World Book Night 23 April
Join in the celebration
Take part in the Reading Hour
From 7pm to 8pm on 23 April, people across the UK dedicate time to reading. They do this in lots on different ways; reading alone, having a book club meeting, listening to an audiobook, or reading to children at bedtime to make it a family activity. Find out more and join in online using #ReadingHour.
Discover the new Quick Reads
This year, we’re creating a nation of readers with our Quick Reads. Quick Reads are short books and great stories by bestselling authors, written in an accessible and easy to read style. They’re a valuable tool for boosting reading skills, confidence and engagement in learning, and have led to thousands of adults reading, completing and enjoying a book for the first time.
Quick Reads are available to buy from bookshops, borrow from libraries or read as e-books. You can also listen to the 2026 Quick Reads on Spotify, which will be free to stream on 23 April.
You can also find recommendations of all the books we’ve featured on our curated booklists since 2011. Use our book sorter to find your next read across a range of genres.
National Year of Reading
We’re excited to Go All In during the National Year of Reading 2026! This year, we’ll be uniting adults across the UK with reading, by encouraging everyone to join in the #ReadingHour from 7-8pm. Dedicate time to reading alone, having a book club meeting, listening to an audiobook, or reading to children at bedtime.
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.
If you’re into it, read into it.
World Book Night is run by The Reading Agency, a national charity that tackles life’s big challenges through the proven power of reading.
