The National Year of Reading: A Revival for 2026
- David Salariya
- 11 minutes ago
- 8 min read
Once upon a very recent time, in a land not so far, far away (this sceptred isle of ours, no less), a clever group of book lovers decided it was high time to bring reading back into the spotlight — not as homework or obligation, but as pure, cheeky, irresistible joy.
The National Year of Reading: A Revival for 2026
Reading is an exercise in empathy; an exercise in walking in someone else’s shoes for a while.”
— Malorie Blackman, various talks/interviews, 2010s
Yes, 2026 has been declared the National Year of Reading, and I, for one, am all in favour.
Now, to be honest. Reading isn’t just about the drudge of the computer realated reading programs (good for some - not good for others) dusty tomes and earnest frowns. It’s about babies giggling at animal noises, toddlers demanding “again!” before you’ve even finished the last page, and seven year olds learning negotiating skills for "more" and grown-ups secretly loving it when someone reads aloud and does all the voices. Reading is about connection, it's a magic trick — and still our best.
So, reader, settle in...
Whether you’re here for the nostalgia, the bedtime rituals, or simply to find out how the UK plans to turn a whole year into a nationwide storytime — you’re in the right place.
Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them.
— Lemony Snicket (Daniel Handler), Horseradish: Bitter Truths You Can’t Avoid (2007)
Onward to the main event…
A New Chapter for a Nation of Readers
In July 2025, the UK government launched the National Year of Reading 2026—an ambitious, society-wide campaign to revive a culture of reading across the country. Fronted by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and coordinated by the National Literacy Trust (NLT), the initiative arrives at a time when reading for pleasure has reached record lows among young people. The campaign is designed to reverse that trend, positioning reading as a vital, joyful, and accessible part of modern life.
The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.
— Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut! (1978)
National Year of Reading 2026. A Rich Legacy: Past Years of Reading
The 2026 campaign follows two significant predecessors: the 1998 and 2008 National Years of Reading.
1998: Backed by then-Prime Minister Tony Blair, this first iteration was a cornerstone of Labour’s literacy drive. With £23 million spent on school libraries and media campaigns, it aimed to get the nation reading. It was successful in boosting children’s literacy rates and fostering partnerships between schools and local communities.
2008: Launched by Gordon Brown’s government, this iteration saw £3.7 million invested and the formation of the "Reading for Life" legacy campaign. Although praised for its intention, it was rolled out with limited preparation time and lacked some of the impact of its predecessor.
2026: Building on the Past, Aiming Higher
The 2026 campaign builds on these past efforts but with sharper focus and broader coalitions. Unlike previous versions, it was announced months in advance to allow for careful planning and deep collaboration across sectors.
So please, oh please, we beg, we pray, go throw your TV set away, and in its place you can install, a lovely bookshelf on the wall.
— Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964)
Core Objectives:
Rekindle a national love of reading.
Embed reading as a daily habit for all ages.
Reach underserved communities through grassroots initiatives.
Leverage reading to improve educational, economic, and wellbeing outcomes.
The Power of Partnership
At its heart, the 2026 campaign is a collective effort. While led by the Department for Education and delivered by the NLT, it brings together a vast network of supporters:
Literacy Charities: BookTrust, The Reading Agency, Bookmark, World Book Day, and The Queen’s Reading Room are among core delivery partners.
Libraries: Library networks like Libraries Connected and CILIP are leading local engagement.
Education Sector: Schools, early years settings, and the English Hubs network are central to reaching children.
Publishing Industry: All major UK publishers, the Booksellers Association, and the Publishers Association are active funders and promoters.
Corporate Partners: Organisations from Amazon UK to the Premier League are contributing resources and visibility.
"Go All In":
The Campaign Message
The campaign’s branding, unveiled in October 2025, is
“Go All In.” With the tagline,
“If you’re into it, read into it,”
it invites people to connect reading with their personal passions—be it sport, fashion, music or gaming. This approach modernises reading, repositioning it not as duty but as delight.
Implementation: National and Local Action
A full calendar of events is planned for 2026, from school DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) days and library storytelling sessions, to book festivals, author visits, and reading challenges. Early momentum was established in summer 2025 when 72,000 free books were distributed in disadvantaged communities.
David Hayman, appointed as Programme Director, coordinates the campaign across sectors, ensuring sustained action rather than symbolic activity. Local reading champions are also being trained to spread the message in their communities.
Babies and Books
Reading starts long before a child can read. Babies tune in to rhythm, warmth, and voice — the building blocks of language. A bedtime book isn’t just a ritual, it’s brain-building in disguise.
Reading Aloud is Magic
A well-timed pause. A silly voice. The sound of someone reading just for you. Reading aloud slows us down and pulls us in — it’s theatre in your lap, and everyone gets front-row seats.
The UK Loves a Storytime
From school mats to library corners, the UK has a quiet but deep-rooted passion for stories shared aloud. Storytime isn’t just a moment — it’s a cultural treasure, passed hand to hand.
Cuddle Up and Read
There’s no app more comforting than a lap. Reading together — snuggled in, book in hand — calms busy brains and says, “This moment is ours.”
Book Joy for All Ages
Whether it’s pirates, ponies, poetry or P.G. Wodehouse, the joy of books doesn’t come with an age limit. There’s a story for every reader — we just need the chance to find it.
Reading for the Fun of It
Not every book has to teach a lesson. Sometimes the point is the giggle, the gasp, or the glorious escape. Fun is reason enough — and often the reason it sticks.
