European Authors’ Day 2025 – a Record-Breaking Edition of the #ReadForReal Initiative
European Authors’ Day 2025 concluded with a record-breaking total of 6,573 events organised across 34 Creative Europe programme countries. Over the course of four weeks, the initiative brought together more than 300,000 participants, confirming the growing role of reading as a cornerstone of culture, education and democratic life in Europe.
Participants included libraries, schools, nurseries, bookshops, publishers, cultural institutions, local authorities, non-governmental organisations, as well as authors, illustrators and translators from across Europe. Events were held under the shared slogan #ReadForReal, highlighting the importance of reading “live and for real” – as an experience that fosters social connections, creativity, innovation and intercultural dialogue.
European Authors’ Day is an initiative launched in 2023 and delivered by the international Read for Real consortium, co-funded by the European Union under the Creative Europe programme. The National Library of Poland is one of the institutions forming this consortium, which works to strengthen reading culture and promote literature at a European level.
Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, emphasised the importance of the initiative, stating:
“European Authors’ Day reminds us that reading is far more than a leisure activity – it is a foundation for personal development, critical thinking and democratic life. By encouraging people, especially young readers, to #ReadForReal, we strengthen the bonds that unite Europe through shared stories, ideas and languages.”
Maria Deskur of the Universal Reading Foundation, representing the consortium delivering the project, also highlighted the scale of engagement among Europe’s literary and reading communities:
“We are extremely grateful to all the individuals and institutions across Europe who took part in organising #ReadForReal events. It is thanks to their commitment that European Authors’ Day has become such a large-scale and diverse success.”
The calendar for European Authors’ Day #ReadForReal 2026 has already been announced. It includes, among others, the conference “Literacy for Democracy. Shaping the Future”, to be held in May 2026 in Warsaw; #ReadForEurope workshops in November in Blois; and pan-European celebrations planned for the period from 11 November to 12 December 2026.
Further details are available at www.readforreal.eu and on the initiative’s social media channels.