The Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded 118 times to 122 Nobel Prize laureates between 1901 and 2025. Click on the links to get more information.
“for his compelling and visionary oeuvre that, in the midst of apocalyptic terror, reaffirms the power of art”
“for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life”
“for his innovative plays and prose which give voice to the unsayable”
“for the courage and clinical acuity with which she uncovers the roots, estrangements and collective restraints of personal memory”
“for his uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents”
“for her unmistakable poetic voice that with austere beauty makes individual existence universal”
Today, the Nobel Foundation presents the first design of the Nobel Center project – a public building for science, literature and peace. It will be an international symbol of knowledge, focusing on the Nobel Prize laureates’ stories and groundbreaking achievements. The building is designed by David Chipperfield Architects, and the project is made possible thanks to generous donations from Erling-Persson Foundation and Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.
The new building is to be constructed along Stadsgårdskajen at Slussen in Stockholm, Sweden, thus facing Gamla stan, Skeppsholmen and Djurgården. By 2031, visitors will be able to experience Alfred Nobel’s unique legacy in a completely new way when his handwritten will is to be exhibited permanently for the first time. People from all over the world will also be able to explore exhibitions, attend lectures, engage in dialogue and take part in cultural events covering everything from black holes and medical advances to literary classics and how to combat poverty.
“The new Nobel house will serve as an international symbol of knowledge – warm, welcoming and open to everyone. The efforts of the Nobel Prize laureates show how knowledge may change our world. What is impossible today may become possible tomorrow. Our goal is to make this power available to more people. It will be a house for science, literature and peace, a power hub for what the Nobel Prizes represent and a source of inspiration not only for current visitors but also for future generations,” says Hanna Stjärne, Executive Director of the Nobel Foundation.
Nobel Prize laureates, researchers, students, schoolchildren and visitors from Sweden and the rest of the world will visit the house. The Nobel Center will also serve as a basis for the international interdisciplinary meetings linked to the Nobel Prize that are currently organised around the world.
“The new Nobel house will become an important meeting place, a hub in international academia where Sweden, due to the strong appeal of the Nobel Prize, occupies a position at the very centre of the knowledge and science society. This is a house where knowledge is generated, where research is shared and perspectives are challenged, for encounters between Nobel Prize laureates and students, between the foremost experts on current research within the fields of the Nobel Prizes and a curious public,” says Astrid Söderbergh Widding, Chair of the Nobel Foundation.
Construction will begin already next year. The building is designed by David Chipperfield Architects Berlin. It consists of four interconnected volumes that relate to the buildings of Södermalm and the size and height of the buildings in Gamla stan, on the other side of the water. With terraces on the roofs and in front of the entrance, new meeting spots are created in Stockholm with a fantastic view over the waters of Saltsjön and Lake Mälaren. The public space in front of the building continues into the entrance level, open and transparent, with entrances to the north and south as well as a foyer with a shop and restaurant.
The choice to use a wooden frame, reclaimed bricks and other materials has been made to reduce the impact on the climate. The facade of the building is made of brick, a material that has characterised the architecture in Stockholm for centuries. The reused brick offers a sense of permanence and gravitas. The red shade is found in Stockholm’s classic brick buildings, such as City Hall.
“This project offers the opportunity to create the first dedicated home for the activities surrounding the Nobel Prize. Conceived as open house for science, literature and dialogue, we have sought to design a building that fulfils this responsibility on several scales. Shaped by its prominent location on the Slussen waterfront, it has a distinctively civic presence rooted in its location and daily life of the city, while also reflecting the broader significance of the Nobel Prize. At a time when expertise and informed debate are more vital than ever, our hope is that the Nobel Center will stand as a resilient space of knowledge and exchange,” says Sir David Chipperfield, Founder of David Chipperfield Architects.
The Nobel Center project is funded by Erling-Persson Foundation and Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. These two foundations donate a total of SEK 2.3 billion, evenly split. These funds will be used to construct the building and create the extensive permanent exhibition focusing on Alfred Nobel, the history of the Nobel Prize and how the laureates’ groundbreaking efforts have shaped our world. The Nobel organisation will cover the remaining funds for the construction. Total cost is estimated of just over SEK 2.5 billion.
