World Book Day events

Cities from Hanoi to Lagos to London are marking World Book Day this week with public events built around reading in person. (unesco.org) In Hanoi, Book Street is running a seven-day program from April 21 to April 27 for Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day 2026. Organizers said 14 publishing and distribution units will operate 15 booths with author exchanges, book launches and sales promotions. (en.vietnamplus.vn) Vietnam’s national observance began on April 18 at the National Library in Hanoi under the theme “The Stream of Knowledge – From the Pages of Books to the Digital Space,” according to coverage of the ministry-backed program. April 21 is observed annually as Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day. (vietnamstar.net) In Nigeria, the Committee for Relevant Art and the Nigerian Copyright Commission are staging World Book and Copyright Day 2026 events around a “Read for Pleasure” campaign. The Lagos Review said the program is aimed at children and young readers and pushes reading beyond textbooks toward stories that “entertain, inspire and transform.” (thelagosreview.ng) That Nigerian program ties reading promotion directly to copyright enforcement, a pairing built into UNESCO’s April 23 observance. UNESCO says the annual day is meant to celebrate books and authors while also recognizing copyright, and Rabat is the designated World Book Capital for 2026. (unesco.org) London’s North London Book Festival opens at Alexandra Palace on April 23 and runs through April 26. Alexandra Palace says the four-day event will feature readings, panel discussions, question-and-answer sessions, workshops and book signings across multiple stages. (alexandrapalace.com) Shortlist reported the Alexandra Palace lineup includes Alan Hollinghurst, Tessa Hadley, Natalie Haynes and Michael Rosen, who is marking his 80th birthday with readings and performances. A separate local listing said the festival is returning to the palace’s Grade II-listed East Wing for its second year. (shortlist.com) (times-series.co.uk) The common thread is physical attendance: Hanoi’s Book Street stalls, Lagos reading events and Alexandra Palace’s live stages all center on gathering readers in shared spaces. UNESCO describes World Book and Copyright Day as a global observance used by cities and institutions to promote books “for all age groups and across all of society.” (unesco.org) This year’s calendar puts several of those events directly around April 23, the date UNESCO recognizes for World Book and Copyright Day. The week’s programs turn that single date into a longer public push for reading, book-buying and author events. (unesco.org)