Winners of the National Book Awards in the categories of Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature, and Young People’s Literature announced at the 76th National Book Awards Ceremony
The five Winners of the 2025 National Book Awards were announced tonight at the 76th National Book Awards Ceremony, hosted by Jeff Hiller and featuring musical guest Corinne Bailey Rae. The five National Book Award categories are Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature, and Young People’s Literature. Two lifetime achievement awards were also presented at the ceremony: George Saunders was recognized with the National Book Foundation’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, presented by Deborah Treisman; and Roxane Gay received the Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community, presented by Jacqueline Woodson. Surprise Finalist category introductions were voiced by well-known book lovers Lena Dunham, Tan France, Ira Glass, Dakota Johnson, and Laufey. The Ceremony was held in-person at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City, and broadcast live for readers everywhere on the Foundation’s website and YouTube, joined by YouTube Live chat host Josh Gondelman.
Publishers submitted a total of 1,835 books for this year’s National Book Awards: 434 in Fiction, 652 in Nonfiction, 285 in Poetry, 139 in Translated Literature, and 325 in Young People’s Literature. Judges’ decisions are made independently of the National Book Foundation staff and Board of Directors, and deliberations are strictly confidential.
Winner for Fiction:
Rabih Alameddine, The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother)
Grove Press / Grove Atlantic
Winner for Nonfiction:
Omar El Akkad, One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This
Knopf / Penguin Random House
Winner for Poetry:
Patricia Smith, The Intentions of Thunder: New and Selected Poems
Scribner / Simon & Schuster
Winner for Translated Literature:
Gabriela Cabezón Cámara, We Are Green and Trembling
Translated from the Spanish by Robin Myers
New Directions Publishing
Winner for Young People’s Literature:
Daniel Nayeri, The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story
Levine Querido
