Global Reading Event Sets Guinness World Record
153,862 readers across 92 countries joined a 12-hour online reading event tied to World Mental Health Day.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Education — General
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On Thursday, 8 October, 153,862 people from 92 countries took part in 12 hours of reading, setting a Guinness World Records title for most people reading online in 12 hours. The event was delivered by the National Literacy Trust and the British Council as part of the Take 10 to Read campaign.
Why it matters
The record highlights growing international interest in reading as a shared daily habit, with participation spanning more than 3,000 organisations and settings. The British Council announced the achievement on 6 November, after the event had already concluded.
The record total of 153,862 participants included 3,724 officially contributing from India across 160+ groups, according to figures reported by the British Council. The source does not detail how individual participation was counted across the online format.
The players
National Literacy Trust
A UK charity that promotes literacy and reading, and co-delivered the event and the 2026 Annual Literacy Survey.
British Council
The United Kingdom's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, which co-delivered the event and announced the record.
The details
Participants joined online from classrooms, libraries, homes, workplaces and community groups during the 12-hour window. Holy Child Senior Secondary School in New Delhi had 174 young readers participating in the event.
Timeline
Thursday, 8 October: Global reading event takes place over 12 hours.
6 November: British Council announces the record achievement.
Reading Landscape
The event sits within the UK's National Year of Reading 2026, a national campaign to encourage reading across age groups. The 2026 Annual Literacy Survey, based on 52,147 children and young people aged 8-18, links daily reading to wellbeing, with 84.9 percent of daily readers reporting high wellbeing compared with 71.1 percent of those who rarely or never read.
Readers wanting to follow the reading campaign can find information through the UK National Year of Reading campaign. The event itself has concluded, so participation now means joining future reading initiatives or daily reading habits.
The takeaway
Daily reading is linked to higher wellbeing among children, with the survey showing a gap of 84.9 percent versus 71.1 percent between frequent and rare readers. Making 10 minutes of reading part of a daily routine is a simple step readers can take on their own.
Further reading
Explore more in Education — General for related coverage of reading and literacy initiatives.
More information
Learn more about the UK National Year of Reading campaign for details on the wider initiative.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Tribune.
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