Utah Children Invited to 600-Minute Reading Marathon
Parents can help students track reading progress throughout November to meet this annual state-wide literacy goal.
Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Primary Education
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PBS Utah has launched its 34th annual Reading Marathon, inviting children across the state to participate in a month-long literacy challenge. To complete the program, students must read or be read to for a total of 600 minutes between November 1 and November 30.
Why it matters
The annual campaign serves as a cornerstone of the broader Utah Reads initiative, which aims to boost childhood literacy levels statewide. By tracking minutes, families can turn daily reading into a measurable goal that encourages consistent educational engagement throughout the month.
The Reading Marathon requires children to log 600 minutes of reading between November 1 and November 30. Last year, 33,000 children across Utah participated, contributing to a total of 26 million logged minutes.
The players
PBS Utah
A public media organization that promotes childhood literacy through community-based educational programming and annual campaigns.
Governor Cox
The current Governor of Utah who launched the statewide Utah Reads campaign in October 2026.
The details
The program functions by encouraging families to document daily reading sessions for children. Participants can utilize various library resources to support their progress throughout the month, with the goal of reaching the 600-minute benchmark by the end of November. The initiative is part of the larger Utah Reads campaign, designed to foster a culture of literacy in homes across the state.
Timeline
November 1, 2026: Official start date of the Reading Marathon challenge.
November 30, 2026: Official end date of the Reading Marathon challenge.
The Home Front
The Reading Marathon aligns with a growing statewide push through the Utah Reads campaign to incentivize at-home learning. These efforts reflect a broader regulatory and social focus on improving youth literacy through structured, library-supported initiatives.
Families should check if their local library has specific resources or materials to help children track their daily reading minutes. Maintaining a consistent reading log throughout November ensures participants reach the 600-minute goal by the deadline.
The takeaway
The Reading Marathon offers a simple, structured way to build a healthy, consistent reading habit at home. Families should calendar the November 30 deadline to ensure all reading minutes are logged and submitted through the official program resources.
Further reading
Learn more about local efforts to support youth literacy in our Primary Education section.
More information
Access tracking materials and program details at the Utah Reads campaign information website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KSL.
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