2026 named a National Year of Reading
The Education Secretary has announced a National Year of Reading for 2026, delivered with the National Literacy Trust.
On 6 July 2025 the Department for Education announced a National Year of Reading, starting in January 2026, with the National Literacy Trust as its delivery partner. The Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, launched the plan with a call for parents to make reading a daily habit.
The department linked the campaign to the Trust's finding that only one in three 8 to 18-year-olds enjoyed reading in their free time in 2025. It said the year would bring together parents, schools, libraries, businesses and literacy experts, and would build on existing spending on reading and writing in primary schools and support for struggling readers in secondary schools.
Ahead of the year, the National Literacy Trust said it would give more than 72,000 new books to children in areas with the highest rates of child poverty during the summer holidays.
Why it matters: a year-long national campaign could create openings for authors, publishers, bookshops and libraries through events, school activity and media interest. Its effect on book buying is not yet known, but small publishers with titles for young or reluctant readers may find it a useful moment to plan around.
Sources: GOV.UK: Parents urged to read more to boost children's life chances; National Literacy Trust: National Year of Reading 2026 announced.