Guide to Celebrating the National Year of Reading 2026

The National Year of Reading 2026 (NYR 2026) is an exciting initiative aimed at encouraging children across the UK to develop a love of reading. It meets children where they are in their reading journeys and helps them grow into skilled, confident, motivated readers who read because they want to.

For schools, it’s a perfect opportunity to inspire students to explore stories that reflect their interests, experiences, and emotions — helping them discover the joy of reading for pleasure, wellbeing, and connection. By offering engaging book collections, inclusive and accessible texts, themed activities, and dedicated time to read and discuss books, schools can nurture confident readers and foster a lasting love of reading in their communities.

Does your library encourage children to Go All In? Ask yourself: does it offer enough books, across a variety of reading levels and genres, to entice every reader to browse, discover, and connect with stories that speak to them? A library that sparks curiosity and reflects every child’s interests helps them uncover new favourites and truly immerse themselves in reading.

Discounted and bargain books can help schools stretch their budgets, reach more readers, and make an even greater impact when refreshing classroom and library collections. Browse the categories below to find books that boost fun, diversity, and inclusivity — supporting every child to feel seen and connected as they celebrate the National Year of Reading.

·        Discounted Reading Books for Primary Schools

·        Great Value Collections for Secondary Schools

Read on to discover more about the campaign and how your school can get involved.

What is the National Year of Reading and Why is it Important?

Although reading opens up worlds, expands minds, and inspires creativity, fewer people than ever are making time for it. The NYR2026 is a nationwide campaign promoting reading among children and adults. For schools, the initiative focuses on:

• Encouraging discussion about books in ways that meet children where they are, building confidence and inspiring reading for pleasure, wellbeing, and creativity — rather than focusing solely on academic achievement.
• Providing access to a wide range of books that inspire new readers and position reading as a rewarding and relevant activity for today’s young people.
• Helping students build confidence and connections through reading, fostering habits that extend beyond the classroom and last a lifetime.

Research shows that children who read for enjoyment are likely to perform better academically and develop strong critical thinking skills. By participating in this initiative, schools help nurture confident, enthusiastic readers and support children in reaching their full potential.

The NYR2026, a Department for Education initiative, will be the third celebration following campaigns in 1998 and 2008. Unlike before, it arrives in an era of smartphones, streaming, and AI — bringing both new challenges and exciting opportunities.

Watch these official videos to find out more about how to make the most of the National Year of Reading 2026.

How Can Schools Celebrate the National Year of Reading?

Schools sit at the heart of bringing the campaign to life. Here are ways to make reading fun and accessible for all students:

• Embed Reading into Everyday School Life
  Plan launch events and “Go All In Together” moments to spark excitement for books. Use the campaign’s termly resources, classroom ideas and webinars tailored to Early Years, Primary, and Secondary students. Foster a whole-school culture where reading is visible and valued, through displays, reading times, themed events, and collaboration with families and community partners.
• Reading Weeks and Themed Days
  Organise “Reading Weeks” around themes such as adventure, science fiction, or multicultural tales. Participate in national events such as National Storytelling Week, World Book Day and the Summer Reading Challenge.
• Author Visits and Online Talks
  Invite authors to speak to students about their books and writing processes. You could also explore virtual author talks and video resources through Authorfy, which provides recorded author masterclasses and writing workshops for schools. Authorfy is available for free this year as part of NYR2026, making it a great opportunity to access high-quality author input at no cost.
• Reading Challenges and Competitions
  Track Accelerated Reader reading points, complete book logs, or host quizzes. Sign up for the Go All In Participation Award to celebrate your school’s creative reading initiatives.
• Book Fairs and Swap Days
  Offer discounted books, bargain finds, or clearance copies.
• Updating Libraries
  Audit your library, remove outdated or worn copies, and add new books to spark interest. Fill genre gaps, replace favourites, and introduce titles that reflect students’ interests. Children are motivated when reading connects to who they are. Stretch your budget further with resources from School Bargain Bookshop.

These activities not only encourage reading for pleasure but also engage students with diverse book collections. Teachers can sign up for regular updates from the National Year of Reading team and follow the campaign on Instagram.

Choosing the Right Books for Your School

• Book Collections and Themes
  Ensure your library balances high-interest fiction and engaging non-fiction for all ages. Explore discounted, curated collections to fill gaps and enhance your reading offer:

-            Primary School Books: Library & Reading Books | Non-Fiction

-            Secondary School Books: Library Collections | Non-Fiction

• Books for Different Reading Levels
  Use book bands, Accelerated Reader (AR) levels, or age-appropriate selections to match books to students’ abilities. Simply click on the category link, use the filters to search by key stage, age, book band level or Accelerated Reader level, and save time with our pre-curated collections:

-            Accelerated Reader for Primary Schools

-            Book Bands

-            Library & Reading Books for Primary Schools

-            Reluctant or Struggling Readers (Primary)

-            Accelerated Reader for Secondary Schools

-            Library Collections for Secondary Schools

-            Reluctant or Struggling Readers (Secondary)

• Using Accelerated Reader (AR)
  Use AR to motivate and track reading:

-            Students take quizzes to earn points.

