Kirkus Prize 2025

The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers' literature. It was created to celebrate the 90+ years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earn the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2024 to October 31, 2025 (see FAQ for exceptions), are automatically nominated for the 2025 Kirkus Prize. Six finalists in each of three categories will be announced on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. Three Kirkus Prize winners will be announced at a ceremony in New York on October 8, 2025.