Are you, or do you know, a young person aged between 14-25 who loves reading and wants to give back to their community? If so read on...
Young readers are being invited to join Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature’s Youth Selection Panel, to select the final four books for their flagship campaign, Big City Reads 2026, running from 29 June - 12 August 2026. The campaign gifts 2500 books for free in the city and its surroundings to encourage more young people in Nottingham to read for pleasure.
Big City Reads 2024 engaged one million people and next year’s campaign promises to be even bigger and better. With identity at the heart of next year’s campaign, publishers across the UK are submitting books that explore this powerful theme.
Mia Hagues, deputy chair of the Youth Advisory Board at Nottingham City of Literature said: “It’s difficult for young people to celebrate their unique identity in a world of social media trends and conformity. We want to challenge the narrative and show the world the beauty of self expression and being true to yourself!”
The Youth Selection Panel members will be invited to get involved with the exciting new pilot The Next Page: Youth Writing Programme. The scheme is a ten-month professional skills development programme, running January-October 2026. It will include training, masterclasses and other professional opportunities in journalism and publishing, to improve practical writing skills and employability skills, and will support and promote Big City Reads 2026. Members will also have opportunities to meet authors and have their work published in LeftLion magazine next summer.
Nottingham was awarded UNESCO status as a City of Literature in December 2015 and became an Arts Council funded National Portfolio Organisation in 2023. Since being awarded the accreditation in December 2015, they have worked to show how words are for all, and to ensure they offer chances and opportunities to people in the city and wider county. This has been done through delivering a series of literary projects, both run by them or in partnership with other organisations, with a particular focus on young people and those with reduced access to cultural and educational opportunities.
Applications for the Youth Selection Panel and The Next Page programme close on 12 January 2026. All the details on how to apply can be found here.
You can find out more about Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature and their mission to build a better future with words at Nottinghamcityofliterature.com
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