Each year the National Book Critics Circle nominates authors of books from six categories: fiction, general non-fiction, autobiography, biography, criticism, and poetry.  During this event, winners in each category were presented their awards.  In addition, Joyce Carol Oates was given the NBCC’s Ivan Sandrof Lifetime Achievement Award and Joan Acocella was given the Nona Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing.  The New School in New York City hosted this event. 
The NBCC Awards Finalists Reading was held Wednesday, March 10, 2010. The NBCC Awards Ceremony was held Thursday, March 11, 2010.