Overview
- Rabih Alameddine won fiction for The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother), Omar El Akkad took nonfiction for One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This, Patricia Smith won poetry for The Intentions of Thunder, Daniel Nayeri won young people’s literature for The Teacher of Nomad Land, and Gabriela Cabezón Cámara won translated literature for We Are Green and Trembling, translated by Robin Myers.
- The ceremony at Cipriani Wall Street featured a performance by Corinne Bailey Rae, hosting by Jeff Heller, $10,000 prizes in each category, and honorary awards for George Saunders and Roxane Gay.
- In his acceptance remarks, Alameddine referenced a video of an ICE arrest and a bombing of a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon, using the moment to urge writers to say enough.
- El Akkad described his book as a response to genocide and reflected on Gaza in a sober speech that questioned celebration in the face of ongoing violence.
- The translated literature winner highlighted cross-border voices, with first-time National Book Award honorees including Cabezón Cámara and Nayeri.