Nominations for the 43rd National Book Awards are now open
The nominations are now open for the 43rd National Book Awards.
The awards not only honor the country's best-authored books but also serve as a reflection of the themes and cultural concerns that are currently shaping Filipino literature.
“The National Book Awards not only rightfully honor the best works produced by our country’s finest minds and talents, they also provide an occasion for us to take stock of the zeitgeist, our writers’ current preoccupations, and where our book industry is headed,” National Book Development Board executive director Charisse Aquino-Tugade said.
Categories are split into two main divisions: literary and non-literary.
The literary division honors works of fiction, poetry, and drama, as well as academic works like literary criticism and media studies. It also recognizes graphic novels, comics, and translations.
Meanwhile, the non-literary division celebrates books from various professional fields, including journalism, history, science, business, and art.
This year's awards also highlight works in regional languages like Hiligaynon and Kiniray-a. All books published in these languages between 2022 and 2024 are eligible, regardless of genre.
Beyond writing, the awards also recognize Best Book Design and Publisher of the Year for the publisher with the most winning entries.
How to send nominations
The awards are open to books published locally in 2024 by NBDB-registered authors and publishers. This includes new releases and local editions of books by foreign authors.
Nominations must be submitted through the official online form by Sept. 7,
After completing the online form, you must send two printed copies of the book, along with a watermarked PDF version, to the NBDB. For titles in the Translation category, you must also include a copy of the original work.
All materials should be addressed to Charisse Aquino-Tugade, Executive Director, and sent to the attention of the National Book Awards Team at: 4/F Regalado Hive Building, Regalado Avenue, Fairview Park Subdivision, Fairview, Quezon City 1118
From the pool of nominees, no more than five finalists per category will be selected. Finalists will be required to provide an additional eight copies for judging, with one winner will be picked from the finalists.
Each winner, except Publisher of the Year, will receive P40,000.
Complete submission guidelines are available here. Inquiries may be sent to awards@books.gov.ph.
Last year’s National Book Awards recognized 31 categories from 321 titles submitted in four languages: Filipino, English, Bikolano, and Ilokano.
Ateneo University Press dominated the awards with seven wins, earning the title of Publisher of the Year.
Notable winners include 1762 by Vin dela Serna Lopez and Teorya ng Unang Panahon by Edgar Calabia Samar of Ateneo University Press, which triumphed in both the Filipino and English novel categories.
The University of the Philippines Press also made a strong showing, with six winning titles across literary and non-literary divisions.
The National Book Awards were first established in 1982 by the Filipino Critics Circle, with NBDB becoming co-administrator in 2008.