“The Nobel Center will serve as an important venue for knowledge, inspiration and new perspectives, not only for people living in Sweden but also internationally. The Nobel Prize enjoys a strong position globally already today and highlights the importance of science, culture and peace efforts when it comes to positive social development. The Nobel Center will make these values available to an even wider audience, while also inspiring and contributing to generating new generations of researchers in Sweden, which is crucial for us as a knowledge nation. The fact that this project is now entering the next phase is very satisfying, and for us at Erling-Persson Foundation, it feels important to, together with Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, continue supporting and contributing to the realisation of this important initiative,” says Stefan Persson, Chair of Erling-Persson Foundation.
“The fact that the funding for the Nobel Center is now secured constitutes an important step for Sweden as a knowledge and research nation. The Nobel Prize represents curiosity, courage and a long-term perspective – values that not only strengthen Swedish research and education but also make our country more attractive to the most talented researchers and students. We look forward to, together with Erling-Persson Foundation, the Nobel Foundation and the City of Stockholm, creating a place in the middle of Stockholm accessible to everyone and capable of inspiring new generations and generating dialogues across borders,” says Peter Wallenberg Jr, Chair of Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.
The new inspiration exhibition, which opens on 15 January at the Nobel Prize Museum in Gamla stan, showcases the Nobel Center project and offers visitors an insight into the work that will be carried out in the coming years. Today is also when the building permit application for the project is submitted to the City of Stockholm. There is already an approved detailed development plan for the site that specifies the framework for how the building is to be designed. Construction is scheduled to start in 2027 and the building will be inaugurated in 2031.
For more information, images and quotes, visit the Nobel Center page
Here you can find quotes about the Nobel Center project in Stockholm.
“The new Nobel house will become an important meeting place, a hub in international academia where Sweden, due to the strong appeal of the Nobel Prize, occupies a position at the very centre of the knowledge and science society.
This is a house where knowledge is generated, where research is shared and perspectives are challenged, for encounters between Nobel Prize laureates and students, between the foremost experts on current research within the fields of the Nobel Prizes and a curious public.” – Astrid Söderbergh Widding, Chair of the Nobel Foundation
“One of the things that the Nobel Center will do is allow you to see all these inventions, innovations and philosophies from the past that have now been carried forward to have such a dramatic impact on where we are now. And if you can make that connection from then to now, I think many young people can make the connection from now to the future, which is where they come in.” – David MacMillan, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2021
“The Nobel Center will serve as an important venue for knowledge, inspiration and new perspectives, not only for people living in Sweden but also internationally. The Nobel Prize enjoys a strong position globally already today and highlights the importance of science, culture and peace efforts when it comes to positive social development.
Stefan Persson, Chair of the Erling-Persson Foundation
The Nobel Center will make these values available to an even wider audience, while also inspiring and contributing to generating new generations of researchers in Sweden, which is crucial for us as a knowledge nation. The fact that this project is now entering the next phase is very satisfying, and for us at the Erling-Persson Foundation, it feels important to, together with the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, continue supporting and contributing to the realisation of this important initiative.”
“The new Nobel house will serve as an international symbol of knowledge – warm, welcoming and open to everyone. The efforts of the Nobel Prize laureates show how knowledge may change our world. What is impossible today may become possible tomorrow.
Our goal is to make this power available to more people. It will be a house for science, literature and peace, a power hub for what the Nobel Prizes represent and a source of inspiration not only for current visitors but also for future generations.” – Hanna Stjärne, Executive Director of the Nobel Foundation
“The new Slussen is being developed into one of Stockholm’s most vibrant places and the future home of a world-renowned destination featuring stories of discoveries and progress for the greatest benefit to humankind. In collaboration with the Nobel Center, a unique space is being created where visitors, through encounters with science, art, and history, can experience and engage in conversations about human life from past to future.”
Karin Wanngård (S), Finance Commissioner of the City of Stockholm
“This project offers the opportunity to create the first dedicated home for the activities surrounding the Nobel Prize. Conceived as open house for science, literature and dialogue, we have sought to design a building that fulfils this responsibility on several scales.
