Beano has partnered with TGJones to launch an exclusive issue which will be available for free in all stores between Thursday 16 and Thursday 23 July.
The exclusive edition of the comic has a ‘Summer of Sports’ theme and will feature new adventures from Dennis the Menace and his dog Gnasher, guest appearances from famous sporting faces, as well as several vouchers for readers to use in their local TGJones store.
In a special four-page story, Dennis and Gnasher’s school Sports Day is transformed into a Summer of Sport spectacular, where they meet National Year of Reading Team Go All In captains including Joe Wicks, Tim Henman, Georgia Stanway, and Jodie Cunningham, with legendary commentator John Murray joining the action.
The story celebrates how reading can help kids discover even more about the sports and heroes they love.
The vouchers will allow fans of the comic to get a future issue of the Beano with £1.50 off, a 40% discount on its usual price of £3.75 and the official Beano Joke Book online for just £2.99 using the code BEANOJOKE, a 50% discount.
There will be a total of 50,000 issues available as part of the giveaway, available in every TGJones store.
The giveaway in partnership with Beano has been formed to support the National Year of Reading 2026, the campaign designed to inspire everyone to discover a passion for reading and embed it into our everyday lives. A Department for Education initiative supported by the National Literacy Trust, the National Year of Reading is delivered with the support of major sponsors and partners, including TGJones.
Recent research from National Literacy Trust found that the daily reading habits of children and young people have risen for the first time in five years, with more than a third (36.1%) of those aged 8 to 18 stating they enjoy reading in their free time. Research from TGJones also revealed that schoolchildren between the ages of 5 and 12 years old spend roughly 6.8 hours a week reading.
When it comes to why children want to read more, TGJones polling showed that 52% are driven by the desire to learn new things, 40% said they were inspired to pick up a book based on its cover, while 33% want to keep up with what their friends are reading.
The campaign and upcoming giveaway aims to encourage the nation to Go All In in 2026, reading into our passions and interests to get more out of the things we already love, whether it’s football, gaming, music, sci-fi, or baking.
Mike Stirling, Director of Mischief, Beano said: “My job is mainly listening to kids and filling Beano every week with the stories, characters and mischief they love. Comics make reading fun and that’s a superpower worth celebrating.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with TGJones and supporting the National Year of Reading to help introduce as many kids as we can to the joy of picking up a Beano.”
Alex Willson, CEO, TGJones, said: “Reading is so important for a child’s development, and as partners of the National Year of Reading 2026, we are continuously striving to encourage more children to pick up their favourite book or comic. Our partnership with Britain’s most beloved comic is just one more way to bring bookshelves to life across the UK.”
Beano fans can get their hands on the free issue between the 16 and 23 July by visiting their local store.
In addition to the weekly issues, TGJones has a huge collection of Beano goodies accessible in-store and online for fans of the comic to browse.