Read Together, Stay Together
Reading isn’t a solo sport. Families that read together build bonds, memories, and empathy. It’s not just about the story on the page — it’s the one you’re writing together.
Key figures behind the National Year of Reading 2026.
Bridget Phillipson, MP – Education Secretary
As the architect of the National Year of Reading 2026, Bridget Phillipson is its most visible champion. She launched the initiative with a personal appeal to families, urging parents to “pick up a book” and help rebuild the nation’s reading culture. Her leadership anchors the Year of Reading within wider education policy, linking literacy to opportunity, aspiration, and social mobility.
Jonathan Douglas – CEO, National Literacy Trust
Jonathan Douglas oversees the charity delivering the campaign and is its strategic heart. He frames the Year of Reading as a bold, society-wide effort to rethink how the UK supports reading. Under his leadership, the initiative is grounded in evidence, community, and the belief that reading can transform life chances — especially for children in disadvantaged areas.
Baroness Gail Rebuck – Publishing Advocate & Architect
A towering figure in UK publishing, Baroness Gail Rebuck played a pivotal behind-the-scenes role in bringing the Year of Reading to life. Drawing on her experience as a former CEO and her influence in government, she rallied the book industry and helped shape the political will needed to launch the campaign. Her contribution is widely recognised, even if it remains largely offstage.
Joanna Prior – CEO of Pan Macmillan & Chair of the NLT
Joanna Prior brings both corporate and charitable leadership to the campaign. As CEO of Pan Macmillan and Chair of the National Literacy Trust, she has championed the Year of Reading as a chance to reconnect the country with “the transformational power of reading.” Her advocacy highlights how falling literacy levels hit the poorest communities hardest — and why unified action is needed.
David Hayman – Director, National Year of Reading 2026
Appointed to lead the campaign, David Hayman is responsible for orchestrating the national programme across charities, schools, libraries, publishers, and corporate partners. With a background in large-scale public campaigns, he is shaping Go All In as a modern, inclusive celebration of reading — one that meets people wherever they are and invites them back into the joy of books.
Authors, Champions, and The Queen Camilla
Authors and illustrators have given the campaign its emotional spark. At the Downing Street launch, former Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell spoke passionately about the role reading plays in children’s imagination and vocabulary. Leaders from The Reading Agency and the Publishers Association have echoed this support, while Queen Camilla — through The Queen’s Reading Room — lends a touch of royal advocacy. Together, these cultural figures remind us that reading is not simply a policy priority, but a deeply human pleasure.
Looking Ahead
With declining literacy linked to long-term inequality, the National Year of Reading 2026 is more than a celebration—it's a strategic intervention. By rekindling joy in reading and building systems to support it, the campaign aims to shift the national narrative. In the words of Jonathan Douglas, CEO of the NLT, it's about reimagining reading as "modern, meaningful, and social."
Looking Back, Reading Forward
So what have we learned? That reading doesn’t begin with phonics worksheets or end with literary prizes. It begins with a voice and a child. It flourishes in moments of stillness, silliness, and shared attention. It bridges generations, calms chaos, and lights a spark — whether it’s in a toddler’s eyes or a tired adult rediscovering the joy of being read to.
The National Year of Reading 2026 isn’t just a campaign — it’s an invitation. To open a book, to read aloud, to remember that stories are a glue that binds us across age, class, postcode, and even mood. And if you haven’t read to someone lately (or been read to), consider this your official nudge.
As 2026 approaches, let’s turn the page on the idea that reading is a solo or silent act. Let’s make it noisy with laughter, tender with togetherness, and loud with the turning of many, many pages. After all, a nation that reads together dreams a little bigger — and might just write a better future too.
The hope is clear: that 2026 will not be a fleeting moment, but the beginning of a new golden age for British readers—young and old alike.
About the Author
David Salariya is a writer, illustrator, a veteran of the publishing world with a lifelong love of stories in all their forms — from The Beano to Byron. With a background in designing and creating children’s books, he knows firsthand the power of reading aloud and the quiet, radical joy of sharing a book. Passionate about literacy, design, and the magic that happens when stories bring people together, As the founder of The Salariya Book Company, and the creative force behind its imprints Scribblers, Scribo, and Book House, he has spent decades championing books that entertain, inform, and spark imagination. David believes the best reading begins in childhood and never really ends.
When not wrangling words or doodling, he’s thinking about the next story, the next idea — or which book to read next.
National Literacy Trust – “Parents urged to read more to boost children’s life chances” (NLT news on the National Year of Reading launch, 07 July
2025)
The Bookseller – “Trade comes together for government backed National Year of Reading” (news article, 06 July 2025 )
The Bookseller (Editor’s Letter by Philip Jones) – “If books be the root of good, read on” (Commentary on the NYR 2026 launch, 11 July 2025)
Department for Education – “Parents urged to read more to boost children’s life chances” (DfE press release, 06 July 2025)
Libraries Connected – “Libraries Connected welcomes plans for National Year of Reading 2026” (24 July 2025)librariesconnected.org.uklibrariesconnected.org.uk.
Bookmark Reading Charity – “Welcoming the National Year of Reading 2026” (07 July 2025) bookmarkreading.orgbookmarkreading.org.
Pan Macmillan (publisher) – “National Year of Reading 2026 brand identity unveiled” (15 Oct 2025) panmacmillan.companmacmillan.com.
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