World Book Day 2026: Virtual Events Round-Up 

On Thursday 5^th March it’s World Book Day once more and we’re looking forward to seeing how you all celebrate this important day. Please make sure to encourage your pupils to use their World Book Day book tokens, either towards a book of their choice, or to purchase a £1 book. 

In 2025, The National Literacy Trust found that 1 in 10 children (10.3%) did not own their own book. The report also explored the interplay between book ownership and reading for pleasure, with nearly four times as many children and young people with a book of their own at home saying that they enjoyed reading compared with those without. We know from previous research in 2024, again by the NLT, that for many children, the very first, or only, book they own is the one purchased with their World Book Day token. 

We know that celebrating books and reading every day, including on World Book Day, is crucial for fostering lifelong literacy and much more. The National Literacy Trust’s annual survey has continued to show a decline in reading for pleasure, with only 32.7% of young people enjoying reading in their free time. In 2026, the year of the National Year of Reading, what can we do to ‘Go All In’ and celebrate reading every day so that we can ensure that it remains a source of joy for everyone? World Book Day is just one way to do that. 

One of the ways we can make sure World Book Day has a real impact on reading for pleasure is by using it to introduce children to real authors and illustrators. We’re lucky that there are now so many free virtual events taking place in the days around World Book Day. From live-streamed author talks and virtual storytelling sessions to digital book clubs and creative writing workshops, these events can make reading real to pupils. Below, we’ve rounded up some of the best virtual events happening this World Book Day, ensuring that every child has the chance to connect with stories and experience the magic of books. 

Monday 2nd March   

Available to catch up – KS4 upwards – Authors Live: Margaret McDonald 

10am – KS2 upwards – Celebrate 15 Funny Years of Tom Gates with Liz Pichon 

11am – EYFS upwards – Lovely little ladybirds storytime and draw-along with Catherine Jacob and Lucy Fleming 

12pm – UKS2 upwards – Celebrate 25 years of Mortal Engines with Philip Reeve 

2pm – UKS2 upwards – Meet rising star of children’s fiction – James Fox 

Tuesday 3rd March 

10am – UKS2 upwards – Fantastical middle-grade and Japanese folklore with William Yamaguchi Dobson 

11.30am – EYFS upwards – Once Upon a Remix: Meet Goldilocs! 

2pm – Year 2 upwards – Double the Drama, Double the Fun: Nora Nightsky with Rebecca Lewis-Oakes 

Wednesday 4^th March 

10am – KS2 upwards – Become a Wild Apprentice with conservation expert Sarah Roberts 

11am – EYFS upwards – Squirrel Storytime Fun with Kael Tudor 

2pm – Medusa Gorgon’s Bad Hair Day with Bethany Walker 

Thursday 5^th March  

9.30am – KS2 and Year 7 – World Book Day Quiz – The Great Big Footy & Booky Quiz 2026 

10am – KS1 – Live digital performance with Marta Altés 

10am – EYFS upwards – A super spring story-time and draw-along for The Flower Thief 

10.30am – KS3 upwards – Virtual School Visit with Nathanael Lessore 

11am – UKS2 upwards – Solve a mystery at the Ivy Hotel with Emily Hourican! 

11am – KS2 – BBC Live Lesson

11am – Global Food Stories with Michael Rosen

12pm – KS2 upwards – How Books are Made: How your favourite stories reach your shelves

1.15pm – Pobble 365 Live on World Book Day 2026!

1.30pm – KS2 – Live online Q&A with poet Kwame Alexander 

2pm – UKS2 upwards – *World Exclusive* Introducing Bone Head, a new Graphic Novel by Jamie Gregory 

Friday 6^th March 

10am – Year 2 upwards – A slug-tastic time with the creator of Beastie Bros 

10am – KS2 – Virtual Visit: Katy Hessel, author of The Story of Art Without Men 

11am – EYFS upwards – The Velveteen Rabbit with David Litchfield – Story time and draw-along 

2pm – UKS2 upwards – Laughter, games and reading for pleasure with Stephen Mangan and Anita Mangan 

Friday 13^th March 

10 am – KS2 – Virtual Visit: Sharna Jackson, author of The Street Art Mystery 

Friday 20^th March 

1.30pm – KS2 upwards – Virtual Visit: Robin Stevens, author of Murder Most Unladylike and The Ministry of Unladylike Activity 

Wednesday 25^th March 

10.30am – KS2 – Virtual School Visit with Sangu Mandanna 

Thursday 26^th March 

10am – KS2 – Virtual Visit: Rebecca Orwin, author of The Monsters at the End of the World

We hope you find an event that will enthuse and engage your pupils with reading this World Book Day. However you decide to celebrate, please use it as a catalyst to prioritise reading every day of the year.  

The One Education Reading Award can support you to do just that. As we celebrate our 10 year anniversary, find out more about becoming a Reading Award school and the impact it can have on your provision and pupils here. 

For more information please contact our Literacy Team Leader, Laura Buczko via Laura.Buczko@oneeducation.co.uk