National Book Awards, annual literary award presented since 1950 for the best American book published in the preceding year, in each of four categories: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and young people’s literature. To be eligible for entry, a book must be published in the United States and the author must be a living U.S. citizen. Books are judged by four panels (one for each of the categories). Each panel consists of five judges chosen by the board of directors of the National Book Foundation. The awards carry a $10,000 cash prize and are valued for their prestige.

The National Book Awards were established in 1950 by the American Book Publishers Council, the Book Manufacturers Institute, and the American Booksellers Association. In 1980 the awards were renamed the American Book Awards and were awarded by the Association of American Publishers. In 1987 the name National Book Awards was reinstated, and in 1989 the National Book Foundation was created to administer the awards. The foundation acts as a freestanding sponsor of the awards and also administers educational outreach programs in which National Book Award-winning authors discuss their work in communities across the country.

Beginning in 1964 the number of categories for awards was gradually expanded from the original three: nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. By 1980 a total of 26 categories existed, but by 1991 the categories had returned to the original three. In 1996 a new category for young people’s literature was added.