Nobel Prize

Opening address – Nobel Prize award ceremony 2025

Speech by Professor Astrid Söderbergh Widding, Chair of the Board of the Nobel Foundation

Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses,
Esteemed Nobel Prize Laureates, Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the Nobel Foundation, it is my great honour and pleasure to warmly welcome you all to the 2025 Nobel Prize award ceremony. In particular, I wish to welcome the Nobel Prize laureates, their families and friends.

As we gather here in Stockholm for the festivities to celebrate this year’s laureates, it is against a dark backdrop in the world at large. With its rapid, unpredictable, paradoxical and tangled developments, it may seem hard to inspire trust and confidence in the future. In this world, Alfred Nobel’s visionary legacy is a forceful reminder of the transformative powers of science, literature and peace.

Science is a lingua franca for humankind in exploring and expanding the frontiers of human knowledge.

It is international in nature, and it creates a scientific community across borders, values that extend beyond the limits of science itself. This is particularly important to emphasise in times of division, polarisation and conflict. The prizes honour Nobel’s principle that “no consideration be given to nationality but that the prize be awarded to the worthiest person.”

This year, the physics prize is awarded for experimentally establishing macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling in superconducting systems, leading towards technology for quantum computers; the chemistry prize for the development of stable, extremely porous, materials, materials that can be tailormade to capture carbon dioxide, store hydrogen or deliver pharmaceuticals in the body; and the prize in physiology or medicine for the discovery of a crucial complementary mechanism that prevents the immune system from attacking healthy organs, thus raising hopes for treatments of autoimmune diseases and new cancer therapies. They all demonstrate how fundamental research, awarded for the greatest benefit of humankind, can also lead to groundbreaking applications.

And the prize in economic sciences in memory of Alfred Nobel, for analysing and modelling conditions for sustained growth, lays bare the importance of a scientific understanding of technological breakthroughs and how inventions lead to old companies losing out to new ones; that is, the role of creative destruction.

The Nobel Peace Prize, awarded today in Oslo, is dedicated to the struggle for democracy, which is now threatened in so many ways across the globe.

Last, but definitely not least, the prize in literature is awarded to an authorship where melancholy and apocalypse seem to dominate the picture, but where the force of art and creation, unfathomable as it is, may still transcend the dark and violent powers.

As the world is at its darkest here in the Northern hemisphere, the Nobel lights illuminate not only the city, but also the world. Through knowledge, integrity and excellence, through creativity and inspiration, the laureates offer hope. They remind us that it is possible, through different paths, to address and come to terms with the many global challenges we face today. But their work also reminds us of our responsibility and the possibilities that lie within our reach. We must not just be passive spectators, but active contributors in defending the freedom of science and literature and the strive for peace to transform the world into a better place for humankind.

Copyright © The Nobel Foundation 2025

Crash course – 2025 Nobel Prizes

How much do you know about the achievements awarded the 2025 Nobel Prizes? Take our one-minute crash course on each of the prizes and find out how they have changed our world. See all crash courses here.

2025 Nobel Prize in Physics: One-minute crash course

Quantum tunnelling

The 2025 physics prize is about quantum mechanics. What is it? Quantum mechanics is the field that scientists use to describe the small world, at the level of atoms and particles.

At this level, different physical laws apply. A special science, quantum mechanics, is needed to explain how everything is connected.

One of the strange effects of quantum mechanics is tunnelling. This means that barriers that should actually be impossible to pass through may still sometimes be traversed.

The 2025 Nobel Prize laureates in physics was awarded for experiments showing that some very strange things that happen in the world of particles also can happen in our part of reality, more specifically in an electrical circuit. An electrical circuit is something that can carry electric current, for example a battery, a pair of wires, and a bicycle light. Tunnelling allows current to flow even if there is an obstacle in the circuit.

If you find quantum mechanics difficult to understand, it’s no wonder. The 1922 Nobel Prize laureate in physics, Niels Bohr, said this in 1952 in a conversation with two other Nobel Prize laureates: “Those who are not shocked when they first come across quantum mechanics cannot possibly have understood it.”

Watch our one-minute crash course to discover the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics.

Learn more

Text for students about the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics

Press release for the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics

Popular information about the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics

2025 Nobel Prize in Literature: One-minute crash course

The author László Krasznahorkai

Have you heard of the author László Krasznahorkai?

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature is awarded to the Hungarian author László Krasznahorkai “for his compelling and visionary oeuvre that, in the midst of apocalyptic terror, reaffirms the power of art.” He has written novels, short stories, essays and plays. Many of his books have also been made into movies.

Watch our one-minute crash course to discover the 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Learn more

Text for students about the 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature

Prose by László Krasznahorkai

Recommendations on what to read by László Krasznahorkai

2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry: One-minute crash course

What is a MOF?

Did you know there are materials that can capture water from desert air?

