CALENDAR OF READING EVENTS IN THE UK

January

Whitbread Book Award Prizewinners announced.

W. H. 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 Prizewinner announced on Commonwealth Day.

British Book Awards are announced.

National Science Week.

Orange Prize for women writers longlist announced.
Shortlist of the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award announced.

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

April
First week April: International Children’s Book Day  – to inspire a love of reading and to call attention to children's books. Each year a different National Section of IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People) has the opportunity to be the international sponsor of the day. It decides upon a theme and invites a prominent author from the host country to write a message to the children of the world and a well-known illustrator to design a poster. These materials are used in different ways to promote books and reading.
Orange Prize for women writers shortlist announced.

W. H. 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 shortlist announced.

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. 
 

June

Orange Prizewinner for women's writing 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. 

J. R. 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

Greenaway/Carnegie Medal winner 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. The author must be a British citizen and resident in the UK.
 

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.

October
First Sunday of the month: International Poetry Challenge Day – Inspired by the UK's Poetry Week, and with Andrew Motion, the UK Poet Laureate as its patron, International Poetry Challenge Day is the first Sunday in October each year. People of all ages are urged to learn a poem by heart to recite on this day to at least one other person, and preferably to an audience; and to get sponsored by relative and friends for your favourite non-profit cause (sending any money you raise directly to the charity or group you have chosen).

First full week of the month: National Children's Book Week (early October) – An annual focus on the enjoyment of reading, with the aim of encouraging as many children as possible to get into books.

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

Man Booker Prizewinner announced.
Nobel Prize for Literature awarded.

Forward Poetry Prize – awarded on the eve of National Poetry Day.
The Guardian Children's Fiction Award prizewinner 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

T. S. Eliot Poetry Prizewinner announced.

The Guardian First Book Award shortlist announced.

Crime Writers' Association Dagger Awards prizewinners announced.

December
The Guardian First Book Award winner announced. 

Nestlé Smarties Book Prize for children's writing announced.
Blue Peter Book Awards for children's books announced.