Banned Books Week 2026: Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read. White text on blue background, hot pink text on light tan background

Celebrate Banned Books Week 2026 from October 4th - 10th!

This year’s theme is "Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read.”

Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to read and spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. For more than 40 years, the annual event has brought together the entire book community — librarians, teachers, booksellers, publishers, writers, journalists, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek information and to express ideas. The books featured during Banned Books Week have all been targeted for removal or restriction in libraries and schools. By focusing on efforts across the country to remove or restrict access to books, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship (Banned Books Week, ALA).

 
infographic with book ban data, white text on blue background, multicolor graphs

Why Do You Love Banned Books?

Share with us why you love banned books and your favorite banned or challenged book!

Select entries will be shared on our social media pages.