The National Reading Aloud Competition, inspired by the Dutch National Reading Aloud Competition, has been held since 2017. It is open to pupils in forms 5 and 6 (children aged 11–12), from all over Latvia.
Participants choose their favourite book and prepare a three-minute read-aloud excerpt. Their performances are evaluated by a professional jury, which selects the winners.
The competition runs throughout the year and consists of several stages. First, children compete in their schools and local libraries, then in regional finals and large municipality finals, until finally, in the national finals organised in Riga, the Reading Aloud Champion is determined and becomes the Director of the National Library for Children for a year – an inspiration for reading throughout Latvia.
The programme is coordinated by 30 regional coordinators, and around 7,500 pupils take part in the competitions. The aim is to celebrate young readers, promote public speaking skills, and strengthen the reading culture in Latvia.