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2025 recognises the development of materials with completely new features. The chemistry laureates have created porous metal–organic frameworks (abbreviated as MOFs). These have large cavities that other molecules can move in and out of. MOFs can be used to, for example, capture carbon dioxide and harvest water from the desert air.

Watch our one-minute crash course to discover the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Learn more

Text for students about the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Press release for the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Popular information about the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Interview with Olof Ramström, member of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry, 6 minutes (YouTube)

2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine: One-minute crash course

The immune system’s security guards

What happens if our immune system attacks our own cells?

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2025 is about our immune system. The immune system protects us from viruses, bacteria and other kinds of microorganisms. The Nobel Prize laureates Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi have discovered previously unknown immune cells, so-called regulatory T cells, that act as the immune system’s security guards and prevent immune cells from attacking our own body. 

Watch our one-minute crash course to discover the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Learn more

Text for students about the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

Press release for the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

Popular information about the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

2025 economic sciences prize: One-minute crash course

How to sustain economic growth

What’s the link between innovation and economic growth?

In the last 200 years, we have, for the first time in human history, seen sustained economic growth. The 2025 economic sciences laureates have explained how this trend has been possible and what it needs to continue. They have shown that technological innovation and useful knowledge among other things lead to steady economic growth.

Watch our one-minute crash course to discover the 2025 economic sciences prize.

Learn more

Text for students about the economic sciences prize 2025

Press release about the economic sciences prize 2025

Popular information about the economic sciences prize 2025

2025 Nobel Peace Prize: One-minute crash course

Fighting for democracy in Venezuela

Do you know of Maria Corina Machado?

The Nobel Peace Prize 2025 was awarded to Maria Corina Machado “for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.” Maria Corina Machado is a unifying force for the political opposition against the authoritarian rule in Venezuela. She has been prevented from running for election and lives in hiding due to the threats she is facing.

Watch our one-minute crash course to discover the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.

Learn more

Text for students about the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize

Press release for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize

Listen to the emotional moment when the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado finds out she has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (YouTube video)

Interview with Maria Corina Machado, “We want to send a message to all authoritarian leaders: choose ballots, not bullets.” (YouTube video)

Nobel Prize lessons – All Nobel Prizes 2025

The 2025 Nobel Prizes range from the discovery of a previously unknown immune cell, quantum mechanics and tunnelling, new materials known as MOFs, to the writings of László Krasznahorkai, the struggle for democracy in Venezuela and economic growth.

This is a ready to use Nobel Prize lesson on all the 2025 Nobel Prizes. The lesson is designed to take 45 minutes and includes a slideshow with a speaker’s manuscript, and a quiz.

1. Show the slideshow (20 minutes)

Show the slides, using the speaker’s manuscript.

Slideshow (PDF 5,5 MB)

Speaker’s manuscript (PDF 1 MB)

2. Quiz (15 minutes)

Quiz (PDF 40 KB)

Key (PDF 40 KB)

3. Conclusion (10 min)

Summarise the work with the quiz and capture any questions from the students.

Links for further information

From this page you’ll reach further information on all 2025 Nobel Prizes

A Swedish version of the lesson is available at nobelprizemuseum.se

More about the Nobel Prize and its founder in the lesson “Alfred Nobel and the Nobel Prize”

Nobel Prize Banquet menu 2025

MENU

Soupe aux cèpes servie avec une salade épaisse
de champignons de culture suédois,
de fromage Almnäs Tegel, d’huile de gingembre
et de truffe d’hiver noire.
Beurre truffé et pain craquant parfumé aux cèpes. 

Turbot farci aux noix de Saint-Jacques et à la laminaire sucrée,
céleri-rave rôti glacé à la livèche, pommes de terre sautées au beurre
et petits oignons argentés à la muscade.
Servis avec du chou frisé cuit au bouillon,
des poireaux et des champignons de Paris,
ainsi qu’une sauce beurre blanc aux coings du Japon fermentés
et à la pomme Ingrid Marie. 

Sorbet de prunelles suédoises aromatisé à l’orange,
au poivre de la Jamaïque et aux clous de girofle.
Crème de fromage frais au four à la vanille Bourbon et quatre-quarts toasté.
Sauce caramel au babeurre avec croustillant au blé noir et à l’avoine.
Servies avec un consommé de framboises sauvages
aromatisé aux pousses de genévrier.

VINS

Eric Rodez Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru, Champagne, France
2022 Immelen, Kullabergs Vingård, Skåne, Suède
2022 Kracher Red Roses Beerenauslese, Burgenland, Autriche

Stadshusrestauranger en collaboration avec
les Chefs Tommy Myllymäki et Pi Le ainsi que le Chef Pâtissier Frida Bäcke

Translation (English)

Soup of porcini mushroom
served with a bound salad of cultivated Swedish mushrooms,
Almnäs Tegel cheese, ginger oil and black winter truffle.
Truffle butter and crispbread flavoured with porcini mushroom.

