World Book Day 2026: Heroes & Villains - Costume Ideas

World Book Day has always been a celebration of imagination, creativity, and the stories that stay with us. This year’s theme - Heroes and Villains — is the perfect opportunity for boys to bring their favourite characters to life!

Here are some heroic (and villainous) costume ideas especially popular with boys of all ages:

Hero Characters

Adventure & Fantasy Heroes

• Percy Jackson (Percy Jackson and the Olympians)
• Harry Potter (Harry Potter)
• Hiccup (How to Train Your Dragon)
• Bilbo Baggins (The Hobbit)

Classic and Timeless Heroes

• Peter Pan (Peter Pan)
• Robin Hood (Various retellings)
• Alex Rider (Alex Rider Series)

Heroes from Graphic Novels & Funny Reads

• Dog Man (Dog Man)
• Big Nate (Big Nate)
• Miles Morales (Spider‑Man)
• Greg Heffley (Diary of a Wimpy Kid)

Villain Characters

Iconic Villains

• Voldemort (Harry Potter)
• The White Witch’s Henchmen (Narnia)
• Captain Hook (Peter Pan)
• Shere Khan  (The Jungle Book)
• The Big Bad Wolf  (Three Little Pigs / Little Red Riding Hood)
• The Green Goblin (Marvel Graphic Novels)

Funny & Mischievous Villains

• Count Olaf (A Series of Unfortunate Events)
• Mr Twit (The Twits)
• The Grinch (as the “villain turned hero” twist!)

Mysterious or Dark Characters

• The Highwayman (The Highwayman Poem)
• Smaug the Dragon (The Hobbit)
• The BFG (as the “villain turned hero” twist!)

Quick, Easy & Low‑Cost Ideas

• A generic wizard or dark sorcerer - Uses things you already have at home.
• A brave knight or an evil knight - Cardboard armour works brilliantly.
• A detective or criminal mastermind - Coat, hat, and a magnifying glass or clue sheet.

This World Book Day, we can’t wait to see our corridors filled with brave heroes, mischievous villains, and unforgettable characters. Boys - who will YOU be?