The Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction were created in 2012 to honor the best fiction and nonfiction books for adult readers published in the United States the year before. These awards are named after Andrew Carnegie, a 19th-century American who believed that books and learning could change the world.

The awards are supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York and managed by the American Library Association (ALA). Booklist and the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) help sponsor the awards. A group of seven library experts who work with adult readers selects the shortlist and winners. Each year, the committee is made up of a chairperson, three Booklist editors or contributors, and three former members of the RUSA CODES Notable Books Council.

The winners, one for fiction and one for nonfiction, are announced during an event in June at the American Library Association Annual Conference. The winning authors receive $5,000, and two finalists in each category get $1,500.