The official website of the Nobel Prize

Nobel Week 2023

6–12 December

Nobel Week is coming

Join us online in December to celebrate the 2023 Nobel Prize laureates!

Take part in the festivities starting on 6 December as we celebrate the laureates and the discoveries and achievements that have brought the greatest benefit to humankind.

It will be a full week of celebrations with the Nobel Prize lectures, the 2023 award ceremonies and much more.

Nobel Prize award ceremony 2022 — Nobel Prize award ceremony in Konserthuset Stockholm, 10 December 2022.

© Nobel Prize Outreach. Photo: Nanaka Adachi

2023 Nobel Prize Concert

8 December

Esa-Pekka Salonen and violinist Julia Fischer performing at the Nobel Prize Concert

World-renowned conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen and acclaimed violinist Julia Fischer will be performing together with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra this year’s Nobel Prize Concert.

Nobel Week Dialogue

9 December

The Future of Migration

Broaden your perspective and deepen your understanding of one of our world’s most pressing topics: migration. Nobel Week Dialogue, this year in Gothenburg, invites everyone, scientists and non-scientists alike, to come together to gain insights from experts who carve paths for progress in science, society, and culture.

Can’t join in person? Participate via live stream from where you are.

Nobel Week Lights

2–10 December

Light festival inspired by awarded discoveries

Nobel Week Lights Stockholm is an annual light festival that takes place during the Nobel week in December. Directly inspired by Nobel Prize-awarded discoveries, artworks illuminate the Stockholm winter darkness and invite new insights into the research, lives and contributions of Nobel Prize laureates. There are 60 guided tours throughout the week that are open for the public to visit

Photo of the Stockholm City Hall — The artwork History in Light is an homage to the history of Stockholm through nature and art, a celebration of the 100-years of the City Hall and its long-standing connection to the Nobel Prize.

Photo: Benoît Derrier

Nobel Peace Prize Forum

11 December

IRAN – Burning for democracy

This year’s forum in Oslo will focus on the fight for human rights and democracy in Iran, with an emphasis on the situation for women. Participate on location (limited seating) or on-line.

Nobel Calling Space

11 December

A unique live conversation

Join us as we connect the Nobel Prize Museum in Stockholm with the International Space Station (ISS) for a unique live conversation between Nobel Prize laureates and ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen.

What do the laureates receive?

Nobel Prize diploma

Each diploma is a unique work of art, created by leading Swedish and Norwegian artists and calligraphers. Read more about the diplomas here.

Physics Laureate Donna Strickland's diploma. — Physics laureate Donna Strickland's diploma.

Photo reproduction: Lovisa Engblom

Nobel Prize medal

The front of the gold Nobel Prize medals depict Alfred Nobel. The image on the reverse varies according to the institution awarding the prize. Read more about the medals.

Youyou Tu showing her Nobel Medal — Medicine laureate Tu Youyou showing her Nobel Prize medal, 11 December 2015.

© Nobel Media. Photo: Alexander Mahmoud.

The prize amount

The current amount is at SEK 11 million per full Nobel Prize. A Nobel Prize can be awarded to up to three laureates who share the prize sum. Find out more about the prize amounts throughout history.

Laureates on stage after the 2014 Nobel Prize award ceremony.

© Nobel Media. Photo: Alexander Mahmoud

Nobel Prize award ceremonies

Since 1901, the Nobel Prizes have been presented to the laureates on 10 December, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death. Here you can browse the ceremonies archive.

Skillful craftmanship that never goes out of style

Each Nobel Prize diploma and medal comes in its own cover and case. Take a deep dive into the world of bookbinding and find out more about the craftmanship behind these unique pieces.

Memories from the Nobel Week

Sir J. Fraser Stoddart, chemistry 2016

"Unforgettable"

Fraser Stoddart: “One of the great joys of Stockholm was spending time with my co-laureates”.

Linda Buck and Richard Axel, medicine 2004

"A once in a lifetime experience"

Linda Buck and Richard Axel share some of their memories of the Nobel Week 2004.

John Nash, economic sciences 1994

"I have many memories"

Listen to John Nash reminisce about his experience of a December week in Sweden.

Reinhard Selten, economic sciences 1994

"I began to feel that this is real"

It wasn’t until the 10 December Reinhard Selten felt that his prize was for real.

Kurt Wüthrich, chemistry 2002

"One of the greatest week's in a scientist's life"

Kurt Wüthrich recalls how the overwhelming media coverage made the week very intensive.

John B. Fenn, chemistry 2002

"It was wonderful"

John B. Fenn on his Nobel Week experience: “It was wonderful! I even enjoyed being sick there.”

Robert Curl, chemistry 1996

"I became increasingly nervous"

At the award ceremony Robert Curl became extremely nervous.

William Sharpe, economic sciences 1990

"It was truly magical"

William Sharpe brought an extended family to the festivities in Stockholm.

Nobel Prizes 2023

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2023

Electrons in pulses of light

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2023 was awarded to Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne L’Huillier “for experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light for the study of electron dynamics in matter.”

Illustration of two electrons, illustrating the Nobel Prize in Physics 2023. — © Johan Jarnestad/The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023

They added colour to nanotechnology

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023 was awarded to Moungi G. Bawendi, Louis E. Brus and Alexey Yekimov “for the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots.”

An illustration of a bucket of paint with coloured balls beneath it, representing quantum dots. — © Johan Jarnestad/The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2023

Vaccine development

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2023 was awarded jointly to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman “for their discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.”

