Current topics of catalysts containing niobium and tantalum, especially in the field of solid acid catalysis and selective oxidation of hydrocarbons are reviewed. Hydrated niobium oxide and hydrated tantalum oxide are highly acidic. Hydrated niobium oxide is active for the hydration of ethene to ethanol, and Nb-W mixed metal oxide is more active for the reaction. Acid properties of tantalum oxide are changed by being supported on SiO2. Ta oxide/SiO2, prepared by the chemical reaction between tantalum alkoxide and surface hydroxyl groups of SiO2, is active and selective for the gas phase Beckmann rearrangement of cyclohexanoneoxime to caprolactam. Niobium oxide and tantalum oxide easily react with many other oxides to form mixed metal oxide phases with complex structure. Mixed metal oxide catalysts, containing molybdenum, vanadium, certain elements together with niobium are active for the selective oxidation of hydrocarbons. Especially, the selective oxidation of propane by such mixed metal oxide catalysts has been paid attention. Additionally, recent progress of environmental catalysts, promoted by niobium and tantalum compounds, namely catalysts for the pollution abatement is reviewed. (C)2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.