READ. for Real

26/08/2026

Would you like to join the celebrations?

From 11 November to 12 December, authors and other book creators across Europe can take part by turning their meetings and events into celebrations of creativity, books and Europe’s cultural diversity.

If you’re invited to an event during this period, suggest to the organisers that they join the celebration using the branding – and let us know about it. We’ll be happy to share your event on our social media!

You can also download our materials and share them with the centres organising your events. And why not bring your followers behind the scenes? Share a photo from your event, your desk, your creative process or the things that inspire you. There are no limits to creativity!

Share your posts and tag .forreal so we can discover and celebrate your work.

Let’s bring authors, readers and the many creative voices of Europe together!

Co-funded by Creative Europe

Fundacja Powszechnego Czytania Biblioteka Narodowa Ciclic Фондация Четене / Reading Foundation Bulgaria Federation of European Publishers EURead Stiftung Lesen

24/08/2026

The map is growing! 🌍 Explore the map and discover registered events taking place across Europe – from local libraries and classrooms to businesses and entire cities. Every event matters, no matter its size.

And there’s more to come! Our flagship European Authors Tour, bringing author meetings to 36 countries, will soon be filling the map. Keep an eye out for the upcoming events and discover which international author will be visiting your country – and when.

Want to be part of it? Register your event and put it on the map alongside thousands of others.

This is a celebration we build together. Let’s make it count!
👉 https://www.readforreal.com/registration/

Co-funded by Creative Europe

Fundacja Powszechnego Czytania Biblioteka Narodowa Ciclic Фондация Четене / Reading Foundation Bulgaria Federation of European Publishers EURead Stiftung Lesen

21/08/2026

Books do more than tell stories. They help us understand the world, question what we hear, and develop the critical thinking we need to take part in society.

As Georg Häusler, Director for Culture, Creativity and Sport at the European Commission, reminds us, reading can bring people together and create a shared space across Europe. Yet literacy is facing worrying challenges, making it more important than ever to strengthen a culture of reading and keep the human element of books at its heart.

This is why matters. Through the , professional workshops and international collaboration, the project brings people together around one simple but powerful idea: reading is not only about books. It is about people, connection and the future of Europe.

Because a Europe that reads is a Europe that thinks, connects and participates.

Fundacja Powszechnego Czytania Biblioteka Narodowa Ciclic Фондация Четене / Reading Foundation Bulgaria Federation of European Publishers EURead Stiftung Lesen

Co-funded by Creative Europe

19/08/2026

Planning a event? Register your event and receive a welcome pack with materials designed to support you in organising your celebration and engaging participants.

The pack is available to registered event organisers, so make sure you sign up and start planning your event.

Find your local hub, register your event and get your welcome pack: https://www.readforreal.com/registration/

We look forward to seeing how you bring reading to life in your community. This fall celebrate !

Fundacja Powszechnego Czytania Biblioteka Narodowa Ciclic Фондация Четене / Reading Foundation Bulgaria Federation of European Publishers EURead Stiftung Lesen
Co-funded by Creative Europe

17/08/2026

36 hubs across Europe are joining ! No matter where you are, there is a local organisation ready to support you in bringing events to life.

Our hubs provide printed materials, expert support and guidance in your own language to help you organise your reading activites.

📍 Find your hub and get started:
https://www.readforreal.com/find-your-hub/

Let your hub know that you’re planning a event and remember to share your moments with us by tagging your photos.

Whether it’s a large public event, a library activity, a school initiative or simply reading together in a preschool – every action that brings people and books together matters.

Co-funded by Creative Europe.

15/08/2026

conference is one of the three key pillars of the project, alongside the annual campaign (11.11-12.12) and the international workshops.

The full conference 2026 edition: LfD recording is available to watch 👇

Discover why literacy is essential for democracy, mental wellbeing and thriving societies, and hear from leading international experts discussing topics including AI, early childhood development, education and national literacy initiatives.

Watch the recording and explore ideas that are helping shape the future of reading across Europe.

Fundacja Powszechnego Czytania EURead Фондация Четене / Reading Foundation Bulgaria Biblioteka Narodowa Ciclic EURead Federation of European Publishers Creative Europe

is at the heart of ...

13/08/2026

Ready to organise your own event? It's easy to get started!

1️⃣ Find your national hub.
2️⃣ Register your event.
3️⃣ Receive your Welcome Pack to help you plan your activity.
4️⃣ Get inspired by the fantastic events we shared from last year.
5️⃣ Have fun celebrating the joy of reading!

💡 Looking for ideas? Browse our previous posts and see how schools, libraries and organisations across Europe brought reading to life.

Have you already organised a reading event, or do you have a brilliant idea for one? Share it in the comments – your inspiration could help someone else get started!

This fall celebrate !

Fundacja Powszechnego Czytania Biblioteka Narodowa Ciclic Фондация Четене / Reading Foundation Bulgaria Federation of European Publishers EURead Stiftung Lesen
Co-funded by Creative Europe.

12/08/2026

Happy ! 🎉

Here's something worth celebrating: READING FOR PLEASURE is one of the most powerful, low-key tools a teenager can have.

Not reading because it's assigned. Reading what actually interests them – whether that's fantasy, football biographies, manga, or fanfiction. Learning to read critically. Talking about what they read with friends, not just writing a report on it.

According to the OECD's PISA study "Reading for Change" (2011), whether a teenager enjoys reading – and actually chooses to read – has a bigger impact on their educational success than their socio-economic background. A love of reading doesn't depend on where you're from or how much you have – it just needs the right book, at the right moment, and someone who takes your taste in stories seriously.

On top of that: teenagers who read for pleasure tend to perform better across school subjects – including maths and science.

So, here’s our question for today: What book or author are teenagers in your country obsessed with right now? Or, if you’re a teen yourself, what are you reading that no one assigned you? 👇


Fundacja Powszechnego Czytania Biblioteka Narodowa Ciclic Фондация Четене / Reading Foundation Bulgaria Stiftung Lesen Federation of European Publishers EURead
Creative Europe

09/08/2026

Happy ! 📚

Somewhere right now, someone in Lisbon is turning the last page of a novel. Someone in Warsaw is starting a new one on the train. Someone in Helsinki is re-reading an old favourite for the third time.

Different languages, different stories – but the same quiet joy. That's the whole idea behind : books have a way of connecting people across borders, long before we ever meet.

So tell us – what book are you completely lost in right now? 👇

Drop the title in the comments. Let's build the most European reading list there is.

Co-funded by Creative Europe

08/08/2026

From the very first days of life, talking, sharing stories and reading together help children build their vocabulary and develop language skills.

The vocabulary gap starts earlier than we might think. By the age of 3, children from higher-income families may hear and learn twice as many words as children from lower-income families – and those early language experiences can shape their future learning.

Every conversation counts. Every story matters. Every book shared is an opportunity to discover new words and new worlds.

Let’s make reading together part of every child’s everyday life.

is co-funded by Creative Europe

EURead Fundacja Powszechnego Czytania Stiftung Lesen Biblioteka Narodowa Фондация Четене / Reading Foundation Bulgaria Federation of European Publishers