v3.26.1
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION - Summary of Awards Activity Related to Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units, Phantom Shares and Performance Share Units (Details)
shares in Thousands
 12 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2026
$ / shares
shares
Restricted Stock Awards  
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]  
Beginning outstanding balance (in shares) | shares 0
Granted (in shares) | shares 65
Vested (in shares) | shares 0
Forfeited (in shares) | shares 0
Ending outstanding balance (in shares) | shares 65
Beginning outstanding balance (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 0
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares 5.73
Vested (in dollars per share) | $ / shares 0
Forfeited (in dollars per share) | $ / shares 0
Ending outstanding balance (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 5.73
Restricted Stock Units  
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]  
Beginning outstanding balance (in shares) | shares 1,125
Granted (in shares) | shares 318
Vested (in shares) | shares (867)
Ending outstanding balance (in shares) | shares 576
Beginning outstanding balance (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 8.24
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares 6.43
Vested (in dollars per share) | $ / shares 8.43
Ending outstanding balance (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 6.95
Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. | Restricted Stock Awards | Barnes and Noble Education Equity Incentive Plan  
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]  
Beginning outstanding balance (in shares) | shares 81,720
Granted (in shares) | shares 0
Vested (in shares) | shares (81,720)
Forfeited (in shares) | shares 0
Ending outstanding balance (in shares) | shares 0
Beginning outstanding balance (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 9.79
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares 0
Vested (in dollars per share) | $ / shares 9.79
Forfeited (in dollars per share) | $ / shares 0
Ending outstanding balance (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 0
Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. | Restricted Stock Units | Barnes and Noble Education Equity Incentive Plan  
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]  
Beginning outstanding balance (in shares) | shares 61,993
Granted (in shares) | shares 143,202
Vested (in shares) | shares (1,197)
Forfeited (in shares) | shares 0
Ending outstanding balance (in shares) | shares 203,998
Beginning outstanding balance (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 12.39
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares 8.38
Vested (in dollars per share) | $ / shares 336.79
Forfeited (in dollars per share) | $ / shares 0
Ending outstanding balance (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 8.8
Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. | Performance Share Units | Barnes and Noble Education Equity Incentive Plan  
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]  
Beginning outstanding balance (in shares) | shares 1,636,950
Granted (in shares) | shares 10,000
Vested (in shares) | shares (374,766)
Forfeited (in shares) | shares (86,720)
Ending outstanding balance (in shares) | shares 1,185,464
Beginning outstanding balance (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 9.55
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares 7.85
Vested (in dollars per share) | $ / shares 7.62
Forfeited (in dollars per share) | $ / shares 9.55
Ending outstanding balance (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 9.53