HarperCollins Children’s Books has announced a major celebration to mark the centenary of Michael Bond’s birth. Born on 13 January 1926, Bond introduced generations of readers to iconic characters including Olga da Polga, The Herbs, The Castle Mice and, of course, Paddington Bear.
Commemorative publishing will include Happy Birthday, Paddington – the perfect gift for fans of all ages. HarperCollins will work closely with the Michael Bond Estate, STUDIOCANAL, Paddington The Musical and other partners to deliver a year of family-focused activities from Bond’s birthday through World Book Day, Easter and Paddington’s own birthday in June.
To launch the centenary celebrations, Waterstones Piccadilly will host a special showcase of archived materials, featuring illustrations, letters and previously unseen photographs, offering visitors a unique insight into Bond’s remarkable life and work.
Reading for Pleasure will be at the heart of the campaign, with children invited to enjoy extracts and activities on Paddington benches across the country. Fans can also look forward to a flagship event at Hay Festival 2026, featuring very special guests.
Michael Bond was born in Newbury and grew up in Reading. After leaving school at fourteen, he served in the RAF and British Army during World War II, selling his first short story while stationed in Cairo. Later, while working as a BBC cameraman, he bought a small bear on Christmas Eve 1956 – a gift for his wife that inspired A Bear Called Paddington, published in 1958.
Bond went on to create a rich cast of characters for children and adults, and by 1966 was a full-time writer. He was awarded an OBE in 1997 and a CBE in 2015 before his death in 2017.
Karen Jankel, Michael Bond’s daughter, said: “Paddington has become such an institution that, even to this day, I still can’t quite believe that he wouldn’t exist but for my father. Although he may no longer be here in person my father lives on through the characters he created so, although I miss him enormously, it still feels as though he’s very much still with us. I’m both delighted and enormously proud to be celebrating his centenary.”
Cally Poplak, Executive Publisher at HarperCollins Children’s Books, added: “The love for Michael Bond’s delightful stories and unforgettable characters is stronger than ever, and we couldn’t be more proud to celebrate his centenary and his legacy.”
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
