Dame Jacqueline Wilson comes to Winchester in the National Year of Reading

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National education charity, the School Library Association, has revealed the programme for its 2026 annual conference, which will take place at the University of Winchester, Hampshire on 5th and 6th June. Supported by headline sponsor, AccessIt, the conference will include keynote addresses by renowned children's author, Dame Jacqueline Wilson and multi-million copy bestselling comic artist and author, Jamie Smart.

Legendary children's author Dame Jacqueline Wilson will be delivering the closing keynote speech at this year's SLA conference. Dame Jacqueline will be talking about her enduring career writing for children - including creating some of the best-loved children's books ever published, with over 40 million copies of her books sold in the UK alone. From the iconic girls, to the inimitable Tracey Beaker, boisterous Marty and unhappy Andy, there is a Jacqueline Wilson character that almost every reader has identified with at some point in their lives.

Bestselling comic book creator Jamie Smart, best known for his comic series Bunny vs Monkey, will lead a live Bunny vs Monkey draw-along for delegates and share his insights into the enormous rise in popularity of comic books and graphic novels. This discussion will provide an opportunity to explore the importance of considering graphic novels as valuable reading material, and how librarians, teachers and parents can harness children's enthusiasm for these titles to boost reading engagement and enjoyment.

Through the theme of 'Changing Narratives' the conference will explore how school libraries and librarians have the power to change the narratives surrounding children's reading, learning and wellbeing, offering an all-important antidote to many of the challenges facing school communities today. Delegates will hear from a range of key voices in the sector, with workshops including interactive learning opportunities for skills development that will enable new ways of working to be implemented in school. The aim is to inspire new thinking and a solution-focused approach to ensure children and young people can reach their full potential.

In addition to the programme of speaker sessions, there will be an exhibition hall with some of the very best children's publishers exhibiting and sharing new books. The conference is not only open to school librarians, teachers and senior school leaders, but also parents who homeschool or have a particular interest in literacy and their children's reading engagement. Anyone working within the publishing, bookselling or literacy sectors is also welcome to attend.