American Library Association Announces 'Let Books Be' as 2026 Banned Books Week Theme Amidst Rising Challenges
The American Library Association (ALA) and the Banned Books Week Coalition have declared "Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read." as the theme for Banned Books Week 2026, scheduled for October 4–10. This initiative comes in response to a significant increase in book challenges across libraries, schools, and bookstores since Banned Books Week was first launched in 1982. The campaign aims to highlight the importance of intellectual freedom and access to diverse perspectives, featuring artwork from illustrators Hyesu Lee, Loveis Wise, and Mikey Burton. These illustrations are designed to convey joy and creativity as forms of resilience against organized censorship efforts. The ALA is providing various free resources, downloads, and materials to support activities during Banned Books Week, which are available through their website and the ALA Store. Additionally, the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) offers Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund Programming Grants to libraries, schools, and non-profit organizations ...
