Fez — Morocco has officially opened applications for the 12th edition of the National Reading Award for 2026, an annual competition designed to promote reading culture and encourage sustained engagement with books among young people.
The announcement was made by the Reading Network in Morocco, which said the competition is organized in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, Culture Sector, and in coordination with regional academies and provincial directorates affiliated with the Ministry of National Education, Preschool and Sports.
Who can apply and how
According to the organizers, the competition is open to students aged between 7 and 26, provided they have not won the National Reading Award or a similar prize during the past three years. The initiative targets a broad age range, reflecting its goal of embedding reading habits early while continuing to support young adults in their intellectual development.
Interested candidates are required to complete an online registration form, available through the official application link shared by the organizers. The registration phase marks the first step in what is described as a structured “reading commitment,” encouraging participants to engage consistently with books over time.
Winners to be announced in May
The winners of the 2026 National Reading Award are expected to be announced during a special ceremony held on the sidelines of the International Publishing and Book Fair, scheduled for May. The timing links the award to one of Morocco’s most important cultural events, placing young readers at the heart of the national literary calendar.
Organizers describe the award as a key component of the “Reading for All” program, which seeks to establish reading as a daily, civic, and cultural practice within Moroccan society. Each edition serves as an annual milestone reinforcing the social value of books and knowledge.
A decade-long mission to promote reading
Founded in December 2013, the Reading Network in Morocco has worked to spread reading culture as a foundation for knowledge acquisition and as a driver of both individual and collective development.
Through partnerships with public institutions and educational bodies, the network positions reading not as an occasional activity, but as a lifelong habit essential to cultural growth.
