The Hay Festival launched a new reading initiative called "The Pleasure List" on May 20, 2026, during its opening day in Hay-on-Wye, Wales.
The campaign aims to encourage adults across Britain to rediscover reading for enjoyment.
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Organizers developed the initiative in partnership with the National Year of Reading 2026.
The crowd-sourced collection features 39 book recommendations, reflecting the 39th anniversary of the 11-day festival, which is the largest free-to-enter book celebration in the UK.
The final list resulted from a six-month public call-out that drew thousands of reader nominations across genres like fantasy, crime, romance, and literary classics.
Selected works bridge traditional literature and contemporary trends, featuring Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, George Orwell's 1984, Frank Herbert's Dune, and Douglas Adams's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
Modern bestsellers like Rebecca Yarros's Fourth Wing and Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club also sit alongside Charles Dickens's David Copperfield, Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall, and Manon Steffan Ros's Welsh novel The Blue Book of Nebo.
Concern and Optimism Over Literacy Trends
Festival organizers expressed a mix of concern over current literacy trends and optimism for the new reading selection.
Stephen Fry, President of Hay Festival, noted that fewer people in Britain are reading for pleasure and expressed hope that the list would entice readers back to books.
Julie Finch, CEO of Hay Festival, said the public nominations reminded them of the joyful place reading holds in many lives.
She emphasized the power of great stories to delight and entertain, a joy they aim to spread during the National Year of Reading.
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David Hayman, Director of the National Year of Reading, stated that the partnership aligns with wider countrywide literacy goals.
He expressed hope that the list would inspire conversation and encourage millions more people to find books that bring them joy.
The inclusion of Welsh literature on the national list drew praise from regional publishers and creators.
Author Manon Steffan Ros said it was an honor to have The Blue Book of Nebo featured, noting that the novel is close to her heart and that she aimed to write something short but emotionally impactful.
Penny Thomas, Publisher at Firefly Press, called it a huge honor to have a title on the list.
She thanked the Welsh Books Council for supporting the title in both languages with fantastic results.
However, the festival faced criticism from commentators regarding its broader shift toward political debates, climate activism panels, and corporate sponsorships.
Spectator.
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com reported on scheduled events addressing environmental crises and geopolitical conflicts, contrasting the festival's eco-friendly marketing with the reality that 95 percent of attendees travel to the site by car.
