The Janusz A. Zajdel Award (Nagroda imienia Janusza A. Zajdla), often called just Zajdel, is the annual award given by the Polish science fiction and fantasy fandom for the best stories published in the previous year. It was established in 1984.

It is the most prestigious of several Polish awards for that genre of literature.

The winners are chosen in a vote by fans present at the annual Polcon convention from up to five nominations in each of two categories:

Instant-runoff voting with "No award" as one of the choices is the method used. Vote counts are not announced.

Previously the Polish Union of Fans of Science Fiction (Polskie Stowarzyszenie Miłośników Fantastyki) issued the Golden Sepulka Award [pl] for works of science fiction (1983-1986).

The Zajdel award was created in 1984 (to be awarded from 1985) under the name Sfinks (not to be confused with the Sfinks Award [pl], an award of the SFinks [pl] magazine). After the death of the first winner, Janusz A. Zajdel, in 1985, the name was changed in his memory. Zajdel's widow, Jadwiga Zajdel, has presented the award to the winners since then.

Until 1989, the award was given by Polish science fiction fan associations, voting as units; since 1990, all fans present at Polcon convention can vote. Since 1991 the system has been based on two-tier ballot, compared to the system used in the Hugo Award.

Until 1991, there was a single award given for the best story; since 1992, there are two categories: novel and short story.