Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence
The Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction, established in 2012, recognize the best fiction and nonfiction books for adult readers published in the U.S. in the previous year and serve as a guide to help adults select quality reading material.
They are the first single-book awards for adult books given by the American Library Association and reflect the expert judgment and insight of library professionals who work closely with adult readers.
Meet the 2026 Winners
Forty-five extraordinary books—21 fiction and 24 nonfiction—have been named to the 2026 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence longlist.
Resources
Make the most of the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in your library, bookstore, and reading group.
Call attention to your award-winning titles with seals available only from the American Library Association.
Your go-to resource for award criteria, past winners, and participation details.
The Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction were established with a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York in recognition of Andrew Carnegie’s deep belief in the power of books and learning to change the world, and are co-sponsored by ALA’s Booklist and the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA).
