Alexandra Palace Launches Biblio-Buzz 2026 to Combat Declining Childhood Literacy
Alexandra Palace has announced the shortlist for the 2026 Biblio-Buzz award, a cornerstone of its Creative Learning Program aimed at fostering a love of reading among children aged 9-12. The initiative comes at a critical time, as national data reveals a concerning trend of declining book ownership and reading for pleasure among young people.
The Biblio-Buzz reading challenge, delivered in partnership with Muswell Hill Children’s Bookshop and local libraries, will run from January to april 2026. Participants will engage with six shortlisted novels,participate in literary activities,and ultimately vote for their favorite book. Last year’s program drew over 1,500 young readers, and organizers anticipate even greater participation in the coming year.
The program will culminate in a celebratory awards ceremony at Alexandra Palace Theater in April 2026. The event promises to be a highlight for young “bookworms,” featuring author meet-and-greets, book signings, and interactive workshops. The winning title will be revealed during the ceremony.
The selection process for the 2026 shortlist involved a curated longlist initially chosen by Muswell Hill Children’s Bookshop, followed by final selections made by a panel of educationalists, school librarians, authors, and volunteers.
“We are proud to launch this year’s Biblio-Buzz at a moment when it matters more than ever,” stated a senior official from Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust. “A recent report by the National Literacy Trust shows a meaningful decline in young people owning books and reading for pleasure, and programmes like ours play a vital role in reversing that trend.” The official further emphasized the program’s focus on inspiring “curiosity, creativity and well-being.”
Haringey Council also expressed strong support for the initiative. According to a statement from a council representative, “Biblio-Buzz is a wonderful opportunity for children to experience the joy of reading, as well as getting involved in workshops and other activities at their local library.”
Muswell Hill children’s Bookshop and Pickled Pepper Books have been designated as the official book suppliers for Biblio-Buzz 2026, offering discounted sets of the shortlisted titles to schools and individuals. The program also receives generous support from the Tottenham Grammar School Foundation.
Young readers are encouraged to participate in the challenge, with full facts available online. Please note, access to the awards ceremony at Alexandra Palace is restricted to young people registered through the Creative Learning team.
This initiative underscores the importance of collaborative efforts between cultural institutions, libraries, schools, and local businesses in nurturing a lifelong love of reading in the next generation.
Why was Biblio-Buzz launched? Biblio-Buzz 2026 was launched by Alexandra Palace in response to a concerning national trend of declining book ownership and reading for pleasure among children aged 9-12, as highlighted by the National Literacy Trust. The program aims to reverse this trend and foster a love of reading.
Who is involved? The initiative is a collaborative effort involving Alexandra Palace (through its Creative Learning Programme), Muswell Hill Children’s Bookshop, Pickled Pepper Books, local libraries, the Tottenham Grammar School Foundation, Haringey Council, educationalists, school librarians, authors, and volunteers. it directly targets children aged 9-12.
What does the program entail? Biblio-Buzz is a reading challenge running from January to April 2026. Participants will read six
