CALENDAR OF READING EVENTS IN THE UK

January

Costa Book Award Prizewinners announced.

WH Smith 'People's Choice' Book Awards shortlist announced.
 

February
First full week in February: National Storytelling Week.

Arthur C. Clarke Award shortlist announced.

March
Commonwealth Writers Prize - prizewinner announced on Commonwealth Day.

British Book Awards announced.

National Science Week.

Orange Prize for women writers longlist announced.

National Poetry Competition - winners announced.
Shortlist of the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award announced.

Blue Peter Book Awards - prizewinners announced on World Book Day.

First Thursday of March in the UK and 23rd April internationally: World Book Day. 
First Thursday in March: World Storytelling Day.

April
First week April: International Children’s Book Day.
Orange Prize for women writers shortlist announced.

WH Smith 'People's Choice' Book Awards prizewinners announced in eight categories voted for by the UK public: Biography and Autobiography; Travel Writing; Business books; Factual; Fiction; Debut Novel; Lifestyle; and Teen Choice.

Independent Foreign Fiction Prize shortlist announced.
The Royal Society of Literature Heinemann Prize is awarded to a work, generally non-fiction, of outstanding literary distinction.

23 April World Book Day - First Thursday in March in the UK – Shakespeare's birthday rest of world.
 

May
National Share a Story Month organised by The Federation of Children's Book Groups – celebrates the power of story, with events and activities put on by Book Groups across the country, and with a National Competition.

Carnegie/Greenaway shortlists announced for the best children's book and illustrated book.

Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-fiction shortlist announced.

Arthur C. Clarke Award awarded to the best science-fiction novel first published. The award is run jointly by The British Science Fiction Association and The Science Fiction Foundation.
Arts Council of Wales Book of the Year Awards are made to a Welsh-language book and an English-language book of the year. 

Everyman Bollinger Wodehouse Prize awarded at the Hay Festival to celebrate the best comic writing.

Orwell Prizes for political writing - winners announced.

Bookseller Industry Awards ('the Nibbies') - winners announced.

The Independent Foreigh Fiction Prize - winners announced.
 

June

Orange Broadband Prize Prizewinner for women's writing announced.

Impac International Dublin Prize prizewinner announced.
Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-fiction Prizewinner announced.

Aventis Prizes for Science Books awarded to a popular non-fiction science and technology book.
Scottish Arts Council Book Awards announced for a work by a Scottish writer or to a book with a strong Scottish interest. 

JR Ackerley Prize for Autobiography awarded to an outstanding autobiography written in English by a living author of British nationality or long-term residence, which is first published in the UK in the calendar year preceding the year in which the award is presented.
Thomas Cook Travel Book Award shortlist announced.

Middlesex University Press Literary Prize for short stories and poetry closing date June.
 

July

Carnegie/Greenaway winners announced.

Caine Prize for African Writing awarded to a work by an African writer published in English, whether in Africa or elsewhere.   
 

August

Man Booker Prize longlist announced.

Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year awarded to a writer under the age of 35 for a work of fiction, non-fiction or poetry published the previous year. 
 

September
First or second Friday of September: Swap-a-Book Day.

Man Booker Prize shortlist announced.

Thomas Cook Travel Book Award prizewinner announced for the best travel narrative published in the English language during the calendar year preceding the year in which the award is presented.

Middlesex University Press Literary Prize announced week second week in September.

Booktrust Early Years Awards - winners announced.

October
First full week of the month: National Children's Book Week.

Forward Poetry Prize – awarded on the eve of National Poetry Day.

First Thursday of the month – National Poetry Day – each year has a different theme.

Man Booker Prizewinner announced.
Nobel Prize for Literature awarded.

The Guardian Children's Fiction Award - winner announced.

Marsh Biography Award for a significant biography by a British author published in the UK in the two years prior to the year in which the prize is awarded. 
 

November

Booktrust Teenage Prize - winner announced.

Roald Dahl Funny Prize - for the funniest children's books - prizewinners announced.

TS Eliot Poetry Prize - prizewinner announced.

The Guardian First Book Award shortlist announced.

Crime Writers' Association Dagger Awards prizewinners announced.

John Llewellyn Rhys Prize - winners announced.

December
The Guardian First Book Award - winner announced. 

Blue Peter Book Awards (for children's books) - winner announced.

BBC National Short Story Award - winner announced.