75th National Book Awards Ceremony Set for Nov. 20

The 75th National Book Awards Ceremony, hosted by Kate McKinnon and featuring live music from Jon Batiste, will take place on November 20 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. This milestone event honors 75 years of outstanding literature published in the U.S., with awards presented in five categories, including notable finalists like Salman Rushdie and Percival Everett. McKinnon expressed her lifelong passion for reading and the transformative power of books, while Batiste emphasized their significance as sources of refuge and insight. The ceremony will also serve as a benefit dinner to support the National Book Foundation's mission of promoting access to literature. This year marks a rare occurrence of musical performances at the awards, adding a celebratory element to the evening.