- Now in its fifth year, the Premier's Reading Challenge launches today across all education sectors
- The challenge encourages students to read regularly to help improve their literacy skills and to foster an enjoyment of reading
- In 2025, more than 26,000 students from 881 schools read a total of 420,000 books
- Cook Government investing in education and early childhood development
Premier Roger Cook and Education Minister Sabine Winton today announced the launch of the 2026 Premier's Reading Challenge.
Now in its fifth year, the challenge is open to all Western Australian students from Kindergarten to Year 12.
Since the challenge began, there have been 1,935,827 books registered.
The annual literacy engagement program encourages students to develop a love of books, reading, and improve language and literacy skills.
Kindergarten to Year 6 students need to read 12 books or more between the months of April and June, while Years 7 to 12 students must read at least six books to complete the challenge.
Students can explore a wide range of formats including short stories, graphic novels, eBooks, audiobooks, podcasts, poems, and accessible texts for the visually impaired.
By logging their reading achievements each week, students can go in the draw to win a range of prizes including technology, audio books and gift cards.
School staff can register as challenge champions to help drive participation in their school, with WA authors once again supporting the initiative by hosting classroom workshops, narrating their titles for a virtual storytelling series, and appearing as guests on the challenge podcast,Between our pages.
The Premier's Reading Challenge will run from 23 March to 12 June 2026. More information is available online .
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
"I am incredibly proud to officially launch the fifth year of the Premier's Reading Challenge.
"Reading is the foundation of all learning, and this challenge is designed not only to build students' skills, but to spark curiosity, imagination and a life-long passion for books.
"We know that strong reading habits support confidence, wellbeing and academic success, and the challenge is a fun way to get students from all schools around the State excited about reading in modern and inclusive formats."
As stated by Education Minister Sabine Winton:
"The Premier's Reading Challenge provides an opportunity for every learner to set personal goals, explore new genres, and celebrate their progress along the way.
"Just as importantly, it brings school communities together, encouraging families to share in the joy of reading at home."
