800,000    
Disallowed interest expense carryforwards 44,300,000    
Tax credit carryforwards 1,100,000    
Tax attributes may be made available to offset future taxable income 29,700,000    
State and local      
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]      
Net operating loss carryforwards 52,800,000    
Tax credit carryforwards 2,500,000    
State and local | Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.      
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]      
Net operating loss carryforwards 389,600,000    
Tax credit carryforwards $ 200,000