Right to Read

Right to Read is our programme of events in the North East to celebrate the National Year of Reading in 2026.

We have a stellar line-up of world-class authors coming to Newcastle over the year. We will also be hosting author events in regional libraries, working with young people to create exciting book lists for teenagers, putting reading volunteers into hospitals, and bringing together family reading groups to help improve literacy and inspire a lifetime love of books.

There will be something for everyone. From life-long bookworms to those who haven’t picked a book up in a decade and those wanting to be more confident readers.

Right to Read is an exciting programme for 2026. It is also the start of a long-term strategy about how New Writing North activity can play a part in addressing the literacy crisis. A crisis that is even more acute in the North East, with 1 in 5 children not owning a single book at home.

Books have limitless ability to open worlds to us, representing the widest possible range of human experience, emotion and thought.  We believe reading is a right. It is a right that many people are denied, often because of their socio-economic status. And, in some countries right now, by political regimes.

The authors we have in our programme have written some of the best-loved books of the last twenty years and so we can’t wait to welcome them to the North East.

We will be revealing the Right to Read programme over the next few months, but for now sign up to our newsletter to make sure you don’t miss any updates.