Banned Books Week 2026
by Horn Book
Oct 05, 2026 | Filed in Blogs
It’s Banned Books Week again, and the censorship of books continues to be a clear and present danger.
It’s Banned Books Week again, and the censorship of books continues to be a clear and present danger. From The American Library Association’s website (it’s long, but important):
“Every year, [ALA]’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) compiles a list of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books in order to inform the public about censorship in libraries and schools. The lists are based on information from confidential reports filed by library professionals and community members, as well as news stories published throughout the United States.
Because many book challenges are not reported to the ALA or covered by the press, the data compiled by ALA represent only a snapshot of censorship attempts in libraries.
The 2025 data reported to [ALA]’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) shows that the majority of book censorship attempts continue to originate from organized movements. In 2025, 92% of all book challenges were initiated by pressure groups, government officials, and decision makers, up from 72% in 2024. Less than 3% of challenges originated from individual parents.
The most common justifications for censorship provided by complainants were false claims of illegal obscenity for minors; inclusion of LGBTQIA+ characters or themes; and covering topics of race, racism, equity, and social justice.
Since 2021, ALA has tracked a sharp spike in censorship attempts in libraries. OIF tracked 4,235 unique titles challenged in 2025, the second highest ever documented by ALA. The highest ever documented was 4,240 in 2023. Of the unique titles challenged in 2025, 1,671 (40%) represent the lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ people and people of color.
OIF documented 5,668 books banned from libraries (66% of the total challenged) in 2025. An additional 920 books were censored through access restrictions such as relocation or requiring parental permission. This is both the highest number of titles censored in one year and the highest rate of challenges resulting in censorship from 1990–2025.
The Top 10 Most Challenged Books lists are released annually during National Library Week and Right to Read Day.
The American Library Association condemns censorship and works to defend each person’s right to read under the First Amendment and to ensure free access to information.”
Read more: The Horn Book | Banned Books Week 2026Continue/Read Original Article: The Horn Book | Banned Books Week 2026
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