Nanometer-sized titanium-niobium carbonitride powders (Ti _yNb _1-yC _xN _1-x) with different Ti/Nb atomic ratios were obtained by a mechanically induced self-sustaining reaction, and sintered by spark plasma sintering technique at 1500°C for 1min in a vacuum atmosphere. Mechanical properties such as hardness and Young’s modulus were determined by nanoindentation technique and friction and wear coefficients assessed by ball-on-disk testing using alumina ball in dry sliding conditions. The fracture surface and wear tracks of samples were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Results showed that it is possible to obtain dense monolithic ceramics from the solid solution (Ti _yNb _1-yC _xN _1-x) with good mechanical properties and excellent wear resistance. The optimum values of nanomechanical properties were found for the Ti _0.3Nb _0.7C _0.5N _0.5 ceramic composition, which exhibited a high hardness over 26.0GPa and Young’s modulus around 400GPa.