Banned Books Week initiatives expand in Norway and Sweden

Banned Books Week, an international initiative aimed at highlighting censorship and protecting freedom of expression, is being observed across Norway and Sweden. In Norway, the event is scheduled for October 5–11, 2026, involving libraries, publishers, and organizations to emphasize the importance of the right to read and think freely.

In Sweden, major online booksellers Adlibris and Bokus have integrated the week into their marketing strategies. Adlibris reports that sales of titles on the Svenska PEN list have nearly doubled in physical stores during the event, with increased interest in classics such as ‘Persepolis’ and ‘The Tale of Servants’. The Swedish initiative is led by Svenska PEN and the Banned Books Week Sweden network, focusing this year on the fantasy genre.