The Children’s Bookshow is an autumn tour of children’s authors, illustrators, poets and storytellers for primary schools in England. The 2026 tour runs from 24th September to 23rd November.

The main event of The Children’s Bookshow is a live performance by an author or illustrator at one of a selection of theatre venues. Every child that attends a performance receives a free copy of a book by the author that they are going to see. In addition, for every performance there is the chance to be allocated one of four free workshops, where an author or illustrator comes into your school to work with a class of children.

The 2026 Children’s Bookshow is touring 14 theatre venues across England, from Newcastle down to Exeter. This year’s line-up includes Kwame Alexander, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Matt Goodfellow, Michael Rosen, Katherine Rundell, SF Said, Ken Wilson-Max and Kate Wakeling. You can see the full programme here.

Online bookings open on 1st May.

Cost: £7.50 per pupil, accompanying teachers are free.

About The Children’s Bookshow: Founded in 2003, The Children’s Bookshow is a charity that inspires children with a love of reading. The organisation introduces children to world-class authors and illustrators through a programme of theatre events and in-school workshops. The artists selected are chosen from a wide variety of countries and cultures to give young people access to the very best stories, poems and illustrations from all over the world.