2026 National Book Awards Finalists

The National Book Foundation annually honors the best work published in the United States with the prestigious National Book Awards, celebrating exceptional fiction, nonfiction, poetry and more. Chosen from the lauded longlist, this year's finalists have been revealed.

Fiction

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After a life of exile, grief and loss, one Palestinian man propels forward in search of meaning in Paradiso 17. Poet Hannah Lillith Assadi takes readers on a lyrical journey through fate and across countries for a brilliant, moving debut novel about the life of a refugee.

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Forever changed by an unexpected and dangerous encounter, Magnolia is forced to face the memories she tried to leave behind in this multigenerational story of family, resilience and hope.

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A grieving father reflects on his past and the life he could’ve had in this sharp, tender story of identity, love and family set in the heart of Colombia.

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The author of Lost Children Archive returns with a moving story of possibility and self-discovery spanning four generations of women and the lives they helped shape.

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A tender and surreal story of a trans healthcare worker navigating life, love and politics in the swamps of Florida.

Nonfiction

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Analyzing the impact that the criminal justice system has on music and musicians, Colin Asher highlights the artists who helped shape American music, from blues to hip-hop and everything in between.

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This memoir of survival and hope follows an Egyptian student activist and his father who became political prisoners after attending a protest, illuminating the brutalities of incarceration and injustice.

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A poet showcases the power of language through her own experiences as a political speechwriter and influence of thinkers who came before her.

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As a member of the deaf community, Sara Novic reflects on what it really means to belong in this poignant, honest memoir about family, community and resilience.

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Spawning Season is a fascinating look at modern parenting, following scientist Joseph Osmundson’s personal, complex journey towards fatherhood. This is a thought-provoking exploration of queer parenting, relationships and masculinity.

Poetry

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Inspirations for this collection include the sawing of a eucalyptus tree and the art of Hilma af Kilnt, for evocative poems bound by recurring imagery of trees and fingertips.

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Hide is a striking visual poetry collection drawing from the memory and history of the author's Palestinian and Cuban heritage.

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These poems journey into a mid-century family home, exploring its rooms, objects and the domestic lives of the mothers and children who spend their days there. This is an expansive treatise on time and mortality.

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This blend of poetry, essays and photography is a searing portrayal of grief and hope in Gaza from Palestinian American poet Fady Joudah.

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Through a series of nature-inspired works, including songs, stories and elegies, Susan Stewart offers a powerful meditation on the passing of time and the changing of seasons.

Translated Literature

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This dark twist on Christopher Marlowe’s classic play Doctor Faustus is a cautionary tale about the price of success and the moral dilemma that follows.

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In a small European village at the beginning of the nineteenth century, Redo Hauptshammer uncovers a collection of frozen bodies that leads to a compelling mystery in this genre-bending tale infused with magical realism.

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In Night of a Thousand Hells, Intan Paramaditha weaves Indonesian legend with Islamic mysticism for a haunting tale following two sisters who are forever changed by a tragic act of violence.

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In Senegal, a French literature professor witnesses the realities of homophobia in this powerful novel about courage, identity and strength from the author of The Most Secret Memory of Men.

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With stories of strength, resilience and loss, Syrian journalist Samar Yazbek shares real accounts from 26 Palestinians who fought for survival on October 7th, 2023 and the harrowing days that followed.

Young Peoples Literature

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When Nora travels to Paris to spread her mother's ashes, the journey takes her further than she expected. Set in a complicated post-pandemic world, Elana K. Arnold paints a unique portrait of healing and forgiveness.

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After receiving a harrowing prophecy, three friends must overcome their growing differences to prevent future destruction. Newbery Award-winning author Tae Keller crafts a story of fate, friendship and hope.

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On a mission to find her missing sister, a Hawaiian teen is led to an isolated luxury resort that isn't what it seems. As her investigation unfolds, each secret is bloodier and more horrifying than the last.

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Through meticulous research and thoughtful interviews, David Levithan and Gabriel Duckels offer an accessible and informative look at AIDS crisis and its lasting impact on LGBTQ+ communities.

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When his basketball dreams are sidelined due to an injury, Shake learns the power of vulnerability and the value in asking for help in this insightful tale of resilience and self-discovery.