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On 17 March 2026 it will be 100 years since the University of Reading was granted a Royal Charter and became a university. Such an anniversary gives us the opportunity to showcase the past, present and future impact of the University and its people.
We’ll be celebrating the occasion throughout 2026 and the planning starts now.
Activities will focus on:
The Vice-Chancellor has set up a steering group, which includes Chancellor Paul Lindley, staff, students and alumni. Members of our whole University community, colleagues, students and alumni, will play an important role in helping us shape our anniversary and tell the unique story of our institution.
The winning logo that will be the symbol of our centenary celebrations has been chosen, thanks to almost 3,500 voters from our University community.
The votes have been totted up, and the winner is….
The winning design was created by Hannah Milway, Head of Creative and Print Services and University of Reading alum. It features the University’s heraldic crest and the year of our Royal Charter, with the typeface giving the logo a modern twist.
It was the runaway winner, picking up 61% of the vote.
The design, shown here in black and white, will appear in different colours in different settings.
Thanks to everyone who voted in the poll.
As part of our commitment to leading transformational change in climate education for young people across the UK, we are proud to be supporting the delivery of the National Education Nature Park initiative - developing nature-based learning opportunities across our University estate.
By 2026, we will look to bring together sites such as Langley Mead, the Harris Garden and the Lakeside Meadow as well as the University of Reading Atmospheric Observatory and Cole Museum of Zoology, to enhance and develop a 'living laboratory' to benefit our students and learners from schools in our region.
Find out more about the University of Reading's Nature Park.
As we prepare to create an enduring legacy for the next 100 years, a project to delve into our history and make it more accessible has been given the green light thanks to funding from the centenary budget. The University Museums and Special Collections Service (UMSCS) look after our archive. The team will now accelerate an ongoing project to fully catalogue our archive and take digital copies of key pieces.
By making our archives accessible we'll create opportunities for further study, identify stories and make our past transparent.
The Centenary Project Grant Scheme will give members of our University community the opportunity to put forward their ideas for projects and activities that will both mark our centenary year, and forge a lasting legacy for the University. Colleagues, students and alumni will be able to bid for a share of the £250,000 portion of the centenary budget that has been earmarked for the Scheme.
