Supporting the National Year of Reading 2026

Our early years activity for 2026 – National Year of Reading – is already taking shape and we will keep partners updated as it evolves.

Here we list some highlights from our calendar of early years activity for the National Year of Reading. These connect to BookTrust’s ongoing cycle of programmes and activities to get families reading. 

BookTrust communicates our ambitions for the National Year of Reading across our network of 30,000 delivery partners and community champions during Story Sharer Week 2025, highlighting the important contribution our early years partners will make to the year ahead.

BookTrust celebrates the National Year of Reading launch across our network of delivery partners and community champions. We will share our calendar of early years activity for the year ahead, announcing inspiration, ideas and support for early years partners to run a Summer of Stories in the National Year of Reading.

National Year of Reading: launch of ​‘Share your Story’ for early years partners, supported by Frank Cottrell Boyce, Waterstones Children’s Laureate. Throughout 2026, partners will share examples of Bookstart reading activities in their communities, to connect and inspire their networks. 

BookTrust Storytime Prize announced, celebrating the best book for reading aloud with under 5s in the National Year of Reading. BookTrust will make copies of this book and four other finalists available in 2,700 public libraries for early years families to enjoy through the BookTrust Storytime programme. 

Frank Cottrell-Boyce celebrates Reading Rights and the transformative difference shared reading makes for early years children and families. More details to come. 

Roll out of Bookstart programmes (Baby, Pre-schooler, Toddler and Storytime) with special additions for 2026, to support reading with nearly 600,000 babies and 450,000 early years families during the National Year of Reading. The Children’s Laureate will host a special online event for partners.

National Year of Reading early years webinar and Story Sharer Week 2026, showing how early years partners can use reading to build family relationships, bringing together representatives of our network of early years partners. This will include opportunities for keynote/​other engagement from Government and senior National Year of Reading ambassadors. 

The National Year of Reading 2026 aims to change the nation’s reading culture, both during the Year and beyond. It is a Department for Education initiative, delivered in partnership with major UK reading charities including BookTrust. 

This year’s theme is ​‘Go All In’, which relates to how reading can connect you more deeply with the things you already love.