The Literacy Trust and Department for Education are getting ready to celebrate the National Year of Reading in 2026.
The National Year of Reading 2026 is set to be a nationwide celebration of reading for pleasure.
Schools, families, libraries, publishers and communities are being invited to join the movement and help make reading joyful and relevant again. There will be activities throughout 2026, with resources and events to support people of all ages to explore reading in ways that connect with their interests and passions.
Getting young people reading
The campaign’s tagline is “Go all in” and is a response to the downward trend in reading engagement, especially in children and young people, with recent research showing a sharp decline in the enjoyment people get from books. Many see reading as slow or simply academic, rather than as something fun, social and relevant to their lives.
The new “Go all in” initiative aims to reverse these trends by linking reading to the things people already love — music, sport, family, fashion and more — and saying: “If you’re into it, read into it!”
A national project
National Literacy Trust’s Chief Executive, Jonathan Douglas, says :
“‘Go all in’ captures exactly the kind of energy and optimism we need to transform how the nation sees reading. This is about making reading feel relevant, exciting and rewarding right now, not just in the future. We’re proud to be working with the Department for Education and partners across the UK to spark a movement that puts reading back at the heart of our culture.”
Director of the National Year of Reading, David Hayman, will focus on building partnerships and public engagement that reflect modern reading culture. He notes that reading is “one of the most powerful tools we have to connect, create and grow,” and the campaign aims to reimagine it as something modern, meaningful and social.
Bring on the books, we say!
References
- Parents urged to read more to boost children’s life chances. Available at: https://literacytrust.org.uk/news/parents-urged-to-read-more-to-boost-childrens-life-chances/ (Accessed 16 December 2025)
- The National Literacy Trust and Department for Education unveil “Go All In” brand identity for the National Year of Reading 2026. Available at: https://literacytrust.org.uk/news/the-national-literacy-trust-and-department-for-education-unveil-go-all-in-brand-identity-for-the-national-year-of-reading-2026/ (Accessed 16 December 2025)
