Summer Reading Challenge

Resource type: Projects, programmes and workshops

Price band: Free

Key stage: KS1, KS2

Region(s): All of UK

The Summer Reading Challenge is an annual programme co-ordinated by The Reading Agency that encourages children aged 4–11 to read for pleasure over the summer holidays to help prevent the summer ‘reading dip’. The theme for 2026 is Read to the Beat, harnessing the universal appeal of music to engage and inspire young readers.

Children can take part in the challenge through their local public library or via the dedicated Summer Reading Challenge website, where they can set their personal reading goal, use the Book Sorter to find recommendations from other children, unlock digital rewards, play games and enter competitions.

Supporting resources for the Summer Reading Challenge include:

A School Zone with access to a free Information Pack, poster and other resources to help schools promote the Summer Reading Challenge to pupils and parents.
A themed book collection chosen by experts featuring a mix of picture books, fiction, non-fiction, poetry and graphic novels for readers aged 4–11.
Author videos, games, quizzes and activities.
Videos of creative book-related activities from the British Library’s Discovering Children’s Books playlist.

Timetable:

The Summer Reading Challenge launches on 20 June 2026 in Scotland and 4 July 2026 for libraries in England and Wales.
Finish dates vary, so check with your local library service.

Cost: Free

About The Reading Agency: The Reading Agency is a UK charity that inspires social and personal change through the proven power of reading. The charity works with individuals of all ages, communities and trusted partners to share the transformative benefits of reading for happy, healthy and thriving lives.

Further resources:

Kick-start the Summer Reading Challenge with a high-energy online event for pupils aged 5–7 hosted by the British Library on 10 July 2026. Enjoy readings, performances, and lively sing-alongs from a range of guests, including award-winning performance poet, playwright and children’s author Joseph Coelho.
Build support for holiday reading by running an OU Summer Booknic. Find details of how to set up your Booknic and other supporting resources on the OU RfP website.
Books for Topics has created a Summer Reading Bingo Challenge to help keep primary-aged children reading over the summer. The emphasis of the bingo challenge is on having fun while reading rather than on specific texts but there is also a Summer Recommended Reads booklist to get children started. Download the bingo cards and completion certificates for free from the Books for Topics website.
Invite parents of primary-aged children to sign up for the Reading Rocks Summer Book Boost to receive a weekly email of free book-based fun over the summer holidays. Each email will include an author or illustrator video to watch, an extract of a children’s book to read together, an opportunity to listen to the audio book, plus book recommendations and engaging follow-on activities.
The Children’s Literacy Charity has created a free Family Learning Hub that pulls together practical tips, expert advice and a range of engaging resources to help parents and carers support all aspects of their child’s literacy journey.
Share the LoveMyBooks website with parents and carers. Created by literacy experts, the open-access website combines carefully selected books for pupils aged 0–11 with creative activities designed to help parents and children enjoy sharing books together.
Explore the collection of fun, flexible activities from the National Literacy Trust designed to encourage pupils to read for pleasure and write for enjoyment through the summer. The Summer of Literacy resources cover pupils aged 5–15 and all are free to download with the NLT’s free membership.
The Story Corner is a free 28pp online children’s magazine featuring stories, writing activities and games from reading volunteer charity Bookmark. A useful resource for children aged 5–9 who may find it difficult to access books during the holidays, there are now 15 editions of the magazine available on their website.
Provide pupils aged 3–11 with access to a library of over 200 digital books with the Free Summer Holiday Reads offer from award-winning digital reading platform Pickatale to support the National Year of Reading.
Book review website Toppsta allows children to find book recommendations from their peers and post their own reviews.
Sign up for Calibre Audio’s dedicated school portal to provide children and young people who struggle to access print with free access to a wide range of audio books to support learning and reading for pleasure.