Turbot stuffed with scallops and sugar kelp,
roasted celeriac glazed with lovage,
butter-boiled potatoes and white onions flavoured with nutmeg.
Served with Savoy cabbage, leeks and mushrooms,
accompanied by a butter sauce of fermented quince and Ingrid Marie apples.

Sorbet of Swedish blackthorn berries
flavoured with orange, allspice and clove.
A baked cream of fresh cheese with bourbon vanilla
and a browned butter sponge.
A buttermilk caramel and a crunchy topping
of buckwheat and oats.
Served with a consommé of wild raspberry
flavoured with juniper shoots.

WINES

Eric Rodez Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru, Champagne, France
2022 Immelen, Kullabergs Vingård, Skåne, Sweden
2022 Kracher Red Roses Beerenauslese, Burgenland, Austria

Stadshusrestauranger in collaboration with
Chefs Tommy Myllymäki and Pi Le as well as Pastry Chef Frida Bäcke

Translation (Swedish)

Soppa på Karljohansvamp
serveras med bunden sallad på odlade svenska svampar,
Almnäs Tegel, ingefärsolja och svart vintertryffel.
Tryffelsmör och hårt bröd smaksatt med Karljohansvamp.

Piggvar färserad med pilgrimsmussla och sockertång,
rostad rotselleri glaserad med libbsticka,
smörkokt potatis och silverlök smaksatt med muskot.
Serveras med buljongkokt savojkål, purjolök och champinjoner
samt en smörsås på fermenterad rosenkvitten och Ingrid Marie-äpplen.

Sorbet på svenska slånbär
smaksatt med apelsin, kryddpeppar och nejlika.
En bakad färskostkräm med bourbonvanilj och brynt smörkaka.
Kärnmjölkskaramell och ett krisp på bovete och havre.
Serveras med en consommé på skogshallon smaksatt med enskott.

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1 (of 7) The 2025 Nobel Prize banquet starter: Soup of porcini mushroom served with a bound salad of cultivated Swedish mushrooms, Almnäs Tegel cheese, ginger oil and black winter truffle. Truffle butter and crispbread flavoured with porcini mushroom.

© Nobel Prize Outreach. Photo: Dan Lepp

Swipe left and right to see more photos

2 (of 7) The 2025 Nobel Prize banquet starter: Soup of porcini mushroom served with a bound salad of cultivated Swedish mushrooms, Almnäs Tegel cheese, ginger oil and black winter truffle. Truffle butter and crispbread flavoured with porcini mushroom.

© Nobel Prize Outreach. Photo: Dan Lepp

Swipe left and right to see more photos

3 (of 7) The 2025 Nobel Prize banquet main course: Turbot stuffed with scallops and sugar kelp, roasted celeriac glazed with lovage, butter-boiled potatoes and white onions flavoured with nutmeg. Served with Savoy cabbage, leeks and mushrooms, accompanied by a butter sauce of fermented quince and Ingrid Marie apples.

© Nobel Prize Outreach. Photo: Dan Lepp

Swipe left and right to see more photos

4 (of 7) The 2025 Nobel Prize banquet main course: Turbot stuffed with scallops and sugar kelp, roasted celeriac glazed with lovage, butter-boiled potatoes and white onions flavoured with nutmeg. Served with Savoy cabbage, leeks and mushrooms, accompanied by a butter sauce of fermented quince and Ingrid Marie apples.

© Nobel Prize Outreach. Photo: Dan Lepp

Swipe left and right to see more photos

5 (of 7) The 2025 Nobel Prize banquet main course: Turbot stuffed with scallops and sugar kelp, roasted celeriac glazed with lovage, butter-boiled potatoes and white onions flavoured with nutmeg. Served with Savoy cabbage, leeks and mushrooms, accompanied by a butter sauce of fermented quince and Ingrid Marie apples.

© Nobel Prize Outreach. Photo: Dan Lepp

Swipe left and right to see more photos

6 (of 7) The 2025 Nobel Prize banquet dessert: Sorbet of Swedish blackthorn berries flavoured with orange, allspice and clove. A baked cream of fresh cheese with bourbon vanilla and a browned butter sponge. A buttermilk caramel and a crunchy topping of buckwheat and oats. Served with a consommé of wild raspberry flavoured with juniper shoots.

© Nobel Prize Outreach. Photo: Dan Lepp

Swipe left and right to see more photos

7 (of 7) The 2025 Nobel Prize banquet dessert: Sorbet of Swedish blackthorn berries flavoured with orange, allspice and clove. A baked cream of fresh cheese with bourbon vanilla and a browned butter sponge. A buttermilk caramel and a crunchy topping of buckwheat and oats. Served with a consommé of wild raspberry flavoured with juniper shoots.

© Nobel Prize Outreach. Photo: Dan Lepp

See all photos

Copyright © The Nobel Foundation 2025