The flagship national celebration for World Book Day 2026 will take place at The Reader in Calderstones Park, marking the first time the charity has hosted a large-scale event in one location.
Held on Thursday, 5th March, the event will welcome more than 1,000 children as part of the National Year of Reading, in partnership with World Book Day.
Fiona Hickley, Executive Director of World Book Day, said:
“World Book Day is a joyful and vibrant celebration of reading for fun, and it’s all about inspiring children to see reading differently.
“Events like this show children that reading can be exciting and something to look forward to.
“By taking away pressure and giving children the freedom to choose a book they want to read, we can show them that it is a fun, entertaining and social thing to do, and help them enjoy the life-changing benefits.”
Katie Clark, Director of Literature at The Reader, added:
“We are very excited to be hosting the UK’s biggest ever World Book Day celebration during this National Year of Reading.
“There will be a wide range of free fun activities for children throughout the day, from drop-in storytelling sessions in our magical multi-purpose family space The Storybarn, to crafts and a silent disco opened by the brilliant MC Grammar.
“We believe Shared Reading is needed now more than ever and World Book Day is a great opportunity to celebrate the power of reading, together.”
1,000 Children to Celebrate Reading in Calderstones Park
Each year, millions of children take part in World Book Day by dressing up, joining school activities and using their £1 book token.
In 2026, that tradition will be amplified with a major gathering in Liverpool, bringing together schools and families for an inclusive celebration designed to make reading feel exciting.
The event will feature author and illustrator talks, book signings, creative crafts, competitions and a silent disco.
Children will also have the chance to meet favourite characters, including Bunny vs Monkey, Peppa Pig and a magical unicorn from Unicorn Academy.
World Book Day ambassador MC Grammar will help open the celebrations, alongside a line-up of £1 book authors and illustrators including Jamie Smart, Hannah Gold and Serena Patel, as well as Katie Blackburn, Paddy Donnelly, Matt Oldfield, Sheena Dempsey and Sibéal Pounder.
National Year of Reading Highlights Importance of Reading for Fun
The 2026 celebration carries added significance as part of the National Year of Reading, shining a spotlight on the importance of reading for pleasure at a time when enjoyment levels have fallen nationally.
From 12 February to 15 March 2026, children can exchange their £1 book token for one of 16 exclusive World Book Day titles.
They can also use it as a contribution towards any full-priced book or audiobook at participating retailers, helping remove cost barriers and ensuring more children can get lost in their imagination by having a book of their own.
