Book Week is one of Australia’s most beloved school traditions, bringing together a healthy mix of creativity, cardboard, hot glue and stressed parents trying to finish a costume before the morning bell. But in 2026, some schools are tightening the rules around what students can and can’t wear, sparking plenty of discussion among families.
While there’s no nationwide ban, several schools across Australia have introduced their own costume restrictions as Children’s Book Week 2026 gets underway. The aim? To keep the spotlight firmly on books and reading rather than Hollywood blockbusters or novelty dress-ups.
So what’s making the unofficial naughty list this year?
According to reports, some Queensland Christian schools have asked families to avoid costumes featuring wizards, witches, zombies and weapons, citing the school’s values. The move effectively rules out one of the most popular Book Week choices of all time: Harry Potter characters.
Elsewhere, a South Australian Catholic school has reportedly put political figures and fan-fiction characters off limits, while a Christian school in New South Wales has banned inflatable costumes, ending dreams of oversized dinosaurs and giant inflatable superheroes marching in the parade.
In Victoria, one Christian school reminded families that students should choose book characters rather than movie or television characters, unless those characters originally come from a book. That means turning up as a random screen character may not earn a place in the costume parade.
The growing list of restrictions has left some parents scrambling for last-minute alternatives. After all, it’s a lot easier to grab a ready-made costume from a retailer than to explain to an excited child why their first choice no longer fits the school rules.
However, not everyone is upset. Some schools say the changes encourage students to think more creatively and engage more deeply with books. One Sydney school even encouraged families to make costumes themselves, arguing that creating an outfit together becomes part of the learning experience and helps bring the story to life.
The debate comes as Children’s Book Week celebrates its 2026 theme, “Symphony of Stories”, which focuses on the power of books, imagination and storytelling.
Whether you’re team DIY costume or team last-minute online shopping, one thing is certain: before diving into the dress-up box this year, it might be worth checking your school’s costume guidelines first. Nobody wants to spend hours crafting a wizard robe only to discover it’s been written out of the story before the parade even begins.
