World Read Aloud Day 2026: All You Need to Know
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World Read Aloud Day is celebrated every year on the first Wednesday of February. It is a global celebration of reading out loud as a tool to build community and champion literacy as a human right. So, we had to ask: What is the most important information you need to know about this year’s World Read Aloud Day?
👉 Official Name: World Read Aloud Day
💚 Cause: Celebrate the power of reading aloud to create community
📅 Next Date: February 4, 2026
🌐 Official Website: https://www.litworld.org/worldreadaloudday
🐦 Hashtag: #WorldReadAloudDay
Keep on reading to find out all the important information about World Read Aloud 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 Read Aloud Day at a Glance
1️⃣ The big picture: World Read Aloud Day is a global movement run by non-profit organization LitWorld, to celebrate literature as a way to build bonds through reading together. It’s also a time to fight for higher literacy rates around the world. Marking World Read Aloud Day can be a great way to encourage a love of literature in the next generation!
2️⃣ Why it is important: While the global literacy rate is 86.81%, there are still 13 countries with a literacy rate of less than 50%. World Read Aloud Day was founded on the belief that stories are the key to creating positive social change, which is not far from the truth. In fact, studies have shown that reading aloud to children has been linked to the development of vocabulary and comprehension, strengthening emotional bonds, and enhancing focus.
3️⃣ How you can get involved: You can celebrate World Read Aloud Day by reading aloud with your loved ones, attending a reading event, or writing a story of your own.
- Read aloud: If you have children or young family members, World Read Aloud Day is a great opportunity to share a story with them and strengthen your emotional bond. If you don’t know what to read first, LitWorld has curated some booklists specifically for those celebrating this awareness day.
- Attend a reading event: LitWorld holds annual World Read Aloud Day events, including read-a-thons, and opportunities to attend author Q&A’s.
- Write a story: A fantastic way to celebrate this event is to write your own story to read aloud. You could do this in collaboration with friends and family, simply as an artistic pursuit, or perhaps you could join a local writing group to develop your craft further!
Below are our favorite charities that are especially relevant for World Read Aloud Day:
A Brief History of World Read Aloud Day
When was this event established: World Read Aloud Day was founded in 2010 by the nonprofit LitWorld. Following a trip to Kibera in Nairobi, LitWorld founder Pam Allyn realized how important the power of stories was to children around the globe. So, she started World Read Aloud Day to make a positive impact on the world.
How has it developed since then: Since its establishment, World Read Aloud Day has been celebrated by millions of people through 170 countries. Every year, it becomes one of the top trending tags on Twitter, with support from celebrities such as Jimmy Fallon and Sarah Jessica Parker.
3 Interesting Facts About World Read Aloud Day
- Reading enjoyment: Only 1 in 3 children say they enjoy reading, and just 1 in 5 say they read every day. These rates are the lowest they have been since 2005.
- A Big Read: Standing at 1.75 meters tall, the largest book in the world is The Klencke Atlas. When you open it, it’s almost two meters wide!
- Benefits of a book: Reading has been linked to longevity, lower blood pressure and stress, and an improvement in memory and focus.
Upcoming Dates of World Read Aloud Day
World Read Aloud Day is observed every year on the first Wednesday of February.
| Year | Date | Day(s) |
| 2025 | February 5 | Wednesday |
| 2026 | February 4 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | February 3 | Wednesday |
Never Miss an Important Awareness Event Again
Sources
- Lit World: World Read Aloud Day
- U.S. Career Institute: Which Countries Have the Highest (and Lowest) Literacy Rates in the World?
- Lit World: Book Lists
- Lit World: Live Events
- Impactful Ninja: 9 Best Charities That Promote Literacy (Complete 2025 List)
- Impactful Ninja: 9 Best Charities That Promote Reading (Complete 2025 List)
- Lit World: Our Story
- Lit World: What is World Read Aloud Day?
- Lit World: World Read Aloud Day on Socials
- National Literacy Trust: Reading
- BBC: 5 page-turning facts about books
- National Library of Medicine: A Chapter a Day – Association of Book Reading with Longevity
- Journal of College Teaching and Learning: Stress Management Strategies For Students: The Immediate Effects Of Yoga, Humor, And Reading On Stress
- National Library of Medicine: Reading activity prevents long-term decline in cognitive function in older people: evidence from a 14-year longitudinal study
