About

A national movement to get everyone reading

The National Year of Reading 2026 is a UK-wide campaign designed to help more people rediscover the joy of reading.

Watch our new advert below…

Find out more about our national, multi-platform advertising campaign

Our partners

A Department for Education initiative. Supported by more than 60 passionate partners.

The National Year of Reading is being delivered by a group of literacy sector charities, and supported by Funders, Sponsors and Pledge Partners.

Why now?

We all know the benefits of reading, but fewer of us are doing it

Reading expands minds, builds confidence and fuels creativity. Yet with more distractions and less time, reading for pleasure is in decline across many groups.

The National Year of Reading 2026 is here to change that, by reconnecting reading with everyday culture.

It’s not about guilt or obligation; it’s about helping people see that stories, ideas and imagination belong everywhere.

Two children reading together with “Go All In” campaign text overlaid

The approach

Bringing reading to culture, not the other way round

Instead of asking people to “find time to read”, Go All In brings reading to them, through their passions. It’s about showing that reading isn’t a separate world; it’s the heartbeat of culture itself.

Whatever people are into – sport, music, food, gaming, film, fashion, or creativity – we use it to draw them into reading. By starting with passions, not pressure, we can create a stronger, more connected reading culture across the UK.

Whatever you’re into, get ready to Go All In

Impact

Building a legacy that 
lasts beyond 2026

Cultural shifts take time, which is why we’re setting clear goals to guide our work. Inspiring more people to read, visit libraries, connect through stories and develop a life long love of reading, in all its forms.

  • Adult volunteer sitting at a table and reading with a child in a learning setting next to the figure one hundred thousand

    One hundred thousand active and motivated volunteers

  • Campaign graphic with the words “One million” and “Go All In” on bold geometric bookmark shapes

    One million more people actively using libraries

  • Adult and young child reading a book together, with the word “millions” displayed

    And millions more reading regularly for pleasure

“This is the biggest reading initiative the country has ever seen – and it’s just the beginning. Our ambition is to transform reading for generations”

David Hayman
Director
National Year of Reading

Ambassadors

Hear from some of our campaign ambassadors

  • Leah Williamson

  • Dermot O'Leary

  • David Larbi

  • Fearne Cotton

  • Alexander Armstrong

  • George Lewis

  • Lola Jaye

  • Oliver Jeffers

  • Jack Edwards

  • Peter James

Event Calendar

A busy year of reading events

The National Year of Reading 2026 will come to life through a diverse calendar of activity. Each moment is designed to bring people together, spark imagination and make reading a part of everyday life across the UK.

Frequently Asked Questions

Got questions? 
We’ve got answers

You’ll find helpful answers to the common questions people ask about the National Year of Reading. It’s a great place to begin if you want to understand the campaign in more detail.

Campaign bunting displayed on bookshelves with “Go All In” and National Year of Reading logos

News

Latest news

Keep up-to-date with the latest news and announcements from across the National Year of Reading 2026

  • 24 March 2026

    New advertising campaign encourages the nation to Go All In

  • 2 February 2026

    The National Year of Reading launches in Northern Ireland at Stormont

  • 19 January 2026

    Her Majesty the Queen and Dennis the Menace launch the National Year of Reading in Scotland

Press & Media

Helping you cover
the National Year of Reading

Need the latest updates, campaign assets or a press contact? Our Press & Media page brings everything together to help you cover the National Year of Reading 2026.

Follow & share

Flood the feed
with reading

Instagram takeover mock-up for the National Year of Reading campaign launch

A powerful platform

“Go All In captures exactly the kind of energy and optimism we need to transform how the nation sees reading.”

Jonathan Douglas
Chief Executive of the National Literacy Trust