National Year Of Reading 2026

A Write Highland Hoolie is proud to be supporting the National Year of Reading 2026, a fantastic UK Government initiative that aims to promote the benefits of reading for pleasure. It celebrates reading in all its many forms, from novels to comics, audio books, song lyrics and more, and encourages people to read about their passions and interests.

Reading for pleasure is consistently linked to positive educational, social and economic outcomes, yet in Scotland, only one in three children and young people say they enjoy reading in their free time. Just one in six read daily, and the decline is sharpest among boys, teenagers and low-income families.

This matters, because adults with the lowest literacy levels are five times more likely to be unemployed, and 43% of adults are lacking the literacy skills to understand everyday health information. Getting into the habit of reading for pleasure can improve life chances and reduce inequalities. It also helps people of all ages feel socially connected, build empathy and improve mental wellbeing.

The Go All In campaign from the National Literacy Trust is determined to make reading relevant again, and it’s an aim that everyone at A Write Highland Hoolie fully supports.

In 2026, our tenth anniversary year, we’ll Go All In to ensure that children and young people in Mallaig and the surrounding area have more opportunities than ever to discover the joys of reading. We’re preparing a packed programme of competitions and author-led events and workshops in local schools in the days leading up to the Hoolie, culminating in our Grand Finale prize-giving tea party which will close the festival weekend in style.

Our children’s events are free to attend and participate in, and we are very grateful to all the generous donors and benefactors who make this possible. We couldn’t do any of it without them.

We’re not forgetting the adults, either! Over the weekend of November 6-8, our fabulous authors and musicians will Go All In to entertain our audiences in the West Highland Hotel, Mallaig, as we all gather together once more to share our love of books, music and Scottish culture with friends old and new.

Tickets will go on sale this summer, so follow us on Facebook or sign up to our mailing list at www.a-write-highland-hoolie.com to keep up to date with all the latest news.