Your guide to
taking part
How your bookshop can get involved, what to expect, and how to bring the campaign to life in-store and in your community for World Book Day 2026.
Bookshop registration
31st October 2025
Only
days to go!
Join in and make a difference
How to get involved
Stock the World Book Day 2026 books and promote how children can choose them for free with their £1/€1.50 book tokens. Plan storytimes, author visits, and school events to engage your community.
Planning with schools
If you’re working with local schools or nurseries for World Book Day, contact them early. This helps you order the right number of books and plan events.
The £1/€1.50 books
Get to know this year’s line-up of brilliant authors and illustrators. Use the titles to inspire displays, reading lists, and events in your shop.
Order your display materials
Use the form below to order your £1/€1.50 books display unit and posters before 31 October.
Our 2026 resources and brand assets will be available to download from 8 December.
Your World Book Day timeline
Use this handy guide to help you plan World Book Day 2026
September: Discover the 2026 £1/€1.50 books
We launch the 2026 collection on 16 September. Get to know the books and contact local schools and nurseries to start planning your World Book Day celebrations.
31 October: Place your orders
Order the £1/€1.50 books (via Gardners or your supplier)
Display materials and posters
Order the official World Book Day pin badge and keyring counterpacks (via Gardners or Pawprint)
8 December: Explore our resources
Our 2026 resources go live! Find celebration materials and activities in our resources bank.
14 January 11am: Bookseller webinar
Save the date. Registration to be confirmed
Late January: Stock and display units arrive
Set up the token barcode in your till system. Check you’re listed on the World Book Day map. Host author or illustrator visits if possible
12 February – 15 March: Book tokens redemption period
Accept tokens for £1/€1.50 books or as a discount off qualifying titles. Run storytimes or reading activities in-store. Display the £1/€1.50 books prominently.
5 March: World Book Day!
Have a great day celebrating reading for fun. Thank your team and community. Share highlights and photos online.
15 March: Redemption ends
Have a great day celebrating reading for fun. Thank your team and community. Share highlights and photos online.
Order display materials
Sign up for your display materials and be added to map.
Download and read our agreement for booksellers, and check that you are happy with our terms of use.
Bookseller FAQs
Can I use World Book Day’s logo and assets if I am not based in the UK?
We are a charity that operates in the UK, with a mission to promote reading for fun, offering every child and young person the opportunity to have a book of their own. We work to give more children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, a life-long habit of reading for pleasure and the improved life chances this brings. Our annual celebration, World Book Day, is celebrated at the beginning of March every year.
Find out more information about UNESCO’s ‘World Book and Copyright Day’, which is celebrated internationally on 23 April. Many countries use the day to celebrate books and authors and encourage access to books, but these activities are not connected to us.
Find out more on our about us page.
How does the £1/€1.50 token exchange work for booksellers and publishers?
The £1/€1.50 token for book exchange is a contribution to World Book Day’s charitable purpose to encourage reading for pleasure. Nearly 1m children in the UK don’t have a book of their own. World Book Day’s £1/€1.50 books are the first book some children own (including 1 in 5 children receiving free school meals).
Publishers produce and pay for the costs of producing the £1/€1.50 books. Booksellers buy the £1/€1.50 books from publishers to gift to children in exchange for their £1/€1.50 book token. The £1/€1.50 is not reimbursed.
It’s important to World Book Day’s charitable purpose that children can access their books, using the token, for free.
Find out more about how booksellers can work with World Book Day.
Can we order the £1/€1.50 books from you?
World Book does not carry any stock of the £1/€1.50 books. Booksellers buy the books directly from publishers or wholesalers.
Our participating retailer map will be available in December.
How does World Book Day work in Wales?
We work with Books Council Wales to have an exclusive £1 book title for Wales each year in the Welsh language and resources for teachers.
How does World Book Day work in the Republic of Ireland?
We work with partners in the Republic of Ireland ensure there are exclusive €1.50 titles for Ireland, including in the Irish language and materials for teachers. World Book Day materials, including €1.50 World Book Day book tokens are sent to schools in Ireland by the Irish Department of Education.
Please send enquiries to wbd@education.co.uk about token packs.
How long is the £1/€1.50 token redemption period?
Children and families can start using their £1/€1.50 token from 12 February – 15 March 2026. Visit our £1/€1.50 token page for more information.
Can I use my World Book Day token online?
The World Book Day £1/€1.50 tokens cannot be used for online purchases.
What are the age ranges for the World Book Day £1/ €1.50 books?
World Book Day’s aim is for the books we present to be for all children and families, and particularly to offer a gateway into reading for those who don’t currently see themselves as readers.