📚 The Year of Reading 2026: getting involved and making the most of it

Launched by the National Literacy Trust and the Department for Education, The National Year of Reading 2026 will be a landmark campaign across the UK, designed to reignite a passion for books and storytelling.

With the theme “Go All In”, the initiative encourages people to immerse themselves in reading not just as a pastime, but as a way of connecting with culture, identity, and imagination. While schools, libraries, and community groups will be central to this effort, literature and book festivals are uniquely positioned to amplify its impact.

✨ Why Literature Festivals Matter

Book festivals already celebrate the written word by bringing together authors, publishers, and readers in vibrant, communal spaces. They transform reading from a solitary act into a shared experience, where ideas are exchanged and stories come alive. In 2026, these festivals can become the beating heart of the campaign, showing how reading is woven into the fabric of everyday life.

📖 How Can Festivals Get Involved?

• Special Programming: Festivals could dedicate entire strands to the Year of Reading, curating panels and talks that explore how books shape passions such as sport, music, food, or fashion.

• Author Engagement: Writers might be invited to share the books that inspired their own journeys, creating a ripple effect of recommendations that encourage audiences to explore new genres.

• Interactive Spaces: Pop‑up reading lounges, storytelling tents, and “book swaps” could make festivals more participatory, inviting attendees to discover and share titles in real time.

• Youth Outreach: Many festivals already run school programs, but 2026 could see expanded partnerships with local education authorities, ensuring children experience the excitement of meeting authors and engaging with stories beyond the classroom. And of course, there are dedicated children's festivals such as Bath Children's Literature Festival, Barnes Children's Literature Festival, Northern Children's Book Festival, Oundle KidLit and Wee Write to name a few.

• Community Inclusion: Festivals could highlight diverse voices, multilingual readings, and underrepresented authors, reflecting the campaign’s goal of making reading accessible and relevant to all.

Image: Catherine Hammond

🎪 Beyond the Page

Book festivals are increasingly multidisciplinary, incorporating theatre, spoken word, and digital storytelling. In 2026, this blending of art forms could highlight the campaign’s central message: that reading is not confined to the page, but is the foundation of creativity across mediums. Imagine a festival stage where a novelist, a poet, and a playwright discuss how reading shaped their craft, or a performance where passages from beloved books are dramatized live.

✨ Looking Ahead

The Year of Reading 2026 is more than a campaign—it is an invitation to rediscover the joy of books. Literature festivals, with their ability to inspire, convene, and celebrate, will be essential partners. By weaving the initiative into their programming, they can ensure that reading is not only revived but celebrated as a cultural force across the UK.