In a flurry of fireworks and celebrations, a new year, 2026, has arrived and it has been swiftly claimed as a National Year of Reading. And no, that doesn’t mean we can all call in sick to work to read whenever we want (we checked). So, what does it mean? The National Year of Reading is a UK-wide campaign led by the Department of Education in collaboration with the National Literacy Trust (NLT), which aims to help more people of all ages re-discover the joy of reading.
“In 2026, the National Year of Reading is reconnecting reading with the things that already inspire us – from playlists and football matches to films, food and family time. It’s reading that fits how we live, not the other way around,” explains the ‘Go All In’ campaign.
“Reading expands minds, builds confidence and fuels creativity. Yet with more distractions and less time, reading for pleasure is in decline across many groups.
“The National Year of Reading 2026 is here to change that, by reconnecting reading with everyday culture.
“It’s not about guilt or obligation; it’s about helping people see that stories, ideas and imagination belong everywhere.
“Instead of asking people to “find time to read”, Go All In brings reading to them, through their passions. It’s about showing that reading isn’t a separate world; it’s the heartbeat of culture itself.
“Whatever people are into – sport, music, food, gaming, film, fashion, or creativity – we use it to draw them into reading. By starting with passions, not pressure, we can create a stronger, more connected reading culture across the UK.”
Working with more than 60 partners, Go All In’s National Year of Reading 2026 is supported by charities, publishers, retailers and more across the UK.
Penguin books, for example, will continue to build on their ‘Libraries for Primaries’ and ‘Lit in Colour’ initiatives, which help establish libraries in primary schools, and support secondary schools to teach more books by authors of colour; increasing representation and visibility in children’s reading.
“This is the biggest reading initiative the country has ever seen – and it’s just the beginning. Our ambition is to transform reading for generation.” says David Hayman, Director of National Year of Reading.
You can join the movement from your own home or within your community with free and paid events happening across the country. To find out more head to the Go All In website.