-            Teachers recommend AR books suitable for struggling or advanced readers.

-            AR can be integrated into competitions or reading marathons.

• Sourcing Books Affordably
  Budget-friendly options help expand libraries:

-            Discounts up to 80% off RRPs with School Bargain Bookshop.

-            Bulk book bundles and themed packs. Browse all Primary Book Bundles and Secondary Book Collections.

-            Free UK delivery on orders over £50.

• Promoting Diversity and Inclusion
  Prioritise diverse and inclusive books so all students see themselves reflected in their reading:

-            Include books representing different cultures, languages, abilities, and experiences.

-            Select texts that promote empathy, understanding, and global awareness.

By prioritising inclusivity, schools create a welcoming environment where every child feels represented and inspired to read.

Engaging Students in Reading for Pleasure

Fostering a love of reading requires variety, creativity, and choice. When students feel ownership over what and how they read, engagement naturally increases.

• Reading Corners and Cosy Spaces — Create inviting, comfortable areas with soft seating, good lighting, and a regularly refreshed selection of books to make reading feel special and relaxing.
• Paired or Group Reading — Encourage students to read together and talk about stories, characters, and themes, helping to build confidence, comprehension, and social connection.
• Reading Challenges — Introduce optional challenges with small incentives such as bookmarks, certificates, house points, or public recognition to celebrate progress and participation.
• Themed Book Collections — Curate displays around topics, seasons, events, hobbies, or popular trends to spark curiosity and help students discover new interests.
• Student Choice and Voice — Involve students in selecting new books, recommending titles to peers, or creating mini book reviews to display.

The goal is to make reading enjoyable, voluntary, and rewarding — building positive associations that support confidence, curiosity, and lifelong reading habits.

Using School Libraries to Support the Initiative

School libraries are central to celebrating reading:

• Highlight books, authors, or genres with displays for the campaign.
• Organise themed collections to simplify selection.
• Recommend “next reads” based on students’ interests, such as hobbies, favourite authors, or TV series.

School libraries play a vital role in creating a culture of reading and can act as the hub of any reading-for-pleasure campaign. With thoughtful curation and promotion, they can inspire curiosity, confidence, and discovery.

• Displays — Highlight specific books, authors, genres, or themes linked to the initiative through eye-catching displays, posters, and student recommendations. Rotating displays regularly keeps interest high.
• Themed Collections — Curate clearly labelled collections (e.g. sport, mystery, graphic novels, real-life stories, “quick reads”) to make browsing easier and help students quickly find books that appeal to them.
• Personalised Recommendations — Offer “If you liked this, try…” suggestions based on students’ hobbies, favourite authors, films, TV series, or games. This helps bridge the gap between existing interests and new reading choices.
• Student Librarians or Reading Ambassadors — Involve pupils in creating displays, writing book review labels, or recommending books to peers, giving them ownership and visibility.
• Accessible Formats — Ensure a range of formats are available, including hi-lo titles, graphic novels, audiobooks, and short reads, so all students can find something that feels achievable and engaging.

By making the library dynamic, welcoming, and responsive to students’ interests, schools can position it as a vibrant space where reading is celebrated and discovery is encouraged.

Explore our Library Books for Primary to uncover a rich selection of graphic novels, picture books, poetry, non-fiction, and much more. In our carefully curated Library Collections for Secondary, you’ll discover everything from gripping dystopian fiction to heart-warming stories that inspire, challenge, and captivate readers. Ensure your collection supports every learner by engaging Reluctant or Struggling Readers in primary, and by offering Hi-Lo Resources for KS3 & KS4, making reading accessible, inclusive, and enjoyable for all.

Conclusion

The National Year of Reading 2026 offers schools a perfect opportunity to inspire children, promote literacy, and cultivate lifelong reading habits. By combining affordable book sourcing, diverse collections, and engaging activities, schools can make reading exciting and accessible for all students.

Start planning now to transform your school into a vibrant hub of stories, learning, and imagination — helping students discover the joy of reading for pleasure.

Where can schools find out more?

•    Go All In – National Year of Reading site
•    National Literacy Trust updates
•    The Reading Agency: National Year of Reading 2026

Want to know more about how to boost reading progress and engagement? Read our Guide to Supporting Struggling and Reluctant Readers next.