The Ultimate Literary Calendar for Writers, Readers, and Creatives
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering what to write about next, you’re not alone. One of the easiest ways to stay consistent with blogging, newsletters, social media, or creative projects is to anchor your content to meaningful dates and seasonal moments.
That’s why I’ve put together this 2026 Literary Calendar, a month-by-month guide filled with reading, writing, storytelling, and book-loving observances from around the world. Whether you’re a writer, educator, creative business owner, or just someone who loves books, this calendar gives you built-in inspiration all year long.
Use it to plan blog posts, themed photo sessions, classroom activities, writing prompts, library features, or simple moments of intentional reading. Bookmark it, print it, or come back to it whenever you need a spark.
📚 Your 2026 Literary Calendar
January 2026
Hot Tea Month
National Braille Literacy Month
1 – Copyright Law Day
2 – National Science Fiction Day
9 – National Word Nerd Day
11 – National Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friends Day (fun writing prompt day)
11–17 – Universal Letter Writing Week
13 – Poetry at Work Day
16 – Book Publishers Day
18 – Thesaurus Day
18 – Winnie the Pooh Day
23 – National Handwriting Day
28 – Library Shelfie Day
February 2026
Creative Romance Month
Library Lovers’ Month
1–7 – Children’s Authors and Illustrators Week
2–6 – National News Literacy Week
5 – World Read Aloud Day
7 – Send a Card to a Friend Day
7 – Take Your Child to the Library Day
8–14 – Freelance Writers Appreciation Week
9 – Read in the Bathtub Day
14 – International Book Giving Day
14 – Library Lover’s Day
20 – Clean Out Your Bookcase Day
22–28 – Black Children’s Book Week
26 – Tell a Fairy Tale Day
March 2026
March Into Literacy Month
National Reading Month
Small Press Month
1 – International Hug a Librarian Day
1–7 – National Ghostwriters Week
1–7 – Read an E-Book Week
1–7 – Return Borrowed Books Week
2 – Read Across America Day
2 – Dr. Seuss Day
2–6 – Newspapers in Education Week
4 – National Grammar Day
7 – Write Like Shakespeare Day
8 – National Proofreading Day
14 – National Write Your Story Day
15–21 – World Folktales and Fables Week
16 – Freedom of Information Day
19 – International Read to Me Day
20 – World Storytelling Day
20 – Bibliomania Day
21 – World Poetry Day
26 – Tolkien Reading Day
30 – Pencil Day
April 2026
National Card and Letter Writing Month
National Poetry Month
National Literature Month
School Library Month
1 – Reading Is Funny Day
2 – International Children’s Book Day
2 – Children’s Picture Book Day
4 – National School Librarian Day
10 – National Encourage a Young Writer Day
12 – Drop Everything and Read Day
13 – Scrabble Day
14 – National Donate a Book Day
15 – Rubber Eraser Day
15 – World Art Day
16 – National Librarian Day
16 – Take Action for Libraries Day
16 – Celebrate Teen Literature Day
17 – International Haiku Poetry Day
18 – Newspaper Columnists Day
19 – Poetry and the Creative Mind Day
19–25 – National Library Week
20 – Right to Read Day
21 – National Library Workers Day
21 – Thank You for Libraries Day
22 – National Library Outreach Day
23 – Shakespeare Day
23 – World Book and Copyright Day
23 – World Book Night
24 – Library of Congress established
25 – Independent Bookstore Day
27 – National Tell a Story Day
28 – Great Poetry Reading Day
29 – National Poem in Your Pocket Day
30 – Children’s Day / Book Day
May 2026
Get Caught Reading Month
Mystery Month
National Share a Story Month
Latino Book Month
1 – Mother Goose Day
2 – International Harry Potter Day
2 – Free Comic Book Day
3 – World Press Freedom Day
4 – National Black Authors Day
5 – National Cartoonists Day
5–11 – Children’s Book Week
7 – Make a Book Day
12 – Limerick Day
16 – National Biographer’s Day
22 – Sherlock Holmes Day
31 – National Speak in Complete Sentences Day
June 2026
Audiobook Appreciation Month
Rainbow Book Month
10 – Ballpoint Pen Day
16 – Bloomsday
23 – National Typewriter Day
July 2026
National Anti-Boredom Month
Read an Almanac Month
4 – Alice in Wonderland Day
13 – Oxymoron Day
17 – World Emoji Day
30 – Paperback Book Day
August 2026
Romance Awareness Month
2 – National Coloring Book Day
9 – National Book Lover’s Day
18 – National Bad Poetry Day
21 – National Poet’s Day
24 – Pippi Longstocking Day
25 – National Hug a Librarian Day
31 – We Love Memoirs Day
September 2026
Be Kind to Editors and Writers Month
Library Card Sign-Up Month
National Literacy Month
Read a New Book Month
1 – World Letter Writing Day
4 – National Newspaper Carrier Day
6 – Read a Book Day
7 – Buy a Book Day
8 – International Literacy Day
13 – National Twilighters Day
18 – Read an E-Book Day
22 – Hobbit Day
22 – Dear Diary Day
24 – National Punctuation Day
25 – National Comic Book Day
29 – National Coffee Day (U.S.)
October 2026
Church Library Month
National Book Month
National Reading Group Month
1 – International Coffee Day
4–10 – Banned Books Week
4–10 – National Newspaper Week
6 – Mad Hatter Day
11 – Myth and Legends Day
11–17 – Teen Read Week
12 – Harry Potter Book Day
12 – Cookbook Launch Day
16 – Dictionary Day
18–24 – National Friends of Libraries Week
20 – National Day on Writing
November 2026
National Family Literacy Month
National Life Writing Month
National Memoir Writing Month
Picture Book Month
1 – National Family Literacy Day (U.S.)
1 – National Author’s Day
3–9 – Children’s Book Week
9–13 – National Young Readers Week
10 – Young Readers Day
15 – I Love to Write Day
15–21 – National Book Award Week
18 – High Five a Librarian Day
December 2026
Read a New Book Month
Write a Friend Month
7 – National Letter Writing Day
10 – Dewey Decimal System Day
21 – Crossword Puzzle Day
21 – National Short Story Day
21 – Celebrate Short Fiction Day
A calendar like this isn’t meant to add pressure it’s meant to remove the guesswork. When you already know what’s coming up, it becomes easier to plan content that feels timely, thoughtful, and aligned with your creative rhythm.
Whether you use this list to spark a single blog post, shape an entire year of content, or simply remind yourself to slow down and enjoy a good book, I hope it supports you in showing up creatively in 2026.
Save this page, share it with a fellow book lover, or revisit it whenever you need inspiration. And if you’re building a creative business and want to explore how visuals and storytelling work together, you’ll find plenty more ideas waiting for you here.
Here’s to a year filled with words, stories, and moments worth savoring.
Looking for more marketing ideas? Check out my Being Visual in Your Business book for creative inspiration and download the free Action Journal to turn your goals into action.
