Writing Our Way Forward: International Literacy Day 2026
International Literacy Day is a chance to reflect on how far literacy has come across the Commonwealth, and this year that reflection follows closely on the heels of a real highlight: the success of The Queen's Commonwealth Writing Competition 2026.
On International Literacy Day, it is worth revisiting the history behind its international recognition. 2026 marks 60 years since UNESCO proclaimed International Literacy Day at the 14th session of its 1966 General Conference. The Royal Commonwealth Society was founded 98 years before that proclamation, and The Queen's Commonwealth Writing Competition began 15 years after the Society itself. Our work to promote literacy reaches back well beyond this international celebration, but the day still gives us a meaningful moment to take stock of, and add momentum to, our own educational efforts.
UNESCO reported in 2024 that 739 million youth and adults worldwide are still building their basic literacy skills, a reminder of just how relevant International Literacy Day remains today. At the Royal Commonwealth Society, Education is one of our three core pillars, and closing this gap is central to our work across the Commonwealth. Our yearly writing competition is one of the clearest expressions of that commitment, encouraging creativity, originality, imagination and, perhaps most importantly, academic confidence.
The Queen's Commonwealth Writing Competition has now engaged over 320,000 young people across the Commonwealth since 2010 alone, with 53,840 taking part this year. The programme stands as a testament to educational progress across the Commonwealth, with both the gender gap and regional disparities in literacy rates narrowing in recent years, a genuinely encouraging sign for the future of literacy across our member nations.
This year's entries were a strong showcase of the creative and educational aspirations of young people across the Commonwealth. They reflect a real depth, not only in how culture and identity bring us all together, but in the confidence with which these young writers responded to the pressures that might otherwise divide us. As ever, the entries showed an understanding well beyond what you'd expect of writers this age, leaving judges impressed and hopeful for what the next generation of Commonwealth voices will go on to achieve.
So, as we reflect on International Literacy Day 2026, we want to once again congratulate every participant in this year's writing competition for taking ownership of their own learning and creativity. Results for the competition will be out later in the year.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Royal Commonwealth Society.
