Uptick in children and teenagers enjoying reading for first time in 5 years

Children and young people's enjoyment of reading has risen for the first time since 2021, according to new research.

More than one in three (36.1%) said they liked picking up books in their spare time - an increase from 32.7% in 2025.

Daily habits have improved too, with one in five children and young people (20.3%) aged eight to 18 saying they read every day, a rise from last year's figure of 18.7%.

The research, carried out by reading improvement charity the National Literacy Trust (NLT), surveyed 125,375 children and young people aged 5 to 18 from 479 schools across the UK.

It marks a turnaround after years of declining numbers starting from 2021, when enjoyment across all ages had been at 51.5%.

By 2022 it had fallen to 47.8%, then 43.4% in 2023, before a sharp drop to 34.6% in 2024, before 32.7% in 2025.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, who has made 2026 the National Year of Reading, said: "For the first time in five years, more children are saying they're enjoying reading, and that genuinely fills me with hope.

"When reading feels relevant and role models get involved, children develop a passion with benefits that go far beyond the classroom – but with progress slower for poorer children, we must make sure every child can find a form of reading that speaks to them."

The largest rises in reading enjoyment this year are in the 14-to-16 and 16-to-18 age groups.

In 2025, 28.6% in the 14-to-16 age group said they enjoyed reading, a number that rose to 35% this year.

The older 16-to-18 group stood at 41.4% last year but has increased to 49.4% in 2026.

Younger children aged between five and eight still had high levels of enjoyment with 61.6%, but this was actually a slight fall from the previous year's 62.6% figure.

The NLT report said the decrease was caused by fewer boys of that age saying they enjoyed reading.

Its research also indicated a widening gap of reading enjoyment between those who received free school meals and those who did not.

In 2025, enjoyment of reading by all free school meals recipients stood at 31% and rose to 32.1% this year.

The survey said 33% of those who did not receive free school meals said they enjoyed reading in 2025 and 37.3% in 2026.

The NLT research also suggested who was most responsible for encouraging young people to read.

Two-thirds (65.8%) were urged to pick up a book by teachers and more than half (54.8%) by their parents.

Dapo Adeola, children's author and illustrator, said: "Stories are gateways that allow your imagination to take flight through time and space.