National Year of Reading launches under the banner Go All In
The Department for Education and the National Literacy Trust have launched the National Year of Reading, with the campaign line Go All In.
The National Year of Reading was formally launched on 13 January 2026 by the Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium. The campaign is run by the Department for Education with the National Literacy Trust.
Its theme, Go All In, asks people to read about the things they already care about, from football and music to food and family life, in any format, whether novels, ebooks, comics, blogs or audiobooks. The government pointed to the Trust's 2025 data: 25% of boys aged 8 to 18 said they enjoyed reading, compared with 39% of girls.
Ambassadors include the footballer Leah Williamson and the authors Cressida Cowell, Michael Morpurgo, Julia Donaldson and Richard Osman. The Premier League is among the supporters, and families are being asked to read together for ten minutes a day.
Why it matters: the campaign's broad definition of reading, including audio and comics, reflects how many readers now come to books. Throughout 2026 there should be events and partnerships through schools, libraries and bookshops, and publishers and authors may wish to consider how their titles fit the campaign's themes.
Sources: GOV.UK: Premier League and literary greats back National Year of Reading; National Literacy Trust: National Year of Reading 2026.