2026 The National Year of Reading

Posted On 01/01/2026

By Nikki Wordsmith
hello@nikkiwordsmith.com 
WhatsApp: 07905 456704

New Year’s Day is often nice and quiet, so what better day to get down to some delightful reading?

The person who officially set 2026 as the National Year of Reading is the #UK #EducationSecretary #BridgetPhillipson

The announcement was made in July 2025 during a launch event at 10 Downing Street.

It isn’t just a government title; it’s a “society-wide campaign” designed to combat a serious crisis: 2025 saw the lowest levels of #reading enjoyment among UK #children in recorded history — only 1 in 3 kids said they enjoyed it.

Here is who is leading the charge and what they are doing:

1. The Key Players

• The Government: Led by the Department for Education (DfE). They are treating reading as a “social justice issue,” linking literacy to better health and higher future earnings.
• #NationalLiteracyTrust (NLT): The primary delivery partner. Their CEO, Jonathan Douglas, is the one calling for a “reading revolution” to meet readers where they are—”emotionally, culturally, and digitally.”
• The Big Publishers: All major UK houses ( #PenguinRandomHouse #Hachette, #HarperCollins, #PanMacmillan, and #SimonSchuster ) are active funders and promoters.
• High-Profile Partners: The #PremierLeague is involved (using sport to get boys reading), as is The Queen’s Reading Room (Queen Camilla’s book charity).

1. The 2026 Motto: #GOALLIN
   The campaign is running under the slogan “If you’re into it, read into it.” The goal is to stop treating reading as a “school subject” and start treating it as a “plug-in” for your existing hobbies.

• Gaming: Reading lore or strategy guides.
• Sport: Reading player biographies or sports journalism.
• Cooking and Craft: Following complex manuals and recipes.

1. What to expect in 2026

• 72,000 Free Books: The NLT is distributing these to children in the UK’s most disadvantaged areas.
• The #ChildrensBookerPrize A brand new major award launched specifically for 2026 to celebrate fiction for 8–12-year-olds.
• National “DEAR” Days: Schools and workplaces will have “Drop Everything And Read” sessions throughout the year.
• Library Revolution: A push to automatically issue library cards to every newborn baby in the UK.

Fun Fact: Even though the government is driving this for literacy, the #BookTok community has completely hijacked the hashtag to celebrate their own “Golden Age” of #Romantasy and Special Edition collecting, turning a government policy into a viral social trend.

Top Tip: If you little one is struggling to get into reading try #audiobooks the #YouTube read-alongs with subtitles turned on too and #comics and #graphicnovels. My daughter can get through a #BunnyVMonkey by #JamieSmart in under an hour.

#HappyNewYear I hope you and your family have your great expectations for 2026 met with bells on.

Thanks and have a good one,
Nikki Wordsmith

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