Shaped by its prominent location on the Slussen waterfront, it has a distinctively civic presence rooted in its location and daily life of the city, while also reflecting the broader significance of the Nobel Prize. At a time when expertise and informed debate are more vital than ever, our hope is that the Nobel Center will stand as a resilient space of knowledge and exchange.” – David Chipperfield, Founder of David Chipperfield Architects
“The fact that the funding for the Nobel Center is now secured constitutes an important step for Sweden as a knowledge and research nation. The Nobel Prize represents curiosity, courage and a long-term perspective – values that not only strengthen Swedish research and education but also make our country more attractive to the most talented researchers and students. We look forward to, together with the Erling-Persson Foundation, the Nobel Foundation and the City of Stockholm, creating a place in the middle of Stockholm accessible to everyone and capable of inspiring new generations and generating dialogues across borders.”
Peter Wallenberg Jr, Chair of the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation
“I think that the new Nobel Center can be a great place to promote contact between scientists and science in general, and the young generation, so in my view, the most important goal of this center is to inspire the new generation in science, literature, and peace.” – Anne L’Huillier, Nobel Prize in Physics 2023
“As a hub for Alfred Nobel’s legacy and the Nobel Prizes, the Nobel house will attract everyone curious about the research and achievements behind the prizes. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences looks forward to collaborating with the Nobel Foundation to fill the house with exciting and groundbreaking research and activities that spread knowledge. As researchers we are delighted to share how fascinating the world of research and science truly is.”
Ellen Moons, Secretary General, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
“It’s important to let young people know what it means to be a scientist and how, if you follow through, you can be lucky enough to make major discoveries – and if you’re unbelievably lucky, one of these discoveries may lead to a Nobel Prize.” – Richard Roberts, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1993
“As one of the most prominent buildings in the capital, the Nobel Center will constitute an architectural addition of international magnitude. Through David Chipperfield’s signature architecture, contemporary design is fused together with culturally valuable environments in a responsible and obvious manner – a particularly important quality in a city characterised by historical layers.”
Torleif Falk, City Architect in Stockholm
“In this building, we will be able to closely explore the achievements of the Nobel Prize laureates and their great significance for how we understand the world, humankind and the development of society.” – Thomas Perlmann, Secretary General of the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet and the Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine
“A Nobel Center can further highlight the importance of groundbreaking research and the benefits it can bring to society. It will also serve as an important meeting point for researchers and visitors from around the world.”
Lotta Edholm, Minister for Upper Secondary School, Higher Education and Research
Read more about the Nobel Center project
Panoramic view from the north. The Nobel Center offers a new landmark on the waterfront in the Swedish capital. An international symbol of knowledge and a public house for science, literature and peace. The building is located along Stadsgårdskajen and the future museum promenade by the waterfront, easily accessible for everyone by public transport, on foot, by bicycle or by boat.
© Onirism/Nobel Prize Outreach
On 15 January the Nobel Foundation hosted a press conference presenting the idea and design for the new Nobel Center in Stockholm.
Press release in English
Press release in Swedish
Press images
Aerial view along the waterfront.
© Onirism/Nobel Prize Outreach
“The new Nobel house will serve as an international symbol of knowledge – warm, welcoming and open to everyone. The efforts of the Nobel Prize laureates show how knowledge may change our world. What is impossible today may become possible tomorrow.
Hanna Stjärne, Executive Director of the Nobel Foundation
Our goal is to make this power available to more people. It will be a house for science, literature and peace, a power hub for what the Nobel Prizes represent and a source of inspiration not only for current visitors but also for future generations.”
View from the water along the quay. The Nobel Center consists of four interconnected volumes that relate to the buildings of Södermalm and the size and height of the buildings in Gamla stan, on the other side of the water. The choice to use a wooden frame and reclaimed bricks reduces the impact on the environment. Bricks have characterised the architecture of Stockholm for centuries. The red shade is found in Stockholm’s classic brick buildings, such as City Hall.
© Onirism/Nobel Prize Outreach
Panoramic view from the north. The Nobel Center offers a new landmark on the waterfront in the Swedish capital. An international symbol of knowledge and a public house for science, literature and peace. The building is located along Stadsgårdskajen and the future museum promenade by the waterfront, easily accessible for everyone by public transport, on foot, by bicycle or by boat.
