Bookshop Day
October 10
About Bookshop Day
Bookshop Day takes place on Saturday, 10 October 2026, marking the high point of the annual Books Are My Bag campaign. It is a nationwide celebration of the United Kingdom’s high street bookshops, both independents and chains, encouraging readers to visit their local shop, support booksellers and discover their next great read.
How to Celebrate Bookshop Day
Bookshop Day is all about getting out and into your local shop, so here are plenty of ways to take part:
- Visit your local bookshop – The simplest and most meaningful thing you can do is walk through the door and browse the shelves. Many shops run special events, signings and offers on the day.
- Buy a book, any book – Every purchase helps keep an independent bookseller trading. Treat yourself, or get a head start on your Christmas shopping.
- Pick up the limited-edition tote bag – Each year Books Are My Bag commissions a different artist to design a collectable canvas bag, sold in participating shops while stocks last.
- Ask for a recommendation – Booksellers are walking encyclopedias of reading taste. Tell them what you love and let them surprise you with something new.
- Attend an in-store event – From author talks to children’s story times and quizzes, many bookshops put on a packed programme. Check your local shop’s social media for listings.
- Share your haul online – Post photos of your purchases and your favourite shop to spread the word and encourage others to do the same.
- Vote in the Readers Awards – Bookshop Day coincides with the Books Are My Bag Readers Awards, where the public votes for their favourite titles of the year.
- Bring a friend or the family – Make a day of it. Browsing a bookshop together is a lovely, low-cost outing that introduces children to the joy of reading.
What is Bookshop Day?
Bookshop Day is the flagship event of Books Are My Bag, a national campaign that celebrates bookshops and the booksellers who run them. Held every October, it brings together around 1,000 retailers across the United Kingdom and Ireland, from tiny village shops to large chain branches, all united in a shared love of books. The day champions the bookshop as a cultural and community hub, a place to browse, discover and connect, and reminds readers that buying from a real shop helps keep that experience alive.
When is Bookshop Day?
Bookshop Day falls on the second Saturday of October each year. In 2026 it takes place on Saturday, 10 October. Because the date is tied to a particular Saturday rather than a fixed calendar date, it shifts slightly from year to year.
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Saturday, 10 October |
| 2027 | Saturday, 9 October |
| 2028 | Saturday, 14 October |
| 2029 | Saturday, 13 October |
| 2030 | Saturday, 12 October |
The History of Bookshop Day
Bookshop Day grew out of the Books Are My Bag campaign, which was launched in 2013 by the Booksellers Association. The campaign was conceived as the biggest ever promotion of bookshops, designed to remind the public of the value of their local shops at a time when high street retail faced growing pressure from online sales and digital reading.
From the outset, the campaign’s signature item was a tote bag, with a different artist or designer commissioned each year to create a collectable design. The bags became a recognisable symbol of the movement and a clever way of literally carrying the message into the wider world. Bookshop Day itself emerged as the campaign’s annual focal point, a single Saturday on which shops up and down the country pull out all the stops with events, offers and celebrations.
Over the years the day has grown into a fixture of the autumn calendar, neatly timed to kick off the run-up to Christmas, traditionally the busiest period for book sales. It now sits alongside the Books Are My Bag Readers Awards, a public vote that puts readers at the heart of celebrating the year’s best books, and continues to champion the irreplaceable role of the physical bookshop.
Fun Facts About Bookshop Day
- Around 1,000 UK and Irish retailers take part in Bookshop Day each year.
- The Books Are My Bag campaign was launched in 2013 by the Booksellers Association.
- A different artist designs the limited-edition tote bag every year, making each one a collector’s item.
- Bookshop Day coincides with the Books Are My Bag Readers Awards, decided by public vote.
- The campaign includes a City Spotlight initiative, featuring bespoke bookshop murals in a chosen city.
Why Bookshop Day Matters
Bookshops are more than shops. They are community spaces, cultural landmarks and places of discovery where a chance encounter with a book can spark a lifelong passion. By rallying readers to visit and spend on a single day, Bookshop Day gives independent and high street booksellers a vital boost and reminds everyone what would be lost if these shops disappeared. If you love books, you might also enjoy National Book Lovers Day, another celebration of the written word.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bookshop Day?
It is the flagship day of the Books Are My Bag campaign, celebrating UK and Irish bookshops and encouraging readers to visit, browse and buy from their local shop.
When is Bookshop Day in 2026?
Bookshop Day falls on Saturday, 10 October 2026, the second Saturday of the month.
Who runs Bookshop Day?
It is organised by Books Are My Bag, a campaign run by the Booksellers Association with support from major publishers.
Spread the Word
Join the celebration and share your favourite shop and your latest finds on social media with #BookshopDay and #BookshopDay2026. Tag your local bookshop and challenge your friends to pop in and pick up a book!
Related Awareness Days
- National Book Lovers Day – A global celebration of reading and the joy that books bring.
- Love Your Bookshop Day – Australia’s equivalent celebration of independent bookshops.
- Indie Author Week UK – A week championing independent authors and self-published writing.
Links
2026 Awareness Days Wall Planner
Every key awareness day at a glance. Perfect for offices, staff rooms, and team planning.
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