2026 Centenary Celebrations
2026 is the University of Reading’s centenary year, marking 100 years since it was granted a Royal Charter.
To celebrate this momentous milestone, we have planned a vibrant programme of events - we’ll be hosting everything from festivals and lectures, to performances and exhibitions.
Studying at Reading during the centenary year offers you many opportunities to get involved in additional events and activities - keep an eye on this page throughout 2026 to find out what's coming up. We hope you enjoy celebrating the centenary with us!
Birthday Celebrations - Tuesday 17 March:
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Official Cake Cutting Join Vice-Chancellor, Professor Robert Van de Noort, at 9.30am in the lobby of Palmer Building for the official 100th Birthday cake cutting, complete with ceremonial sword. |
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Muffins & Centenary Giveaways Pop along to our student stand in the Library Foyer from 11.30am to pick up your free centenary muffin and centenary giveaways (while stocks last)! |
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Centenary Selfies Also in the Library Foyer, snap a centenary selfie using our centenary photo props - don't forget to tag @uor_student and @uniofreading with the hashtag #UoR100 when you upload it! |
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Centenary Wall of Wishes What's a birthday without one giant birthday card? Share your digital birthday message now at rdg.ac/WallofWishes Take a look at the messages already submitted to the Centenary Wall of Wishes |
Upcoming Centenary Events:
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Let's Lift The Curfew Let's Lift The Curfew is a supportive, safety-first running initiative created for women. Funded by the University of Reading Centenary Grant, it is launching on Whiteknights campus as part of Sport England's 'This Girl Can campaign', that aims to get more women being active during darker months. Almost three-quarters of women in the UK change their outdoor activity routines during winter due to fears around their safety; one in four ensure to take well-lit routes; almost a quarter avoid certain areas altogether; and one in five glance behind them to ensure they’re not being followed. This running initiative is open to students, staff, and the community. Join every Thursday for structured sessions led by qualified run leaders, welcoming all abilities - beginners, intermediates and advanced runners. Every Thursday from 29 January - 26 March, 5pm meet |
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Centenary Heritage Tours Discover the University of Reading's rich history and heritage. Join us to uncover fascinating moments from our history, explore architectural gems, absorb the beauty of our green spaces and cherish the generations of voices who have studied, worked, lived and helped to inspire the university we know today. This is part of our Memories of the University of Reading Centenary Grant project. 19 February - 10 December 2026 |
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Centenary Community Festival 2026 Join us on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 May for a vibrant weekend packed with entertainment and discovery to celebrate 100 years of the University of Reading. Admission is free and everyone is welcome! 16-17 May 2026 |
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Sparks, Parks, Halls & Balls: 100 Years of Campus Life Sparks, Parks, Halls & Balls is a vibrant, site-specific celebration of 100 years of the University of Reading. Set on our Whiteknights Campus, this immersive promenade production invites audiences to journey through a century of student life. From the University's earliest days to the bustle of a 1950s common room, the energy and protest of the 1970s, and the unmistakable sounds of the 1990s - bringing past moments vividly into the present. This is an invitation to wander, listen and connect with the many voices that have shaped campus life. Inspired by in-depth interviews with students, staff, alumni and members of the local community, alongside discoveries from the University's archives, these real memories form the heart of an experience that celebrates community, creativity and impact. This is part of our Memories of the University of Reading Centenary Grant project. Friday 22, Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 May 2026 |
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100 For 100 Music The University of Reading is an exciting place for making music. This year, to celebrate our centenary, we're launching 100 for 100: 100 gigs, events, and groups you can join throughout 2026. Programme currently runs until the end of May and will be updated as more events are confirmed. |
| 100 Years of Botany
For our centenary year, the finals of Botanical University Challenge 2026 are coming to Reading. The events will celebrate the influential role of botany teaching and research at Reading during the past century, and our alumni who have made significant contributions worldwide. The next on-line knock-out and quarterfinal rounds will be 11, 18 & 25 February 2026, streamed live on our YouTube channel and available to afterwards. The live semi-final and final will be at University of Reading on Wednesday 19 August 2026 to celebrate 10 years of Botanical University Challenge and as part of the University’s centenary celebrations. You can get involved by voting for the best team name, which will be announced at the final on 19 August. |
Other event highlights - we will share more updates on these and other centenary events throughout the year:
- Outdoor Learning Garden - coming in 2026
Find out more about our celebratory events, the University's history and our centenary stories.