UK: National Year of Reading

The UK government has made 2026 the National Year of Reading and is using local library listings to steer people toward nearby branches and events. (gov.uk) The campaign was announced by the Department for Education in July 2025 and launched for 2026 with the National Literacy Trust as delivery partner. The government said the year is meant to raise reading for pleasure among children, young people and adults. (gov.uk) In March 2026, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport added up to £150,000 for public libraries in England to support the campaign, with funding aimed at areas “most in need.” The same announcement added a £1,000 prize for each of the five English regional winners of The British Book Awards Library of the Year. (gov.uk) The push follows a long slide in reading enjoyment. In evidence published to Parliament in January 2026, the Department for Education said just 32.7% of children aged 8 to 18 enjoy reading, the lowest level since the National Literacy Trust began tracking it 20 years ago. (committees.parliament.uk) That same parliamentary evidence said the 32.7% figure was down 36% from 2005, with especially sharp falls among primary-age pupils and boys aged 11 to 16. The National Literacy Trust’s 2025 research also found daily reading habits and reading enjoyment were still declining, though at a slower pace than in 2024. (committees.parliament.uk) (literacytrust.org.uk) The campaign’s public message is “Go All In” and its pitch is simple: connect reading to interests people already have, from sport and music to films, baking and science. National Literacy Trust materials describe it as a year-long effort to make reading part of everyday life again. (literacytrust.org.uk) (booktrust.org.uk) Libraries are one of the main delivery points. Councils including the City of London, Doncaster, Worcestershire and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole have published local pages for 2026 events, reading challenges, author talks and children’s activities tied to the campaign. (cityoflondon.gov.uk) (library.doncaster.gov.uk) (worcestershire.gov.uk) (bcpcouncil.gov.uk) The campaign is UK-wide, but some of the direct public funding announced so far is specific to England’s library services. Its backers also extend beyond government, with support listed from Arts Council England, publishers, booksellers, Amazon and Spotify. (literacytrust.org.uk) (goallin.org.uk) The practical piece is part of the strategy: not just telling people to read more, but pointing them to a branch, an opening time, a challenge or an event they can join this week. That is why local library guides have become part of the rollout as 2026 gets underway. (nwemail.co.uk)