Chichester goes All In for reading, as city joins 2026 National Year of Reading
Chichester is set to become a leading regional voice in the Government's National Year of Reading 2026 Go All In campaign, with a city-wide programme encouraging people of all ages to reconnect with the joy, power and opportunity of reading.
Chichester's Year of Reading is led by charity Children's BookFest alongside partners Chichester Festival Theatre and Chichester BID. The campaign aims to bring together the work that many organisations already deliver, creating a joined-up programme of activity through 2026 that supports reading for pleasure, storytelling, literacy confidence and community connection.
Activities will include author events at schools, book donations to foodbanks, creative writing competitions, storytelling sessions and a city trail inspired by Chichester Festival Theatres production of The BFG.
A district-wide programme that builds on existing strength
Chichester is already home to an exceptional cultural and educational landscape - a place shaped by centuries of storytelling, creativity and performance. During the National Year of Reading, Childrens BookFest will work with partners to help bring reading to life in new and visible ways - in schools, public spaces, and everyday places where people already gather.
Early plans across the year include:
Chichester Festival Theatre: storytelling on stage and beyond
A major early highlight will be Chichester Festival Theatres production of Roald Dahl's The BFG (9 March 11 April 2026). The Theatre will also explore opportunities across its learning, community and education programme to strengthen childrens reading confidence - including supporting children who are increasingly reluctant to read aloud - and reinforcing the connection between books, scripts and performance.
The Theatre's Festival Fridays programme (supporting Year 5 & 6 pupils who spend one school day each week at the Theatre) will also collaborate with West Sussex County Council Libraries to create a short film in support of the National Year of Reading.
Dale Rooks, Director of Learning, Education and Participation at Chichester Festival Theatre, said: Storytelling is at the heart of all drama. Books and theatre share the priceless and life-enhancing power to take us out of ourselves, spark imagination, and experience other lives and other worlds. Whether through vibrant stage adaptations like The BFG, special projects such as our Festival Fridays programme or our summer storytelling sessions, we wholeheartedly support the National Year of Reading.
Chichester BID: Supporting city centre bookshops and cultural footfall
Chichester BID will help bring the Year of Reading into the heart of the city centre by championing local bookshops and booksellers as well as running a family-friendly, BFG inspired trail taking place over the Easter holidays.
The new Canopy performance space on Crane Street will also host storytelling sessions and events that attract families and visitors into the city centre.
Natasha McLeod, CEO of Chichester BID, said: Our historic city is filled with stories - and we're proud to play a part in the National Year of Reading. With the Festival Theatre on our doorstop as well as the wonderful city centre library and a wide range of diverse and creative businesses, Chichester is well placed to support this important initiative and in doing so we also champion our city's independent bookshops and booksellers.
Children's BookFest: inspiring a lifelong love of reading
Children's BookFest will continue to deliver its twice-yearly festivals in Chichester and Bognor Regis, alongside targeted outreach initiatives that respond directly to the reading crisis this includes work supporting families reached via foodbanks, collaborations with Chichester Cathedral and Pallant House Gallery, and a partnership with Chichester Cinema to tap into peoples passion for film and storytelling.
Penny Tomlinson, Co-Founder of Children's BookFest, said: The conversation around children's literacy has never felt more urgent - or more important. Since 2019, we've worked with teachers to arrange authors, illustrators and poets to come into schools and to personally dedicate a copy of their book, bought by Children's BookFest, for children to take home and treasure, so that every child can experience the joy that reading brings.
Chichester is a district rich in culture, creativity and storytelling, and this initiative is an opportunity to bring partners together and make reading visible everywhere - in schools, in cultural venues, and across the city centre. We're inviting organisations across the community to join us, pledge their support and help ensure that the National Year of Reading creates real, lasting change for local children.
Calling on partners across Chichester to Go All In
Children's BookFest is now inviting organisations across Chichester to join the programme as partners, encouraging them to weave reading into what they already do - whether hosting an official Children's BookFest donation point, offering space for reading activity, or collaborating on events.
Organisations interested in becoming involved can contact Childrens BookFest at: GoAllIn@childrensbookfest.org.
A dedicated campaign page will also provide updates, partner announcements and activity highlights throughout the year - https://www.childrensbookfest.com/national-year-of-reading
The Chichester programme is being supported by local PR agency BrightWord, who will pledge time to help coordinate announcements, amplify activity and encourage participation across the district.