Book Week 2026
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Book Week 2026 Gallery
A regularly updated selection of photos from Book Week activities and events 鈥� showcasing the range, busyness and fun of what鈥檚 going on. Lots of familiar faces and photos from library spaces big and small across the region. A photographic celebration of Book Week and all that it involves. -
Recommended Reads
Borrowing, browsing and buying suggestions for Book Week 2026. Well-known 麻豆社 people share their 鈥榤ust-read鈥� recommendations and memories of favourite book from childhood. We鈥檝e got a mix of fact and fiction and books old and new. A library of reading suggestions and discoveries. And a starting point for other Book Week conversations鈥�
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Book Week Resources
A catalogue of downloadable Book Week 2026 resources, including posters, bookmarks, cards and bunting. Ready-made Book Week colour for the classroom and school libraries 鈥� and for older readers who remain young at heart. And there鈥檚 a Book Week 2027 calendar to inspire reading all year round! -
Book Week 2026 - Messages of Support
An encouragement of book recommendations and enthusiasm 鈥� celebrating the importance of books, reading and libraries and the possibilities they create. Executive Ministers and others tells us about their support for Book Week and why reading matters for everyone. -
鈥楳ust read鈥� recommendations for Book Week 2026
麻豆社 presenters and journalists recommend a diverse collection of books exploring memory, family, history, identity, community and adventure. Spanning fiction, biography, fantasy, sport and Irish culture, the selections celebrate storytelling's power to entertain, inspire, educate, heal and connect generations. -
Talking about Books
Features, reports and videos about all things Book Week-related from across the 麻豆社鈥檚 local schedules and beyond. A regularly updated collection with lots to enjoy and find out more about.
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A Box of Delights
Another opportunity to enjoy a special Ulster Orchestra concert from Book Week 2022. A celebration of imagination, storytelling and the joy of reading, this concert weaves together beloved film and television music, poetry and literary readings. Featuring music from Harry Potter, Matilda, Paddington, The Wizard of Oz and more. -
500 Words
500 Words is the 麻豆社鈥檚 big, story writing competition for children. It encourages children to write a short story 鈥榯hey would love to read themselves鈥�. There are two age categories (5-7 and 8-11 years old) and the emphasis is on creative fun and storytelling that can make us laugh, cry or be amazed and surprised. The closing date for entries is: 9.00pm on 06 November. -
Winnie-the-Pooh at 100
A century after the publication of A.A. Milne鈥檚 first collection of Winne-the-Pooh stories, five new 麻豆社 recordings that celebrate the enduring charm, humour and wisdom of Pooh. -
The Book That Changed My Life
A special 麻豆社 documentary to mark the National Year of Reading that explores the transformational power of books. It features The Queen and includes what she describes as 鈥榦ne of the most unusual book club meetings I have ever attended.鈥� -
O Now! by Niall Williams
It鈥檚 the end of October in the fictional parish of Faha, County Clare 鈥榯he beginning of the season of spirits鈥�. An original commission by 麻豆社 Audio Northern Ireland. Read by Dermot Crowley. -
The Radio 2 Book Club
As part of Radio 2's Book Week celebrations, Sara Cox asked her 麻豆社 colleagues (and a cast of comedians, actors, authors) to talk about their favourite books and why they love them. Book recommendations from Jacqueline Wilson, Marian Keyes, Jamie Oliver, Clive Myrie and more鈥� -
Leonard and Hungry Paul by R贸n谩n Hession
R贸n谩n Hession takes questions from a Bookclub audience on his debut novel, Leonard and Hungry Paul (which was recently adapted for 麻豆社NI television). A lyrical, funny and affecting celebration of ordinary lives and what we can learn from those we might otherwise overlook. Presented by James Naughtie. -
To Go or Not to Go by Sara Wheeler
Award-winning travel writer Sara Wheeler (who has also written an acclaimed biography of Jan Morris) has spent a lifetime journeying through far-flung places and immersing herself in different cultures. -
Ghost Stories by Charles Dickens
A selection of the great author鈥檚 most chilling short works, read by Sir David Suchet, and brought to life with sound design and original music. -
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Kenneth Grahame's classic tale of Mole, Ratty, Badger and Toad abridged in 10 episodes and read by Bernard Cribbins. -
Book Week is back!
Planned activities and events 19-25 October 2026 -
Book Week is a joint initiative with libraries NI. Find out whats's happening in its libriaries, upcoming author interviews and events and how to get involved.
Book Week NI - 2025
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Book Week NI 2025
Mark Simpson tells us about Book Week 2025 and the ways that you can get involved. -
Recommended Reads
Books library memories and must read recommendations for book week 2025. Guests include: Anna Curran, Mark Simpson, Father Brian D鈥檃rcy, Suzie Lee, Gareth Gordon, Jayne McCormack, Johnny Murphy, Louise Cullen, Ali Totten, William Crawley and Ceclia Daly. -
Colour and create your own
We've created some downloadable book week resource is for children on young people (and the young at heart! ) - allowing you to create your own book week 2025 posters, bunting and bookmarks. Get creative!
Alert:
Due to wider technical issues, some Book Week content from previous years is unavailable at the moment. We’ll have it back in place as soon as possible, so please check back regularly.
