National Storytelling Week 2026: Soundtrack Your Story 🎶📖

National Storytelling Week 2026 runs from Monday 2 February - Sunday 8 February and this year’s theme, Soundtrack your Story, is a perfect opportunity to blend music, reading and writing together in the classroom.

Led by the National Literacy Trust, National Storytelling Week celebrates the power of stories to build empathy, imagination and a love of reading and writing for pleasure – something pupils need more than ever.

What is Soundtrack your Story?

This year’s theme explores how music connects us to words. From song lyrics and rhythms to soundscapes and film soundtracks, music helps pupils express ideas, emotions and identities in ways traditional writing sometimes can’t.

The National Literacy Trust’s research shows that over 60% of children and young people regularly read song lyrics, making them a powerful (and often untapped) gateway into literacy – especially for reluctant readers and writers.

5 Simple Classroom Ideas for National Storytelling Week

You don’t need brand-new planning. Small creative tweaks can make a big impact. Here are some of our suggested go-to activities.

1.) Lyrics as reading texts

Song lyrics work brilliantly for:

• Reading comprehension

• Exploring character, mood and theme

• Discussing figurative language and meaning

👉 Free Lyric Reading Comprehensions (rock, musicals and Disney) are available on Manic Street Teachers.

2.) Book soundtracks for the classroom

Consider how many books go hand-in-hand with music nowadays. From films/books like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the Musicals such as Matilda, or film soundtracks such as The Hobbit or Harry Potter, music and writing often co-exist like never before.

👉 Check out our blog post which links books and book chapters to songs, including author-made soundtracks by Christopher Edge, R.J. Palacio and Steven Butler, along with Spotify-designed playlists for a huge range of books and chapters. It's well worth a read here.

3.) Music videos as writing prompts

Music videos are rich in narrative, setting and symbolism. Watch, discuss, then write from a freeze-frame or imagined backstory.

👉 The Marvellous Music Video writing prompts are designed exactly for this. Grab the freebie and try it out in class.

4.) Non-fiction musician studies

Musicians don’t just write songs – they tell stories through lyrics, videos and lived experience.

👉 Musician of the Month includes a free David Bowie pack with an EYFS ebook, book lists, knowledge organisers, quizzes, activities, videos, assemblies and posters – plus 65 other musicians are now available for schools, with a focus on Protected Characteristics, genres and traditions.

5.) Stories, stories and more stories

There are more and more amazing books about inspiring musicians being published today than ever before. Hunt down a range of books to share with your class, and explore the trials and tribulations of musicians and their stories.

👉 Seek out stories from 'Little People, BIG DREAMS', or the 'Who was..' series, as well as inspirational stories collected by Books for Topics here.

Free National Literacy Trust Events

During the week, the National Literacy Trust are running free, accessible online workshops for:

• Early Years

• KS1 (ages 5–7)

• KS2 (ages 7–11)

• KS3 (ages 11–14)

All sessions are live-captioned and BSL interpreted. Just scroll to the bottom of the official page here.

Why National Storytelling Week Matters

Teachers consistently report that this week helps pupils overcome the fear of “getting it right” and simply start. Music, rhythm and sound give children permission to experiment – and that’s where great storytelling begins.

If you’re marking National Storytelling Week in your classroom, music is a powerful place to start. And if you want a few free, ready-to-use resources to support it, they’re there to make life easier, not busier.

Happy National Storytelling Week 🎶📚

Visit the official site here.