Making history with a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title
An incredible 153,862 people across 92 countries came together to set a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the most people reading online in 12 hours, in a landmark celebration of the joy of reading and its power to support wellbeing. This incredible achievement was supported by some of our ambassadors, including Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Nathanael Lessore, David Larbi, Nadia Shireen, Ben Mercer, Alice Loxton and T.J. Power.
From India to the Cayman Islands, this global reading event brought people together from around the world, as part of the National Literacy Trust’s Take 10 to Read campaign. Delivered in partnership with the British Council. people of all ages joined in and took ten minutes to read around World Mental Health Day.
On 8 October, more than 3,000 schools, organisations and community groups took part, with readers joining online from classrooms, libraries, homes, workplaces and community settings. Dedicated online sessions catered for children from 5-16, as well as adults, with each session featuring a special author or guest alongside 10 minutes of dedicated reading time.
New research from the National Literacy Trust highlights the positive relationship between reading and reported wellbeing among children and young people. Its 2026 Annual Literacy Survey found that 84.9% of those who read daily reported high levels of wellbeing, compared with 71.1% of those who rarely or never read.
We marked the achievement on 4 November at Malmesbury Primary School in south London, where we were joined by Will Munford, Official Adjudicator at Guinness World Records. Author Rashmi Sirdeshpande, who delivered one of the event sessions, was also there to celebrate with children who are record-breakers.
“Reading has the power to bring people together, open up new worlds and support our wellbeing. This record-breaking achievement is a brilliant demonstration of what can be accomplished when we come together around a shared love of reading. This is about more than setting a record – it’s about building a lasting legacy that encourages more people to pick up a book, visit their local library, share their favourite story and experience the joy of reading.”
David Hayman, Director of the National Year of Reading 2026
“What’s so brilliant about this achievement is that it shows the incredible power of people coming together. From classrooms and libraries to homes across the world, 153,862 people in 92 countries each played their part in making history.”
Will Munford, Official Adjudicator at Guinness World Records
“It’s fabulous to see so many people take part in this global reading moment. Reading opens the door to new worlds, ideas and perspectives, helping us to explore different countries and cultures, broaden horizons and build understanding. This achievement shows the power of books and stories in connecting people across borders and build trust between communities.”
Fiona Iglesias, Head of Schools at the British Council
Please see here for the official Guinness World Records announcement.