An author nominated for one of the most prestigious literary awards in the United States says he won’t be able to attend the ceremony after his application for a U.S. visa was denied.
Abdelrahman ElGendy, an Egyptian writer and translator whose memoir Huna: A Memoir of Revolution, Prison, and Becoming is a finalist for the 2026 National Book Award for Nonfiction, shared the news in a Nov. 13 essay for The New Yorker.
ElGendy had hoped to travel to New York City for the Nov. 18 awards ceremony, where the winners of this year’s National Book Awards will be announced. Instead, he says he was informed that he was ineligible for a visitor visa.
The author described a moment during his consular interview when an officer congratulated him on his nomination, briefly giving him hope that his application might be approved.
But after his application was placed in administrative processing, ElGendy says he learned that his visa had been denied. He said he was not given a specific explanation for the decision.
The U.S. government’s grounds for the denial have not been independently confirmed.
Who Is National Book Award Finalist Abdelrahman ElGendy?
ElGendy’s nomination is particularly meaningful given the experiences that inspired his memoir.
According to the National Book Foundation, ElGendy was just 17 years old when he and his father were arrested during a crackdown on demonstrators in Egypt in 2013.
He subsequently spent six years imprisoned, an experience he chronicles in Huna, which explores political resistance, survival and his journey toward becoming a writer.
Following his release, ElGendy eventually pursued graduate studies in the United States, earning an MFA in nonfiction writing from the University of Pittsburgh.
His writing has appeared in publications including The Washington Post, Foreign Policy and The Nation, and he has received the Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of the Press.
In his essay for The New Yorker, ElGendy explained that he left the United States in 2025 amid concerns about immigration enforcement and the possibility of being returned to Egypt, where he feared further persecution.
His attempt to secure a visitor visa for the National Book Awards was intended to allow him to return briefly to celebrate his literary achievement.
When Are the 2026 National Book Awards?
The 77th National Book Awards ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 18, in New York City.
ElGendy is one of five finalists in the nonfiction category, alongside Colin Asher, Camonghne Felix, Sara Nović and Joseph Osmundson.
The National Book Foundation announced its finalists on October 6, recognizing 25 books across fiction, nonfiction, poetry, translated literature and young people’s literature.
The winners will be revealed during the Nov. 18 ceremony, which will also be available to watch online.
For ElGendy, the nomination represents a significant literary milestone, even as he faces the disappointment of being unable to attend the celebration in person.
His account highlights an unusual situation: a writer whose work has been recognized by one of America’s most prominent literary institutions says he has been denied permission to enter the country to celebrate that achievement.
Related: Beloved ‘Good Night, Gorilla’ Author Peggy Rathmann Dies at 73, Leaving Behind Children’s Books That Generations Grew Up With
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