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World Book Day 2026 takes place on Thursday 5 March 2026, and for schools it remains one of the most powerful opportunities of the year to promote reading for pleasure. This is especially important at a time when only about one in three children and young people aged 8 to 18 say they enjoy reading in their free time and only one in five read something daily outside school, the lowest levels recorded since tracking began in 2005.
With free classroom resources, national live events, author content and the £1 book token scheme, World Book Day 2026 offers a practical way to re-engage pupils with books. For many children, the World Book Day book they choose is the first book they have ever owned, making the day about far more than dressing up. It is about helping pupils see reading as something enjoyable, social and part of everyday life.
This guide brings together everything teachers need to know, from classroom activities and assemblies to live events and year-round reading ideas, so you can plan with confidence and choose an approach that works for your pupils.
What is World Book Day 2026 about?
World Book Day 2026 continues to focus on reading for pleasure rather than a fixed theme. Schools are encouraged to give children choice, time and space to enjoy books they genuinely want to read.
World Book Day 2026 also aligns with the National Year of Reading 2026, a UK wide campaign encouraging children and families to build reading habits that last beyond the classroom. This means there is a stronger emphasis this year on activities that can be revisited throughout the year, not just on one day in March.
Key dates for World Book Day 2026
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World Book Day: Thursday 5 March 2026
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£1 book token redemption period: 12 February to 15 March 2026
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Live national events take place on World Book Day itself
Free classroom resources for World Book Day 2026
World Book Day provides a wide range of free teaching resources suitable for EYFS, KS1, KS2 and secondary settings.
Assemblies and planning tools
Teachers can download ready to use assembly PowerPoints, including:
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Primary assembly for ages 5 to 11
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Secondary assembly for ages 11 plus
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Staff briefing and planning documents
These assemblies focus on reading for pleasure, wellbeing and giving pupils a voice about the books they enjoy.
Resources available at:
https://www.worldbookday.com/educators/
Lesson packs and classroom activities
Many World Book Day 2026 resources are linked to the official £1 books and include:
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Reading comprehension tasks
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Creative writing prompts
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Cross curricular activities
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Art and discussion based lessons
Examples include activity packs linked to books such as Bear Rescue, Against All Odds and Bunny vs Monkey.
All activity packs can be found here:
https://www.worldbookday.com/educators/resources/
Live events teachers can join on World Book Day 2026
World Book Day 2026 includes several national live events that schools can join together.
BBC World Book Day live lesson
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Time: 11:00am on 5 March 2026
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Suitable for primary pupils
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Includes interactive activities, storytelling and book chat
Details available via BBC Bitesize.
The Great Big Footy and Booky Quiz
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Time: 9:30am on 5 March 2026
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For pupils aged 8 to 12
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Combines football and book trivia
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Created with the National Literacy Trust and Premier League Primary Stars
More information and registration via National Literacy Trust.
Pobble World Book Day writing lesson
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Live creative writing session
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Ideal for primary classes
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Focuses on imagination and storytelling
Details available via Pobble Education.
£1 Book tokens and the 2026 book selection
A key part of World Book Day 2026 is the £1 book token, which every child in registered schools receives. The aim is to give pupils the chance to choose and own a book for themselves, helping to remove barriers to reading and encourage enjoyment.
Pupils can use their token in two ways. They can exchange it for one of the official £1 World Book Day books, or use it as a £1 discount on any book or audiobook at participating retailers. This flexibility allows children to select something that genuinely interests them.
The 2026 £1 book selection includes 16 titles covering early years, KS1 and KS2. The range includes fiction and non fiction, graphic novels, adventure stories and factual reads, ensuring there is something to appeal to different reading preferences. Many titles are also available in accessible formats such as audio, braille and large print.
Teachers may choose to explore the book options together in class or encourage pupils to talk about which books they would like to choose and why. The focus is on choice, ownership and reading for pleasure.
Full book list:
https://www.worldbookday.com/books/
Tokens and FAQs:
https://www.worldbookday.com/books-and-tokens/
Using World Book Day 2026 beyond one day
World Book Day is most effective when it supports a wider reading for pleasure approach rather than standing alone. Many schools use the day as a starting point to build reading habits that continue throughout the year.
In the classroom, this could include refreshing reading corners, creating book recommendation displays or giving pupils regular time to talk about the books they enjoy. Activities such as drop everything and read sessions, class book clubs or reading buddies help reading feel social and enjoyable rather than task focused.
World Book Day also provides free audiobooks and video stories that can be used well beyond March. These resources work well for whole class story time, independent listening or supporting pupils who benefit from hearing stories read aloud.
Free audio and video stories:
https://www.worldbookday.com/world-of-stories/
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
When is World Book Day 2026?
World Book Day 2026 takes place on Thursday 5 March 2026.
Do schools have to do dressing up?
No. Dressing up is optional. World Book Day encourages inclusive, low cost alternatives focused on reading for pleasure.
Are World Book Day resources free?
Yes. All official World Book Day classroom resources, assemblies and activity packs are free to download.
How do pupils use the £1 book token?
Pupils can exchange the token for a free £1 book or use it as a £1 discount on any book or audiobook at participating retailers.
Can World Book Day be used across the year?
Yes. Many schools use World Book Day as a launch point for reading challenges, book clubs and wider reading for pleasure strategies throughout the year.
