The American Library Association has been defending the freedom to read since 1896. We partnered with them and the Banned Books Week Coalition to develop the creative campaign for Banned Books Week 2026. The theme — Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read. — is one our team helped shape from the ground up.
In a moment when the cultural conversation around reading, identity, and access has never felt more contested, we made a strategic creative choice: lead with joy. Our job was to find the campaign approach that could cut through a climate of exhaustion without adding to it. Joyful defiance, we believe, is more durable than anger, and more inviting to the communities these books are meant to reach.
Our campaign features illustrations from three award-winning artists—Mikey Burton, Hyesu Lee, and Loveis Wise—that embrace joy and creativity as acts of resilience. The decision to bring multiple artists into a single campaign was intentional: different expressions, different perspectives, one shared belief that all voices and all stories deserve to be heard.
“Banned Books Week is a celebration of the freedom to read and the joy that comes from discovering stories that expand our understanding of ourselves and one another,” said American Library Association President Sam Helmick. “When we say ‘Let Books Be,’ we’re reaffirming that libraries are for everyone.”