2025
The 2025 edition of #EuropeanAuthorsDay #ReadForReal marked an important step in the growing European celebration of reading.
Over the four weeks between 11 November and 12 December, thousands of organisations and individuals across Europe joined forces to promote literature, meet authors and celebrate the power of reading.
The result was a truly international movement bringing readers and creators together live and for real.
KEY RESULTS – IMPACT IN NUMBERS
6,573
events organised across Europe
34
countries participating in the initiative
300,000+
participants engaged in literary events
… and THOUSANDS of organisers: schools, libraries, bookshops, cultural institutions and more.
From Sweden and Finland to Tunisia and Turkey, and from Ukraine and Latvia to Portugal and Italy, the celebration connected communities across the continent around a shared belief: reading strengthens creativity, critical thinking and democratic culture.
A SHARED EUROPEAN INITIATIVE
The events were organised by a diverse network of national hubs, partners and organisers:
- schools and preschools
- libraries and bookstores
- publishers and cultural organisations
- local authorities and NGOs
- companies and community groups
- authors, illustrators and translators
Together they created thousands of opportunities for readers – especially young audiences – to meet authors, discover new books and experience literature in a direct and engaging way.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM ACROSS EUROPE
Across the continent, organisers created inspiring and often unexpected literary experiences. From author meetings, shared reading sessions, reading parties and literacy balls to creative activities that brought literature closer through play, such as literary escape rooms, games and interactive workshops.
Read. For Real was not only about activities for children and young people. Many events also engaged adults and senior readers and created intergenerational encounters, bringing people together to share books and discuss important themes.
A literary-themed costume ball at a school in Poland
Reading activities accompanied by music, in Bulgaria
A reading-themed escape room in Spain
EUROPEAN AUTHORS TOUR
One of the highlights of the 2025 edition was the European Authors Tour, a programme of flagship events organised by National Hubs across participating countries.
As part of the initiative, authors travelled between countries to meet readers and take part in special literary events. These encounters allowed audiences to discover voices from different literary cultures and experience European literature first-hand.
Author Urszula Młodnicka from Poland visiting Slovakia
Author Beka Adamsvili from Georgia visiting Croatia
Author and illustrator Anete Melece from Latvia visiting Greece
Author Agata Loth-Ignaciuk from Poland visiting Spain
Author Stefan Mitić from Serbia visited Montenegro
Author Thoms Brunstrøm from Danmark visited Poland and Norway
OPENING THE CELEBRATION IN BRUSSELS
The 2025 edition of #EuropeanAuthorsDay #ReadForReal was inaugurated in Brussels with a roundtable discussion with the European Commissioner for Culture.
The event gathered representatives of European institutions, authors and cultural organisations to discuss the role of reading and literature in shaping democratic and creative societies.
“The #EuropeanAuthorsDay #ReadForReal reminds us that reading is far more than a leisure activity, it’s a cornerstone of personal development, critical thinking, and democratic life. Through this initiative, we celebrate the extraordinary richness and diversity of European literature and the creative minds that shape it.” – Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport
LOCAL CELEBRATION
In Poland, the official launch of the European Authors Day #ReadForReal celebrations took place at the Main Post Office in Warsaw, bringing together authors, illustrators and readers in a unique shared experience of literature.
The choice of venue reflected the involvement of Polish Post, which joined the initiative and promoted reading across its network. Throughout the celebration period, activities and messages were present in 2,000 post offices across the country, reaching local communities in everyday spaces.
It was a powerful example of the spirit of #ReadForReal – inspiring organisers, authors and audiences to come together and experience literature live.
#ReadForEurope WORKSHOPS
In 2025, the #ReadForEurope workshops, being part or the #EuropeanAuthorsDay project, took place in Poland, bringing together experts, organisers and partners involved in promoting reading across the continet. During the discussions, participants reached a shared vision of the role of reading in society: Europe where reading is a natural part of every person’s life.
The workshop concluded with a common understanding that reading should be recognised as an essential element of everyday life, education and democratic culture.
VOICES FROM THE INITIATIVE
“By encouraging people, especially young readers, to #ReadForReal, we strengthen the bonds that unite Europe through shared stories, ideas, and languages.”
– Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport
“We are extremely grateful to all the amazing people around Europe who decided to join the celebration, registered and organised #European Authors Days #ReadForReal events. They are true co-authors of this amazing success.”
– Maria Deskur, Universal Reading Foundation from Poland, leader of the consortium running the project.
A GROWING EUROPEAN MOVEMENT
The success of the 2025 edition confirmed the strong interest in building a European network promoting reading and literary encounters.
Organisers, authors and institutions across the continent contributed to a shared celebration of literature – showing how powerful reading can be when communities come together.
WHY READING MATTERS
Reading connects people, cultures and ideas across Europe. The #ReadForReal initiative promotes direct encounters between authors and readers, helping inspire new generations of readers.
LOOKING AHEAD
The next edition of #EuropeanAuthorsDay #ReadForReal will take place between 11 November and 12 December 2026, bringing even more readers, authors and organisers together.
Learn how to join the upcoming edition and become part of the European celebration of reading.
