Each year, the Finalists in Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction, Translated Literature, and Young People’s Literature gather the evening before the National Book Awards Ceremony to read excerpts from their honored works.

Watch the live-streamed event.

The 2022 National Book Awards Finalist Reading will be hosted by Saraciea J. Fennell, writer and founder of The Bronx is Reading. Doors will open at 6:30 pm, and the program will begin at 7:00 pm EST.

The event will be live-streamed and in-person at the NYU Kimmel Center, Eisner & Lubin Auditorium. Presented in partnership with the National Book Foundation and the NYU Creative Writing Program.

In-person audience members will need to provide proof of vaccination at check-in; eligible vaccinations and exemption information is detailed below. Only guests who have registered in advance will be admitted. Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of the program to ensure a smooth check-in process.