The National Year of Reading 2026 has brought people together from around the world to set a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the ‘most people reading online in 12 hours’, in a landmark celebration of the joy of reading and its power to support wellbeing.
Delivered by the National Literacy Trust and the British Council, the global reading event took place on Thursday 8 October as part of the National Literacy Trust’s Take 10 to Read campaign in the National Year of Reading, encouraging people of all ages to take 10 minutes to read around World Mental Health Day.
The record-breaking achievement saw:
A total of 153,862 people take part in 12 hours of reading
Participants from 92 countries join the global event, from India to the Cayman Islands
3000+ schools, organisations and community groups take part
Participants joined online from classrooms, libraries, homes, workplaces and community groups, united by a shared celebration of reading during the National Year of Reading. Dedicated online sessions catered for children aged 5–8, 8–12 and 12–16, as well as adults aged 16 and over, with each session featuring a special author or guest alongside 10 minutes of dedicated reading time.
The achievement comes as new research from the National Literacy Trust highlights the positive relationship between reading and reported wellbeing among children and young people. Its 2026 Annual Literacy Survey, based on responses from 52,147 children and young people aged 8–18 across the UK, found that 84.9% of those who read daily reported high levels of wellbeing, compared with 71.1% of those who rarely or never read.
David Hayman, Director of the National Year of Reading 2026, said:
“Reading has the power to bring people together, open up new worlds and support our wellbeing. This record-breaking achievement is a brilliant demonstration of what can be accomplished when we come together around a shared love of reading. We want the National Year of Reading to inspire people of all ages to discover how reading connects with the things they already love, and to make it a part of their everyday lives. This is about more than setting a record – it’s about building a lasting legacy that encourages more people to pick up a book, visit their local library, share their favourite story and experience the joy of reading.”
Fiona Iglesias, Head of Schools at The British Council, said:
“It’s fabulous to see so many people take part in this global reading moment. Reading opens the door to new worlds, ideas and perspectives, helping us to explore different countries and cultures, broaden horizons and build understanding. As an organisation committed to supporting peace and prosperity through cultural relations and educational opportunities, we are delighted to see people from across 92 countries and territories come together through a shared love of reading. This achievement shows the power of books and stories in connecting people across borders and build trust between communities.”
Will Munford, Official Adjudicator at Guinness World Records, said:
“What’s so brilliant about this achievement is that it shows the incredible power of people coming together. From classrooms and libraries to homes across the world, 153,862 people in 92 countries each played their part in making history. At Guinness World Records, we want everyone to feel they can be part of record-breaking, and this is a brilliant example of exactly that. You don’t have to do something extraordinary on your own to achieve something extraordinary together. A huge congratulations to everyone involved. Every single reader helped make this record possible, and that’s something really special.”
The National Year of Reading is the biggest campaign in a generation, designed to inspire everyone to discover the joy of reading and embed it into everyday life. A Department for Education initiative supported by the National Literacy Trust, it is delivered by nine leading literacy sector charities and backed by funders, sponsors and pledge partners.
Through its Go All In campaign, the National Year of Reading encourages people to explore their passions and interests through reading in any format – from music and football to baking, family time and sci-fi. The campaign aims to recruit 100,000 volunteers, get one million more people actively using libraries and encourage millions more to read regularly.