A blue background with COVID-19 virus and a yellow strand of modified mRNA. Also shown is the chemical structure of pseudouridine, an RNA base that was important in the prize-awarded discovery. The graphic represents the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine awarded to Katalin Karinkó and Drew Weissman who received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. — © The Nobel Committe for Physiology or Medicine. Ill. Mattias Karlén

The Nobel Prize in Literature 2023

Stories depicting strong emotions that many can relate to

The Nobel Prize in Literature 2023 was awarded to Jon Fosse, “for his innovative plays and prose which give voice to the unsayable.”

The Nobel Peace Prize 2023

A courageous fight for human rights, freedom, and democracy in Iran

The Nobel Peace Prize 2023 was awarded to Narges Mohammadi “for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all.”

The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2023

History helps us understand gender differences in the labour market

The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2023 was awarded to Claudia Goldin “for having advanced our understanding of women’s labour market outcomes.”

A detective investigating a file cabinet, accompanied by a golden retriever. — © Johan Jarnestad/The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

2023 Nobel Prizes

Crash course – 2023 Nobel Prizes

How much do you know about the discoveries awarded the 2023 Nobel Prizes? Take our one-minute crash course on each of the prizes and find out how each have changed our world.

Nobel Prize lessons

Easy to use lessons about the 2023 Nobel Prizes

From nanotechnology to the development of effective mRNA vaccines. Now you can bring the discoveries and achievements made by the 2023 Nobel Prize laureates into the classroom.

The lessons are free and easy to use. They include a slideshow, manuscript and student worksheet.

Illustration of all 2023 Nobel Prizes — © Johan Jarnestad/The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, © The Nobel Committe for Physiology or Medicine. Ill. Mattias Karlén, Ill. Niklas Elmehed © Nobel Prize Outreach

Alfred Nobel – Established the Nobel Prizes

Scientist and inventor

Chemist, engineer and industrialist Alfred Nobel left 31 million SEK (today about 342 million dollars) to fund the Nobel Prizes.

A bust of Alfred Nobel, surrounded by a beautiful wall of flowers

Alfred Nobel's early years

When Alfred was five years old his father Immanuel, an inventor and builder, moved to St. Petersburg. Alfred joined him a few years later.

Inventing dynamite

Based on Alfred’s work and patents a whole new industry developed. Within ten years, 16 explosives producing factories had been founded in 14 countries.

A controversial will

In his will of 27 November 1895, signed in Paris, Alfred Nobel specified that the bulk of his fortune should be used for prizes.

Nobel Prize nominations

Who can nominate for a Nobel Prize?

No person can nominate herself/himself for a Nobel Prize. But who can? And how are these persons chosen?

Jane Addams nomination for Carl von Ossietzky

Who selects the laureates?

In his last will and testament, Alfred Nobel specifically designated the institutions responsible for the prizes he wished to be established.

Explore the nomination archive

Search among the names of the nominees and nominators, as well as additional information about the nominations 1901-1971.

Mahatma Gandhi – The missing laureate

Mohandas Gandhi has become the strongest symbol of non-violence in the 20th century. He was nominated several times, but was never awarded the prize. Why?

Play a game!

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1930

The Blood Typing Game

How much do you know about blood types? Did you know that human blood groups were discovered by Nobel Prize laureate Karl Landsteiner in 1901?

Learn more about the way to find out about the human blood groups, blood typing and the importance of safe blood transfusions. See if you can save the lives of the patients in the game!

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1904

Pavlov's Dog

Is it possible to train a dog to drool on command? Learn about conditioned reflexes in this interactive game!

With this animated game, teachers are able to illustrate classical conditioning in the classroom. The object of the game is to train Pavlov’s dog to respond to a signal that it will associate with being fed.

In 1904, Ivan Pavlov was awarded with Nobel Prize for his pioneering studies of how the digestive system works.

Peace Builders

Step into the shoes of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and learn about the legacy of Alfred Nobel in this immersive learning experience from the Nobel Peace Center. All Minecraft players can now journey alongside Desmond Tutu, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Jody Williams and Carl von Ossietzky to bring their vision of a more democratic, peaceful world to life.

Nobel destinations

Stockholm, Sweden

Nobel Prize Museum

The Nobel Prize Museum in Stockholm, Sweden, illustrates a century of creativity, where visitors can follow the changes of the 20th century through the Nobel Prize and the Nobel Prize laureates.

The Nobel Prize: Ideas Changing the World (3) — The museum showcases the discoveries and creativity of the Nobel Prize laureates.

Photo: Åke Eson Lindman

Oslo, Norway

Nobel Peace Center

Located in the heart of Oslo, Norway, the Nobel Peace Center is a place where you can experience and learn about the various Nobel Peace Prize laureates.

NPC Nye Nobels Hage 10 — The story of each peace laureate is told at the museum.

Photo: Johannes Granseth/Nobel Peace Center

In memoriam

Henry Kissinger passes away at 100

Henry Kissinger passed away on 29 November, age 100. Kissinger was awarded the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize, jointly with Le Duc Tho, for negotiating a ceasefire in Vietnam in 1973.

Read Henry Kissinger’s acceptance speech

Former President Martti Ahtisaari dies

Martti Ahtisaari, former President of Finland, died on 16 October 2023, age 86. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2008 for his great efforts, on several continents and over more than three decades, to resolve international conflicts.

Biography

Poet Louise Glück passes away at 80

Louise Glück passed away on 13 October 2023, age 80. She was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature 2020 “for her unmistakable poetic voice that with austere beauty makes individual existence universal.”

Biography

Ferid Murad 1936‒2023

Ferid Murad passed away on 4 September 2023. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1998 for discoveries concerning nitric oxide as a signalling molecule in the cardiovascular system. These discoveries opened new avenues for patient treatment and diagnoses of various diseases.

Read Ferid Murad’s biography

Nobel Prize lectures 2023

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