PBS Utah Launches 34th Annual Reading Marathon
The statewide literacy initiative challenges children to log 600 minutes of reading throughout November.
Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Primary Education
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PBS Utah has officially kicked off its 34th annual Reading Marathon to encourage literacy among children across the state. Participants are tasked with reading or being read to for at least 600 minutes during the month of November.
Why it matters
The initiative aims to improve childhood literacy rates across Utah by fostering consistent reading habits. It serves as a cornerstone of the broader Utah Reads campaign introduced by Governor Cox.
The program requires students to log 600 minutes of reading between November 1 and November 30. Last year, 33,000 children participated in the marathon, contributing to a total of 26 million minutes logged.
The players
PBS Utah
A public media organization that provides educational content and community resources across the state.
Governor Cox
The Governor of Utah who recently spearheaded the launch of the statewide Utah Reads literacy campaign.
Salt Lake City Public Library
A major public institution in Utah that serves as a resource hub for community learning and literacy programs.
The details
The Reading Marathon provides children with access to library resources and organized kickoff events to support their literacy goals. Following a successful read-a-thon in October that drew nearly 500 students, the state is now mobilizing for the month-long challenge.
Timeline
October 2026: Governor Cox launched the Utah Reads campaign.
October 24, 2026: The kickoff event was held at the Salt Lake City Public Library.
November 1, 2026: The Reading Marathon challenge officially begins.
November 30, 2026: The Reading Marathon challenge concludes.
Culture Shift
This program aligns with the Utah Reads campaign, a state-led effort to prioritize childhood literacy as a fundamental academic milestone. By incentivizing consistent daily engagement, the initiative shifts the focus from sporadic learning to a structured, month-long habit.
Families across Utah can utilize local library resources to help their children track and meet the 600-minute reading requirement. This program provides a structured way to integrate consistent daily reading into a child's home routine throughout November.
The takeaway
The marathon encourages families to prioritize reading as a daily lifestyle habit rather than a sporadic activity. Parents can support their children by utilizing local library materials to ensure they reach the 600-minute milestone by the end of November.
Further reading
Learn more about local efforts to support youth literacy in our Primary Education section.
More information
For additional details on the initiative, visit the Utah Reads campaign information portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KSL.
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