'Go All In' Season and the National Year of Reading

 

2026 is the National Year of Reading - a UK-wide campaign designed to help more people rediscover the joy of reading. It's a much needed and vital campaign given the decline in reading for pleasure across all ages and so we are - needless to say - proud to be involved in championing it. 

At the heart of the campaign is the message to 'Go All In'. Whatever your interests, reading can help you dive in even deeper, to build connections, and to maybe even discover new passions.

Bookshops are perfectly placed to help you 'Go All In' because they're spaces where anybody can explore anything. Want to learn woodwork? Start fermenting for better gut health? Learn more about your sporting heroes? Whatever you're into, ask a bookseller and they can help you read into it more. 

What's more, bookshops - like Kibworth Books - are welcoming, inclusive and human spaces, built upon values of connection, community and empathy. We're here for all readers - avid, reluctant or just slightly relapsed. 

Here at Kibworth Books our plans for the National Year of Reading include a formal re-launch of our reimagined Children’s Room in April and a year-long series of events showcasing hobbies and past times such as sketching, sewing, gardening, sport, cooking, wine-tasting, creative writing and letter-writing.

In Debbie's words, 

“We want to open our doors even wider to our community, to include anyone who wouldn’t traditionally consider a bookshop a space for them. So as well as hosting our traditional author talks, this series of events is a chance for folks to lean into an existing or new interest and the ticket price includes a copy of a book related to that interest, underpinning the NYR’s messaging of ‘If you’re into, read into it’.”

You'll find full details of our 'Go All In' season of events over on our events page at Events – Kibworth Books. Alternatively, click on the links below to find out more about individual events. Each event invites you to become part of our 'squad' in the hope that you'll meet new like-minded people and maybe even make new friends. 

We hope you'll join us this year and Go All In on your passions. We'd love to be part of your story and help deepen your love of reading in 2026 and beyond. 

GO ALL IN Season: 

Sketch Squad - for aspiring and established artists
Sewing Squad - for arts and crafts lovers
Seed Squad - for young nature lovers
Sports Squad - for sports fans 
Scribe Squad - for letter writers 
Squiffy Squad - for fans of a tipple! 
Story Squad - for aspiring writers 
Sardinian Squad - for foodies 

Plus bi-monthly Storytime sessions, Junior Book Club and a special National Year of Reading event for educators!