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Empathy Day Festival 2026

To celebrate the National Year of Reading, we’re Going All In for connection.
Dive into NEW challenges, BRILLIANT author events, EXCITING content and so much more!

Download your toolkit

General Toolkit

Click to download

Early Years Toolkit

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Get Ready for the Empathy Day Festival

webinar

LIVE events

THREE brilliant free live online events, each featuring two of your favourite authors,
sharing their brilliant characters and empathy inspiration

Primary

Thursday 4 June, 1.30-2.00pm

Louie Stowell & Jeffrey Boakye

Recommended for ages 7-11, Key Stage 2/P5-7

Secondary

Thursday 11 June, 1.30-2.00pm

Matt Goodfellow & Manjeet Mann

Recommended for ages 11-14, Key Stage 3-4/ S1-3

Friday Book Club

Special Empathy Day edition

Thursday 11 June, 2-2.45pm

Join Ed Vere, Mevan Babakar and Lisa Thompson for a fun & interactive session, hosted by Jenny McLachlan.

Watch ON DEMAND

From 18 May, access ALL of our fabulous pre-recorded films for all ages,
from Early Years through to KS3. Watch in advance to help you start planning which
films you want to share and when.

Empathy Day Assembly

Featuring S.F. Said

Recommended for ages 7-13, Key Stage 2 & Lower KS3, P3-S2

Use our new assembly slide deck to jump into someone else’s story and read, connect and act.

Empathy Day Assembly

In Wales

Recommended for ages 7-13, Key Stage 2 and Lower KS3, P3-S2

Pre-recorded assemblies in English & Welsh with author/illustrator, Huw Aaron. Versions available for both primary and secondary.

Draw with Rob

For all ages

Our annual empathy-themed draw along with superstar illustrator, Rob Biddulph.
Step-by-step inspiration for
all ages.

10-20-minute interactive films featuring top authors & illustrators. Expect readalouds
and interactive activites. All films available to view from 18 May.

Rachel Bright

Recommended for ages 4-7, 
Key Stage 1/ P2-3

Explore feelings and finding
connection
with others

Patrice Lawrence

Recommended for ages 7-11,
Key Stage 2/ P5-7

Explore buried secrets
and long lost connections

Kristina Rahim & Ian Eagleton

Recommended for ages 7-11,
Key Stage 2/P5-7

Explore and celebrate families of all kinds

Nathanael Lessore

Recommended for ages 11-14,
Key Stage 3-4/ S1-3

Explore what happens when our online
and offline identities collide

Cariad Lloyd & Tom Percival

Recommended for ages 4-7,
Key Stage 1/ P2-3

Explore a gentle story of grief
and how we
can support each other

Chanté Timothy

Recommended for ages 7-11,
Key Stage 2/ P5-7

Explore how to create your own
“Supa” graphic novel characters

Michael Rosen

Recommended for ages 11-14,
Key Stage 3-4/ S1-3

Explore the courage
of refugees in a true World War II story

Cathy Reay & James Catchpole

Recommended for ages 11-14,
Key Stage 2-3/S1-3

Explore and celebrate
real-life stories of disability

Take the Empathy Challenge

Choose your favourite Challenge activities & accompanying printables as the basis of your festival activity.

Read

Connect

Act

Empathy Choice

Share your favourite empathy-building read.

Help us create a nationwide library full of brilliant empathy-boosting reads. Add your choice and tell us why – we want to hear your voice!

Empathy Glasses

Designed by Ramzee

Cut out & decorate your Empathy Superpower Glasses.

Wear them to remind you to look from the perspective of others.

Empathy Resolutions

Put empathy into action by choosing & committing to an Empathy Resolution.

Choose ONE thing which makes a difference to the lives of others around you.

Empathy Book Club

Start an Empathy-themed book club – at home, school, your local library or bookshop.

Coming soon!

In collaboration with

The Big Lunch: Sharing Stories

 Join the annual Big Lunch celebration (5-8 June) by hosting a story-themed get-together in your school, street or community to share stories, food, fun and friendship.

In collaboration with

Empathy Comic Strip

Create your own empathy-themed comic strip.

Use our storyboards – think carefully about your characters, how they feel and what they experience.

Empathy Character

Connect with a character and jump into their story.

Create a character ‘feeling file’. How do they feel inside and what’s happening on the outside?

Empathy Exchange

Get to know someone better.

Use our conversation prompts to connect and find out what really makes them tick. Questions have been written by young people from across the UK.

Coming soon!

Empathy News

Celebrate the good things in your community.

Seek out FIVE good things happening this week. Create a GOOD NEWS display, newspaper article, blog or video to share widely.

Early Years resources

Elmer the Patchwork Elephant © David McKee 2026, Andersen Press Ltd.

Read

Connect

Act

Empathy Choice

Share your favourite empathy-building read.

Help us create a nationwide library full of brilliant empathy-boosting reads. Add your choice and tell us why – we want to hear your voice!

Superhero Masks

Create your own Superhero Masks

Get crafty using our templates.

Set up a colourful display to celebrate everyone’s brilliant designs. Host a short parade where older children share their empathy superpowers with their parent or carer.

Empathy Resolutions

Put empathy into action and create your own Empathy Day Festival bunting.

What small actions can YOU promise to take which will make things better for others?

Decorate the Empathy Day Festival bunting templates with drawings, scribbles or words that show what being kind means.

The Big Lunch: Sharing Stories

Host a story-themed Big Lunch (5-8 June) in your setting or community.

Invite parents and carers in to share stories, food, fun and friendship.

In collaboration with

Empathy Tree

Celebrate the good things in your setting or community.

Stick or paint a large tree on a wall and attach pre-made leaves every time someone says or does something kind for another person.

Write or draw on the leaf to remind you why the leaf is being added, then watch together as your tree grows its beautiful leaves.

Coming soon

All on-demand content from 18 May