"Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read."
Banned Books Week began in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in challenges to books in libraries, bookstores, and schools. Held in late September or early October, the annual event highlights the value of free and open access to information. It brings together the entire book community—librarians, educators, authors, publishers, booksellers, and readers of all types—in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, according to the American Library Association (ALA).
As the largest non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to America’s libraries, the ALA's mission is to empower and advocate for all libraries and library workers to ensure equitable access to information for all. For 150 years, ALA has provided resources to help information professionals transform their communities through essential programs and services.
The Banned Books Week 2026 theme is “Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read.”
“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. “Every person has the right to seek information and choose books without censorship. When we say, ‘Let Books Be,’ we’re showing up for readers everywhere and reaffirming that libraries are for everyone.”
This year's theme celebrates the joy of reading and, at the same time, motivates us to stand up for the right to read.
During National Library Week, ALA released the list of the Top 11 Most Challenged Books of 2025 as part of the State of America’s Libraries Report. These are the books censors target most often. They are:
Sold by Patricia McCormick
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
Tricks by Ellen Hopkins
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
Identical by Ellen Hopkins
Looking for Alaska by John Green
Storm and Fury by Jennifer L. Armentrout
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, according to the ALA.
ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) tracked 4,235 unique titles challenged in 2025, only five titles behind the record set in 2023. Nearly 92% of 2025 book challenges were initiated by pressure groups, government officials, and decision-makers, and 5,668 titles were banned from libraries (66% of the total challenged), restricting access to an additional 920 books. This is both the highest number of titles censored in one year and the highest rate of challenges resulting in censorship since OIF began compiling censorship data in 1990.
Banned Books Week 2026 is an opportunity to inform communities about this escalation in censorship while also highlighting the importance of the right to read and readers’ access to information. Together, we can protect the freedom to read during Banned Books Week and year-round.
Over the years, Cedric D. Fisher & Co. Publishers CEO Cedric D. Fisher has been invited to sit on panels on this topic. Texas is the number one state for banned books, and a large percentage of banned books deal with Black history. Cedric D. Fisher & Co. Publishers is passionate about "letting books be" and advocating for everyone's right and freedom to read without censorship.
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