It's World Read Aloud Day on 4 February 2026 and Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and Councillor Francine Higham, Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, will join staff from Nal’ibali and the Iziko Museum in reading stories to more than 200 children from Gugulethu, Lentegeur, Mfuleni, and Goodwood.
2026 Theme: ‘Unlocking Magic Through Stories – A Journey of Hope and Adventure’
The City’s Library and Information Services are once again collaborating with Nal’ibali on World Read Aloud Day 2026 with this event at the Iziko Museum.
The venue was intentionally selected as it speaks directly to the 2026 theme: ‘Unlocking Magic Through Stories – A Journey of Hope and Adventure’ and lends itself beautifully to imagination and discovery.
Story readers, which will include Mayor Hill-Lewis, Councillor Higham, and Dr. Bongani Ndhlovu, Executive Director: Core Functions, Iziko Museums of South Africa, will be stationed in different sections of the museum around specific genres, with school groups brought in for storytelling sessions.
This year’s goal is to read to four million children, with other City libraries participating with storytelling sessions and visits to daycares.
WHAT: World Read Aloud Day
WHERE: Iziko Museum, 25 Queen Victoria Street, Gardens, Cape Town 8001
WHEN: 4 February 2026 10:00 – 12:00
INFO: IZIKO VISIT | See also MapMyWay
