Thousands of schoolchildren, educators and community partners came together in a historic celebration of reading as Portsmouth Creates successfully set a new Guinness World Record for the largest reading lesson across multiple venues. The record-breaking event took place on World Book Day (5 March 2026) at Fratton Park, bringing the city together to champion literacy and creativity.

Organised by Portsmouth Creates in partnership with Portsmouth Football Club, Pompey in the Community, and Portsmouth Library Service, the event saw 6,715 pupils and teachers take part in a mass reading lesson across multiple venues in the city. This achievement officially surpassed the previous world record of 3,509 participants, securing Portsmouth’s place in the record books.

The highlight of the event was a live reading lesson delivered by author Dan Freedman, known for his popular football-themed novels. Freedman read from his book I Am Lenny Brown while engaging students in a discussion about storytelling, characters and the power of reading.

The lesson, which lasted around 35-40 minutes, was carefully monitored and verified by officials to ensure it met the criteria set by Guinness World Records. When the final count was confirmed, the city celebrated a landmark moment for literacy and community collaboration.

Gemma Nichols, Chief Executive of Portsmouth Creates, described the event as a bold vision for the city, bringing together thousands of young people to celebrate stories, imagination and education in an unforgettable way. The atmosphere inside Fratton Park was electric as children arrived dressed as their favourite book characters and joined together for a shared reading experience.

Delivered Social’s Role in Amplifying the Moment

Digital marketing agency Delivered Social played a key role in the event’s success through social media marketing and digital awareness.

Working closely with Portsmouth Creates, Delivered Social helped plan and deliver engaging social media content designed to build excitement around the world record attempt. Through creative video, photography and online storytelling, the agency helped amplify the campaign across platforms, ensuring schools, families and the wider community were aware of the initiative and could follow the journey in real time.

By capturing key moments and sharing them online, Delivered Social helped extend the event’s impact far beyond the stadium, allowing audiences across the UK and beyond to witness Portsmouth making history.

The event leaves a lasting legacy for the city, showing how powerful shared cultural experiences can be in bringing people together. It also highlights the growing role of creative organisations and digital storytelling in engaging communities and inspiring participation at scale. As Portsmouth continues to invest in culture, education and innovation, this milestone stands as a proud moment that will encourage even more ambitious initiatives in the future.

What’s next? Winning City of Culture, of course!