12 Months, 12 Themes, 12 Adventures for Readers!
The Burlington Public Library (BPL) is inviting the community to make 2026 a year of adventure and discovery by joining the BPL Reading Challenge! Online registration is now open for the free 2026 challenge. The goal of the challenge is to read one book on a featured theme each month starting in January 2026.
The challenge isn’t just about reading more—it’s about reading differently. Choose your own book each month while using the themes to explore genres, styles, and topics you might not pick otherwise. In 2025, over 750 people signed up for the challenge to discover new authors, new voices, and new perspectives.
How it Works:
The 2026 BPL Reading Challenge is easy to join and take part in:
- Register for free online or at any Burlington Public Library branch. Anyone with a library card from Burlington or our Halton Region, Hamilton, and OverDrive partner libraries can join the challenge. Getting a BPL library card is free if you live, work, or attend school in Burlington.
- Read one book each month based on a theme. Pick any title that fits the theme. The Library provides recommendations through booklists for print books as well as eBooks and eAudiobooks, to help you choose from a wide variety of options!
- Check in online via the library website to track your progress and have a chance to win prizes! Every completed month earns you an entry into a monthly prize draw and a grand prize at the end of the challenge.
Reading Challenge Themes:
- January: A book about a journey
- February: A book that makes your heart skip a beat
- March: A book that makes you laugh out loud
- April: A book published at least 25 years ago
- May: A book with extraordinary or magic elements
- June: A book that explores identity and acceptance
- July: A book with a number in the title
- August: A book about a real person or event
- September: A book by an Indigenous author
- October: A book that features a library
- November: A book that sends shivers down your spine
- December: An old favourite or a new discovery
So what are you waiting for? Join the adventure and make 2026 your best year of reading yet!
The Burlington Public Library belongs to everyone in the community, providing open and equitable access to information, digital & print collections and resources, public computers, and a vast array of programs and services. Six full-service branches and a rural lending location offer welcoming spaces where visitors can explore, discover, reflect, learn, improve, create, and connect with others. Stay in touch with us online at bpl.on.ca, and on Instagram and Facebook @BurlONLibrary.
For further information, please contact:
Krista Schwab (she/her)
Manager, Marketing and Communications
Burlington Public Library
Office: (905) 639-3611 ext. 1303
Cell: (289) 962-0390 schwabk@bpl.on.ca
