Hay Festival President Stephen Fry has issued a rallying cry for the nation's book lovers, launching a major new campaign to tackle the alarming decline in reading for pleasure across the UK. The initiative, named The Pleasure List, aims to compile a collection of irresistible book recommendations to inspire even the most hesitant reader.
A National Mission to Reignite a Love of Books
Fry is spearheading the campaign in partnership with the government's upcoming National Year of Reading 2026. He expressed grave concern over recent statistics, stating that readers are becoming "a dying breed" as fewer British adults choose to read in their leisure time. "More and more people feel that books aren't for them, or they don't know where to begin," added Hay Festival CEO Julie Finch, highlighting the need for a welcoming entry point into literature.
The campaign is a direct response to what officials describe as a sharp decline in reading among both children and adults. In November, the education committee launched a formal inquiry into the issue, underscoring its seriousness. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, who announced the National Year of Reading in July, emphasised that reversing this trend must be a collective effort: "This can’t be just a government mission. It needs to be a national one."
How You Can Contribute to The Pleasure List
The public is now being called upon to submit their personal book recommendations through a dedicated form. Fry posed key questions to guide contributors: "What’s the book you raced through in one sitting? What book never fails to cheer you up? What’s the first book you remember falling in love with?" The goal is to gather titles that are so compelling they are "un-put-downable," creating a resource that offers a "joyful starting point" for new reading journeys.
As an incentive, each person who submits a recommendation will be entered into a prize draw. The winner will receive a bundle of books to be donated to a public space of their choice, such as a library, community centre, or doctor's surgery.
The Grand Reveal at Hay 2026
The final curated selection of books for The Pleasure List will be unveiled at the Hay Festival 2026, scheduled to run from 21 to 31 May. The full programme for the festival will be published in March next year, with an initial selection of earlybird events already announced. The event is set to feature a host of literary stars, including authors Bernardine Evaristo, Lea Ypi, Samira Ahmed, and David Olusoga.
This collaborative effort between one of the UK's premier literary festivals and a government-backed national year represents a significant push to rebuild a culture of reading. It challenges every individual to, in Phillipson's words, "put our phones down and pick up a book."
