World Book Day 2026: All You Need to Know
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Did you know that the world’s first novel is believed to have been written as early as the 11th century? Since then over 158 million more books have been published, and that is probably on the lower end given that it is nearly impossible to know the exact number! Books play a significant role in our lives. So, we had to ask: What is the most important information you need to know about this year’s World Book Day?
👉 Official Name: World Book Day
💚 Cause: To celebrate the privilege of being able to read
📅 Next Date: April 23, 2026
🌐 Event Website: https://www.unesco.org/en/days/world-book-and-copyright
Keep on reading to find out all the important information about World Book Day at a glance, including its big picture, why it’s important, and how you can get involved. We’ll then share its brief history, three interesting facts about it, its future dates, and how you’ll never miss any important awareness event again.
The Most Important Information About World Book Day at a Glance
1️⃣ The big picture: World Book Day was established to celebrate reading and the enjoyment of books. On this day, we recognize the scope of books, specifically how they are a link between past and present and a way to connect generations across different cultures. World Book Day celebrates both books and their authors, as well as encourages creativity, diversity, and equal access to knowledge.
2️⃣ Why it is important: Books not only serve as a source of entertainment, but they also increase our knowledge, creativity, and understanding of the world around us. Being able to read is a privilege that roughly 87% of the world possesses. World Book Day aims to both celebrate this ability and promote literacy in regions of the world where it is lacking.
3️⃣ How you can get involved: There are many ways you can get involved in World Book Day, with the easiest being to pick up a book and start reading! You can also get involved by hosting a book club, supporting local booksellers, joining a library, donating to an organization that supports reading, donating physical copies of books to charities, or by spreading awareness through social media.
Below are our favorite charities that are especially relevant for World Book Day:
- 9 Best Charities That Promote Reading
- 9 Best Charities That Promote Literacy
- 9 Best Charities That Promote Children’s Literacy
- 10 Best Charities to Donate Your Books to
A Brief History of World Book Day
When was this event established: World Book Day was founded on April 23, 1995 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to celebrate reading for enjoyment. Today, several countries (the UK, Ireland, and Sweden) celebrate World Book Day on different dates so as not to interfere with the Easter school holidays and St. George’s Day.
How has it developed since then: Since its establishment, World Book Day has come to encompass so much more than just celebrating the joy of reading. It promotes literacy and education, acknowledges the authors behind the books, and supports local booksellers. It has also become a great opportunity to support various literacy organizations and promote reading by using the hashtag #WorldBookDay.
3 Interesting Facts About World Book Day
- Historical Significance: April 23rd was specifically chosen as World Book Day because it is the anniversary of the death of English playwright William Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, a prominent Spanish chronicler.
- Mental Health Benefits of Reading: Reading has been shown to lower your heart rate, relax your muscles, and even reduce your stress levels. A 2009 study at the University of Sussex found that reading can reduce stress by up to 68%!
- That’s A Lot Of Books: In 2010, Google attempted to count how many books there were in the world. They began with the invention of the printing press in 1440 and counted a total of 129,864,880 books. Today, that number is likely closer to 158.5 million now, because UNESCO estimates that roughly 2.2 million new titles are published every year.
Upcoming Dates of World Book Day
World Book Day is observed every year on April 23.
| Year | Date | Day(s) |
| 2025 | April 23 | Wednesday |
| 2026 | April 23 | Thursday |
| 2027 | April 23 | Friday |
Never Miss an Awareness Event Again
Sources
- Healthline: Benefits of Reading Books – For Your Physical and Mental Health
- Global literacy rate 1976-2022 | Statista
- ISBNDB: How Many Books Are In The World? (2024)
- UNESCO: World Book and Copyright Day
- Impactful Ninja: 9 Best Charities That Promote Reading
- Impactful Ninja: 9 Best Charities That Promote Literacy
- Impactful Ninja: 9 Best Charities That Promote Children’s Literacy
- 10 Impactful Ninja: 10 Best Charities to Donate Your Books to
- Serious Readers: World Book and Copyright Day
- Britannica: William Shakespeare | Plays, Poems, Biography, Quotes, & Facts
- Britannica: Garcilaso de la Vega | Inca Empire, Inca History, Spanish Conquest
- National Alliance on Mental Illness – California: Why Reading is Good for Mental Health
