2025 Awards

Wednesday, November 19, 2025
Livestream at 8pm EST Wednesday, November 19, 2025
Livestream at 8pm EST
Ceremony Details Ceremony Details
Musical Performance

Corinne Bailey Rae

Welcome

Jeff Hiller

Presentation of the Literarian Award

to Roxane Gay by Jacqueline Woodson

Presentation of the DCAL Medal

to George Saunders by Deborah Treisman

Remarks

David Steinberger and Ruth Dickey

Musical Performance

Corinne Bailey Rae

Presentation of the National Book Award for
Young People’s Literature

David Bowles

Translated Literature

Stesha Brandon

Poetry

Terrance Hayes

Nonfiction

Raj Patel

Fiction

Rumaan Alam

Closing Remarks

Jeff Hiller

Tune in to the livestream with YouTube Live Chat host Josh Gondelman.

Host

Jeff Hiller

Jeff Hiller is an actor, comedian, and writer. He won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor for HBO’s Somebody Somewhere. His comedic memoir Actress of a Certain Age was released this summer. Jeff regularly performs improv at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre and solo performance work at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theatre.

Musical Guest

Corinne Bailey Rae

English singer, songwriter, and musician Corinne Bailey Rae rose to stardom with her self-titled #1 UK debut album in 2006, featuring the global hits “Put Your Records On” and “Like A Star.” Over the course of her career, she has released four critically acclaimed studio albums and earned two GRAMMY Awards, two MOBO Awards, two Mercury Prizes, and a BET Award for Best International Act. Bailey Rae has sold over ten million albums worldwide, and “Put Your Records On” has garnered over one billion streams, achieving four-time platinum status. In 2026, Bailey Rae will publish an aptly-titled children’s book, Put Your Records On.

Join in from home Join in from home
Read along

Download this year’s ballot to track how many 2025 Finalists you’ve read and make your predictions!

Host your own watch party
STEP ONE

Tune in to watch the 76th National Book Awards on Wednesday, November 19 at 8:00pm EST.

STEP TWO

Download the 2025 National Book Awards ballot to read along and make your own predictions!

STEP THREE

Gather the book lovers in your life—in-person or virtually—and join us in real time to hear this year’s Winners announced! The National Book Awards will be livestreamed on nationalbook.org/awards and YouTube.

STEP FOUR

Tag the @nationalbookfoundation on Instagram and Threads, and use the hashtag #NBAwards for a chance to be featured across Team Book’s social media channels!

Books need us.

As a nonprofit organization, the National Book Foundation relies on the support of readers like you. Show your belief in the power of stories with a gift in honor of the 76th National Book Awards.

Supporters