World Book Day, officially known as World Book and Copyright Day, is celebrated on April 23rd each year. The date was chosen by UNESCO in 1995 to coincide with the death anniversaries of two literary giants — William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes — both of whom died on April 23, 1616 (though under different calendars). The day also marks the birth or death of several other notable authors. World Book Day aims to promote reading, publishing, and the protection of intellectual property through copyright. UNESCO designates a World Book Capital each year — a city that makes outstanding contributions to promoting books and fostering a culture of reading. Past World Book Capitals have included Madrid, Montreal, Buenos Aires, Bangkok, and Strasbourg. Celebrations include book fairs, author readings and signings, storytelling events, literary workshops, book donation drives, and school activities where children dress as their favorite book characters. Many publishers and bookstores offer special promotions and discounts. The day highlights the power of books to bridge cultures, spark imagination, and serve as vehicles for education and social progress.
World Book Day 2027 falls on Friday, 23 April 2027. World Book Day, officially known as World Book and Copyright Day, is celebrated on April 23rd each year.
There are 160 days (22 weeks, or about 5 months 9 days) until World Book Day. That is approximately 3,830 hours or 229,858 minutes from now. Use our date calculator to find the exact duration between any two dates.
There are 22 weeks until World Book Day on Friday, 23 April 2027. That falls in week 16 of the year. Use our live countdown timer above for a real-time count including hours, minutes, and seconds.