TikTok is proud to announce its official partnership with the National Literacy Trust for the National Year of Reading 2026. To celebrate, TikTok will launch the UK's first-ever official #BookTok bestseller list (1) and invite the UK to join the World's Biggest Book Club, a programme of unique #BookTok inspired events and in-app celebrations.
With over 77 million posts and a 65% growth in the past year alone, #BookTok continues to be one of the most transformative forces in modern publishing, bringing young people back into bookshops and supercharging the careers of up-and-coming authors like never before.
From book reviews and recommendations to poetry and illustration, #BookTok is a thriving community of young literature lovers united through their passion. New research released today highlights that TikTok has become the #1 book discovery platform for young readers, with 51% of 16-25-year-olds discovering new books through the app (2).
Given the platform's unique role in inspiring young people to discover books, TikTok is thrilled to join the National Year of Reading 2026, a Department for Education initiative in collaboration with the National Literacy Trust.
The National Year of Reading 2026 is a UK-wide campaign designed to inspire more people to make reading a regular part of their lives and to ‘Go All In’ on their passions and interests through reading. Put simply, if you're into it, read into it. The campaign aims to inspire more people to read, visit libraries, connect through stories and develop a lifelong love of reading, in all its forms; an ethos that underpins the spirit of the #BookTok community.
David Hayman, Director of the National Year of Reading 2026, said: "The National Year of Reading 2026 is about supporting people across the UK to rediscover the joy and power of reading in ways that feel relevant to them. Communities like #BookTok are playing a vital role in this, inspiring a new generation of readers through creativity, connection and shared passion. We're delighted to partner with TikTok to celebrate the World’s Biggest Book Club and encourage everyone to 'Go All In' on their passions and interests through reading."
Introducing The first official BookTok Bestsellers
#BookTok has become a powerhouse for the UK publishing industry. The community isn't just watching, they're buying. In 2025, over 11 million book sales in the UK were attributed to #BookTok, generating £86 million in revenue (1) .
On TikTok Shop in the UK, the momentum is even faster: three books are sold every single minute in the UK, as independent book sellers and beloved publishers like Penguin Random House, Harper Collins, Pan Macmillian and Hachette embrace this unique way of connecting with new customers.
To celebrate this influence and kick off the World's Biggest Book Club, we are thrilled to launch the UK's first official monthly BookTok Bestsellers list (1), in partnership with Media Control as part of the European expansion into new markets. By combining real world retail data with TikTok engagement, we are providing a definitive look at the titles truly resonating with readers today.
In bookstores, #BookTok, Bestsellers can now also be marked with an official sticker, letting the community find their favourite books in their local stores on and offline. More information for publishers and authors can be found here.
The World's Biggest Book Club
TikTok is inviting the UK to celebrate the World's Biggest Book Club. Throughout the year, TikTok will host a programme of unique events, both in person and in app, to give young people more opportunities to share and connect over the books they love most. This digital-first discovery is fueling a significant reading boom; nearly 8 in 10 (78%) young people who have engaged with #booktok content report their interest in reading has increased over the past few years (2).
Here is how you can get involved!
📱 Follow @go_all_in_2026 on TikTok for campaign updates and to become a reading volunteer, supporting young people to rediscover the joy of reading.
🎪 Hay Festival 2026 TikTok returns as the official Digital Media Partner for the world's leading arts and literary festival. This year, we're celebrating all things #BookToScreen, from our favourite adaptations of classic literature, to upcoming book-inspired blockbusters. Follow @hayfestival and creators like @indiaysabel, @lucaspelizaro or @jesskbacon for an exclusive look behind the scenes at the festival. Want to join us there? We're giving away two 3-day trips to Hay Festival. Search '#BookToScreen on TikTok to discover more.
📚 Introducing #BookTok LIVE for one night only, TikTok will bring the online community to life in a vibrant, social and multi-sensory experience. What this space for a chance to join this unique community celebration!
🎉 Join a TikTok LIVE with your favourite BookTok creators or local book shops and watch out for exclusive LIVE events throughout the year.
🛍️ Buy a bestseller on TikTok Shop Follow @harpercollinsuk and @penguinrandomhouse to get your hands on the BookTok bestsellers and access exclusive National Year of Reading inspired offers throughout the year!
🫶 Join the book club! Check out #BookTok, follow @TikTok_UK and BookTok creators like @jackedwards and start sharing your own book recommendations and to discover your new favourite read.
Dominic Burns, Head of Operations TikTok UK, comments: "We are delighted to partner with the National Year of Reading 2026 to inspire communities across the UK to rediscover the joy of books. Since TikTok’s inception, #BookTok has grown into a vibrant global community that has not only shaped the literary conversation but has fuelled bestsellers and brought a new generation back into local bookshops. To celebrate this milestone year, we’re inviting everyone to join the World’s Biggest Book Club on TikTok, bringing readers together through unique online and in-person moments, to share the stories they love."
Inspiring the next generation of readers
From automatic 60-minute screen-time limits for under-18s to sleep-friendly prompts after 10 PM, we ensure that as teens explore new genres and recommendations, they are supported by tools that promote healthy digital habits and a positive, age-appropriate experience.
By meeting young people where they already are, TikTok is turning digital inspiration into meaningful, real-world habits. Through the World's Biggest Book Club, we are making it easier than ever to build confidence, find a community, and celebrate the joy of books on a global scale.
New to TikTok and want to be a part of the World's Biggest Book Club with #BookTok? Getting involved couldn’t be easier, simply download for free via the Apple App Store, Google Play or Amazon.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Sources:
(1) Media Control & NielsenIQ BookData, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Austria and Switzerland - The sales figures are taken by Media Control, the official provider of market research and bestseller lists & NielsenIQ BookData. The market research company analyses book sales across Europe – including high-street bookshops, e-commerce platforms and other relevant distribution channels. The data includes books that have demonstrably gained relevance through #BookTok recommendations – for example, because they appear in the #BookTok bestseller lists or have recorded a significant increase in sales in connection with viral TikTok trends.
(2) TikTok x Morning Consult, April 10-13, 2026. n=3007 UK respondents 16+.
About National Year of Reading
The National Year of Reading is the biggest campaign in a generation designed to help more people (re)discover the joy of reading and make it part of their everyday lives. A Department for Education initiative, in collaboration with the National Literacy Trust, the campaign aims to tackle the profound decline in reading enjoyment in the UK and reconnect people of all ages with reading as a relevant and immediately rewarding activity. The campaign asks the nation to Go All In on their passions and interests for 2026 and discover how reading in any format can unlock the things they already love – be that music, football, baking, family-time, sci-fi, or … anything. Put simply: if you’re into it, read into it. The National Year of Reading is fuelled by organisations who believe in the power of reading and are committed to investing in the solutions to create change. The National Year of Reading aims sign-up 100,000 volunteers, get one million more people actively using libraries, and encourage millions more to read regularly.
https://goallin.org.uk/about/