National Year of Reading 2026 is a major government campaign to rekindle the UK’s love of reading. Led by the National Literacy Trust and The Reading Agency, and sponsored by the Department for Education, it aims to make reading a joyful, meaningful part of everyday life for everyone - young and old - and to reverse the decline in reading for pleasure.
Go All In!
We want to spark a reading revolution. This bold campaign aims to rebrand reading in all its forms as socially meaningful and personally valuable - something for everyone. Reading is a great way to go deeper into your existing passions - whether it’s fashion, football, films, food. In today’s fast-paced, digital world, we’re making reading relevant, joyful, and part of everyday life.
Why does reading matter?
Reading for pleasure is powerful. It boosts wellbeing, sparks imagination, builds empathy, and expands your world. It nurtures curiosity, sharpens your mind, and it might even make you more creative or successful. Sometimes, the value is simply in the pleasure itself - escapism, laughter, or inspiration. But increasingly, fewer of us are making time to read. With so many forms of entertainment at our fingertips, reaching for a book can feel like a chore - something we should do, but don’t really want to do.
What are we planning and how can you get involved?
We'll be launching some special new initiatives, hosting events and really focusing on books and reading. Watch this space for more details as we develop our programme.
We want to know your favourite reads - share a review with us here!
