Banned Books Week UK
Banned Books Week UK returns from 5–11 October 2025. It’s a week to celebrate the books that have been challenged, removed or silenced, and to stand with the people who write, sell and share them. Join Index on Censorship in honouring the right to read freely and the courage it takes to speak up. In partnership with the International Publishers Association and Hay Festival Global.
Get involved!
- Booksellers and libraries are invited to host displays, organise events or highlight books that have been banned or challenged around the world.
- Writers and readers are encouraged to celebrate books that have come under fire ( globally or locally)
- Publishers and literature organisations are invited to join the campaign, whether curating online reading lists, hosting events or posting online
- Share the campaign on social media! Check out our social media pack and start sharing!
BANNED BOOKS WEEK EVENTS
Hosting an event?
Planning an event for Banned Books Week UK? We'd love to promote it! Simply submit details to [email protected] and we'll share it on our page.
Resources
- Index on Censorship's Banned Books Week reading list
- Top 10 Things to Do During Banned Books Week UK
- Ideas for Libraries and Bookshops
About Banned Books Week UK
Index on Censorship is the UK partner for the USA Coalition, which runs ‘Banned Books Week’. Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in libraries, bookstores, and schools. Typically (but not always) held during the last week of September, the annual event highlights the value of free and open access to information and brings together the entire book community — librarians, educators, authors, publishers, booksellers, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas. You can read more about Banned Books Week here: About | Banned Books Week.
Banned Books Week UK is led by Index on Censorship as a parallel campaign to Banned Books Week in the USA. It ran successfully for a couple of years prior to the pandemic and is re-launching in 2025. Index invites booksellers, libraries, literary organisations, publishers, schools, writers and any other organisations interested in getting involved with the campaign. The aim of Banned Books Week UK is to become a truly nationwide campaign. Follow us on X.
About our partners
International Publishers Association is the world’s largest federation of national, regional and specialist publishers’ associations. Through its members, IPA represents thousands of individual publishers around the world who service more than 5.6 billion people. IPA is also an accredited non-governmental organisation (NGO) enjoying consultative relations with the United Nations.
Hay Festival Global brings together diverse voices from the worlds of art, literature, science, politics, music and comedy to listen, talk, debate and create. Through one-of-a-kind festivals, in unique locations around the world – plus forums, digital platforms and learning programmes – we celebrate and inspire different views, perspectives and points of view.