KGL’s Guide to the UK’s National Year of Reading at London Book Fair 2026

Everything you need to know about the campaign, its goals, and the key events to catch at LBF

As the publishing world gathers at the London Book Fair, one conversation will cut through the usual buzz about rights deals, AI, and market trends: how do we get people reading again, and keep them reading?

The UK has decided to tackle the issue head-on. Backed by the Department for Education, the National Year of Reading 2026 is a bold, government-supported response to a worrying reality: reading for pleasure among young people is in decline. Research from the National Literacy Trust shows enjoyment of reading at some of its lowest recorded levels. It’s not just a British problem. In the US, the National Assessment of Educational Progress has reported continued drops in reading proficiency, underlining that this is a transatlantic challenge with long-term consequences for education, wellbeing, and the future reader pipeline.

The UK’s answer is simple but ambitious: make 2026 the year the nation “goes all in” on reading. Connect books to football fans, music lovers, gamers, families, foodies—anyone with a passion. And crucially, bring the entire publishing ecosystem together to do it.

At London Book Fair, that ambition moves from policy into action. The Fair has named the nine charities underpinning the National Year of Reading as its 2026 Charities of the Year: The National Literacy Trust, The Reading Agency, BookTrust, Bookmark Reading Charity, Chapter One, Coram Beanstalk, Fair Education Alliance, The Queen’s Reading Room and World Book Day. They will have a dedicated presence on the show floor, and the theme runs through the seminar program like a clear call to arms.

So, if you’re attending LBF this year, what should you prioritize? Here are KGL’s top National Year of Reading event picks at LBF 2026:

First stop: the strategic overview

On Tuesday morning (10:00–10:45, Main Stage), Tom Weldon, CEO of Penguin Random House UK, outlines the trends shaping publishing and why the National Year of Reading represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to inspire the next generation of readers. Expect big-picture thinking and clear signals about where collaboration and investment will follow.

Then move to the practical realities

“Beyond the Gatekeepers: Reaching New Readers and Communities” (Tuesday, 11:15–11:45, The Salon), curated with the Black British Book Festival, digs into what genuinely works on the ground. This is not theory; it’s lived experience, youth engagement, and inclusive publishing in action. For anyone thinking about discoverability, access, and audience growth, this is essential listening.

Broaden the lens to the bigger picture

At 13:00 (Main Stage), “Reading and Democracy: Coalitions for the Kids”, delivered in partnership with the International Publishers Association, widens the conversation. The session explores the link between literacy, freedom to read, and democratic resilience—a reminder that the stakes extend well beyond sales figures.

Audio, of course, is part of the solution

At 14:00 (Main Stage), Bob Carrigan, CEO of Audible, reflects on 20 years of Audible in the UK and the expanding role of audio storytelling in engaging new and reluctant readers. In a year focused on inclusion and access, format innovation matters.

Turn attention to the grassroots

Later that afternoon (14:45–15:30, Main Stage), “How Libraries and Bookshops Can Fuel a Children’s Reading Revolution,” chaired by Debbie Hicks of The Reading Agency, focuses on community infrastructure—how local spaces, partnerships and on-the-ground collaboration can nurture lifelong readers in a screen-saturated world.

Don’t miss the session focused on lasting impact

On Tuesday (15:45–16:45, The Salon), representatives from the nine National Year of Reading charities come together to discuss how to sustain the campaign’s legacy beyond 2026. For anyone interested in long-term collaboration and measurable outcomes, this is a key conversation.

Mark the moment of industry unity

The National Year of Reading Drinks Reception takes place on Tuesday at 17:00 on the Main Stage, featuring Dame Gail Rebuck, Chair of Penguin Random House UK, David Hayman, Director of the National Year of Reading, and representatives from the nine charities—a symbolic close to day one.

Look ahead to cross-media momentum

On Wednesday morning (10:30–11:15, Main Stage), the Publishers Association hosts “Bookshops to BAFTAs: How Stories Find New Audiences via TV, Film and Streaming,” examining how adaptations can convert viewers into readers and strengthen the wider reading ecosystem.

We’re excited to join the conversations around the National Year of Reading and explore how industry-wide collaborative initiatives like this can strengthen discoverability, accessibility, workflow efficiency, and, ultimately, reader engagement across the markets we serve. At London Book Fair this year, alongside the deals and the data, there’s a bigger question in the air: how do we help make reading part of everyday life again? It’s a conversation worth being part of—because it’s about rebuilding the habit that makes everything else possible: reading.

KnowledgeWorks Global Ltd. (KGL) is the industry leader in editorial, production, online hosting, and transformative services for every stage of the content lifecycle. We will be exhibiting at London Book Fair, March 10-12, 2026 at stand 5C105. For more information or to schedule an appointment to discuss a one-stop content solution for your publishing workflow, visit kwglobal.com/lbf26.