Milton Keynes recognises the people who make reading a pleasure
The 2026 Reading for Pleasure Awards from HarperCollins, The Open University and UKLA were announced on 17 October.
Books are not the only things worth celebrating: the work of building reading communities matters too. The 2026 Reading for Pleasure Awards were announced on 17 October at The Open University’s conference in Milton Keynes. Run by HarperCollins with the university and the UK Literacy Association, the awards recognise teachers, schools, librarians and organisations that make reading for enjoyment part of everyday life.
As Books for Keeps reports, the awards highlight projects offering young readers meaningful choices and sustained opportunities to encounter books. The Bookseller independently confirms the announcement. The conference draws attention to less visible cultural work: rather than prescribing one title for everyone, creating conditions in which each reader can find a story and want to continue.