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Book Week 2025 Gallery
Our book week 2025 photo gallery includes some of the people involved with the book week busyness so far, including author R贸n谩n Hession and the 麻豆社's Director-General and lots of familiar faces from 麻豆社 television and radio. -
Talking about books 2025
A selection of interviews, features and reports about Book Week 2025. -
Five Fables
An animated version of Robert Henryson's Five Fables, based on Seamus Heany's acclaimed translation. It's narrated by Billy Connolly with original music by Barry Douglas. A television classic with enduring appeal. -
The Lion the Witch and the Wonder by Katherine Rundell
In a series of original essays Katherine Rundell explores the world of children's fiction in a journey that reveals its fundamental importance to all of us.
Famous Faces and Firm Favourites from 2025
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Book Talk for Book Week
Book talk for book week some recommended reads from across the 麻豆社... including Director-General Tim Davie, Sarah Brett, Adam Smyth, Eve Rosato and David Maxwell. -
Mark Simpson reports on Book Week 2025
Mark Simpson reports on book week bus and train passengers urged to get on board for book week. -
Peanuts at 75
On the 75th anniversary of the iconic comic strip peanuts, psychoanalyst and author Josh Cohen shared how Charlie Brown and the snoopy gang have become his constant companions dash and how they can help us navigate the frustrating squiggle of life. -
麻豆社 500 Words
500 words is a story competition for children. It's all about creativity and fun. And there are lots of prizes to win as well. -
Reccommended Books
Books recommended by our book week 2025 contributors. -
Listen again on 麻豆社 Sounds
When Kevin met Sadie: Chris Page first read Joanne Lingard鈥檚 Kevin and Sadie novels as a boy he hears from readers in Northern Ireland about how the stories have shaped their understanding over the past. -
The Radio 2 Book Club
Sara Cox celebrates the best in new fiction, with author interviews and listener reviews from across the UK. -
Poetry Extra
Poetry extra has just celebrated its 10th birthday. It features poems and poets from the 麻豆社's archives and is presented by Dalit Nagra. Poetry Extra鈥檚 birthday programme included Paul Muldoon and Catherine Heaney. -
Take Four Books
James Crawford invites well-known authors to talk about their latest book and to select three other texts that have influenced their writing. Contributors include Wendy Erskine, John Banville, Andrew O'Hagan and Eoin McNamee. -
Sissinghurst: An Unfinished History by Adam Nicholson
Adam Nicholson's story of the popular British garden, started in 1932 by grandparents Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicholson. -
Book Week 2024 - 'Must Read' recommendations
Book week 2024 must read recommendations favourite books, library memories and must read recommendations for book week 2024.
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Book Week 2024 Ambassadors
Our book week 2024 ambassadors include Ministers from across the executive and other well known people in public life. -
Books and Music
As part of book week 2020, we asked the Ulster orchestra to perform a selection of music inspired by books. This performance includes some well-known TV themes, including Jackanory and Katie Morag. It was recorded in Belfast Central Library. -
World Book Club
World book club conversations with brilliant writers from around the world. Fascinating insights and lots of new books to discover from the 麻豆社 World Service. -
Between the Covers
Sara Cox and guests enjoy lively conversations about book recommendations.
More from the NI Book Week archives
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A good read
Writers another well-know people choose their favourite books, with Harriet Gilbert. -
Open Book
麻豆社 Radio 4's programme about all things book-related, including a new publications, author interviews and lost classics. -
麻豆社 News Online - Children 'are the future of NI libraries'
麻豆社 News went to Saintfield library for a visit from the 鈥楲ibrary Cat鈥� - and spoke with the libraries NI manager, Patricia Curran. -
Hanif Kureishi on This Cultural Life, 麻豆社 Radio 4.
Writer Hanif Kureishi talks with John Wilson about the experiences and influences that have shaped his career. -
Words and Music
A wonderful, weekly journey of discovery, weaving together a range of music with poetry and prose read by leading actors. Each programme has a different theme. -
Book week gallery 2024.
Some photos from book week 2024. -
Book week 2023 - Recommended Reads
An anthology of book recommendations for 2023 from guests including Carl Frampton, Petroc Trelawny, Tara Mills and Declan Harvey, Adam Patterson and Declan lawn, Jarlath Burns, and Elaine McGee and Mark Patterson. -
Book week 2022- recommended reads
A collection of short interviews in which our guests talk about their reading memories and recommendations. Those taking part include: Diona Doherty, Holly Hamilton, Diarmuid Gavin, Dave Elliott and Lindsay Allen.
More from around the 麻豆社
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Discover 100 amazing novels with brand new 麻豆社 Sounds podcast
Turn Up for the Books features Bastille vocalist Dan Smith, writer Irenosen Okojie and book vlogger Simon Savidge delving into some of the greatest English language novels of all time with the help of a collection of very special guests. -
The novels that shaped the world - coming of age
From Harry Potter finding his feet and fulfilling his destiny in the wizarding world, to newly-orphaned Emily Moon standing up to her snobbish relatives and malicious classmates, the ten Coming of Age novels explore characters growing up and finding their way in the world. -
The novels that shaped the world - Identity
These ten remarkable novels about identity have been selected for the 100 Novels That Shaped Our World. They have already sparked passionate discussion about the qualities of books that help us to find ourselves. Explore the ten, then pick one up at a library and join the conversation. -
The novels that shaped the world - crime and conflict
The impact of war, violence, crime and struggle unite these ten novels. From Bapsi Sidhwa's exploration of partition in Ice Candy Man, to the second civil war of Omar El Akkad's American War, and Holmes and Watson's fight against the seemingly supernatural in The Hound of the Baskervilles.