Welcoming The National Year of Reading 2026

We’re delighted to welcome the announcement of the National Year of Reading 2026, launched by the Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and the Department for Education.

This comes at a crucial time: reading for pleasure is at it’s lowest in years and too many children are still leaving primary school unable to read well. That’s why this campaign matters so much to us – and to the thousands of children we support every year. 

We’re excited by the prospect of reading being at the centre of the national conversation. Reading not only shapes a child’s educational journey and future career prospects – it also has a profound impact on their mental wellbeing, building confidence, self-esteem, and a sense of connection to the world around them.

Yet right now, too many children – especially those from disadvantaged communities – are being left behind.

That’s why we’re proud to support this campaign and help shift the nation’s reading culture for good. 

The National Year of Reading 2026 plans to:

• Encourage reading for pleasure
• Bring together communities and national partners
• Reimagine reading for today’s world
• Inspire new readers of all ages
• Help businesses and workplaces champion reading

She shared: ​“It was a huge honour to be invited to 10 Downing Street to represent Bookmark. We need to break the cycle of 7.1 million adults struggling to read, and can only do this if we all work together. Bookmark looks forward to supporting the Department for Education and National Literacy Trust with their National Year of Reading campaign.”

While plans are still being shaped, we’re encouraged by the commitment to creating lasting change and tackling the cycle of illiteracy in the UK.

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