Twenty-one teams from twelve local schools are gearing up for the 2026 Battle of the Books in Burlington, marking the 40th anniversary of the popular trivia competition. The Burlington Public Library event challenges students in grades 3-8 to showcase their reading skills through a Jeopardy-style contest that has been a staple of the community since 1986.
This year, the tournament introduces a new format where teams receive a list of 30 books in advance to help them prepare. The reading lists cover a variety of genres, including adventure, contemporary, fantasy, historical, humour, and non-fiction. The initiative reflects the ongoing commitment of the library and its CEO Lita Barrie to foster literacy and lifelong learning among local youth.
Competition is expected to be intense as schools vie for the Junior and Senior Champion titles. The current Junior defending champion, Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the Senior defending champion, St. Raphael, are both returning to compete for their respective titles. The event has a deep local history, with records dating back decades, including a notable six-year winning streak for the senior team from Canadian Martyrs Catholic Elementary School between 1990 and 1996.
The tournament begins with Junior Battles on April 8 and April 9, followed by the Senior Battles on April 15. The winners will then face off at the Burlington Grand Battle of the Books on April 23. Following the local event, the top teams will move on to the Regional Battle of the Books Championship on May 7, held at the Milton Public Library, where they will compete against teams from Oakville, Milton, and Halton Hills.
The program was originally inspired by a radio quiz hosted by the Chicago Public Library. After the Oakville Public Library launched the first tournament in the Halton Region in 1983, the concept quickly gained popularity and was adopted in Burlington three years later.