© Onirism/Nobel Prize Outreach
Aerial view along the waterfront. The terrace in front of the entrance and the open roof terraces will become new meeting spots in Stockholm with an amazing view of both the Baltic Sea and Lake Mälaren. In summertime, the restaurant opens up to the terrace and the water. The building stands firmly on a base connected to a park, which creates a new promenade from Slussen.
© Onirism/Nobel Prize Outreach
Upper level with framed views towards the archipelago and the city. The building will focus on public activities and be open to everyone, all year round. People from all over the world can explore exhibitions, listen to lectures, engage in dialogue, and take part in cultural events on everything from black holes and medical advancements to literary classics and poverty reduction.
© Onirism/Nobel Prize Outreach
The new inspiration exhibition, which opens on 15 January at the Nobel Prize Museum in Gamla stan, showcases the Nobel Center project and offers visitors an insight into the work that will be carried out in the coming years.
Photo: Nanaka Adachi. © Nobel Prize Outreach
The new inspiration exhibition, which opens on 15 January at the Nobel Prize Museum in Gamla stan, showcases the Nobel Center project and offers visitors an insight into the work that will be carried out in the coming years.
Photo: Nanaka Adachi. © Nobel Prize Outreach
The new inspiration exhibition, which opens on 15 January at the Nobel Prize Museum in Gamla stan, showcases the Nobel Center project and offers visitors an insight into the work that will be carried out in the coming years.
Photo: Nanaka Adachi. © Nobel Prize Outreach
David Chipperfield and Hanna Stjärne during a visit at David Chipperfield Architects, Berlin in May 2025.
© Nobel Prize Outreach. Photo: Clément Morin
Here you can find images of the Nobel Center project.
Upper level with framed views towards the archipelago and the city.
© Onirism/Nobel Prize Outreach
A new inspiration exhibition will open on 15 January at the Nobel Prize Museum in Gamla stan, showcasing the Nobel Center project and offer visitors an insight into the work that will be carried out in the coming years.
The new inspiration exhibition, which opens on 15 January at the Nobel Prize Museum in Gamla stan, showcases the Nobel Center project and offers visitors an insight into the work that will be carried out in the coming years.
Photo: Nanaka Adachi. © Nobel Prize Outreach
“I think that the new Nobel Center can be a great place to promote contact between scientists and science in general, and the young generation, so in my view, the most important goal of this center is to inspire the new generation in science, literature, and peace.”
Anne L’Huillier, Nobel Prize laureate in physics 2023
The new Nobel Center is conceived as an open, civic institution dedicated to the values of the Nobel Prize. Discover more about the architects’ vision and the ideas behind the building’s design.
David Chipperfield.
© Nobel Prize Outreach. Photo: Clément Morin
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
Opening address by Professor Astrid Söderbergh Widding, Chair of the Board of the Nobel Foundation
Presentation speech for the physics prize
Presentation speech for the chemistry prize
Presentation speech for the medicine prize
Presentation speech for the literature prize
Presentation speech for the economic sciences prize
Opening address by Professor Astrid Söderbergh Widding, Chair of the Board of the Nobel Foundation
Presentation speech for the physics prize
Presentation speech for the chemistry prize
Presentation speech for the medicine prize
Presentation speech for the literature prize
Presentation speech for the economic sciences prize
Opening address by Professor Astrid Söderbergh Widding, Chair of the Board of the Nobel Foundation
Presentation speech for the physics prize
Presentation speech for the chemistry prize
Presentation speech for the medicine prize
Presentation speech for the literature prize
Presentation speech for the economic sciences prize
Opening address by Professor Astrid Söderbergh Widding, Chair of the Board of the Nobel Foundation
Presentation speech for the physics prize
Presentation speech for the chemistry prize
Presentation speech for the medicine prize
Presentation speech for the literature prize
Presentation speech for the economic sciences prize
Opening address by Professor Astrid Söderbergh Widding, Chair of the Board of the Nobel Foundation
Presentation speech for the physics prize
Presentation speech for the chemistry prize
Presentation speech for the medicine prize
Presentation speech for the literature prize
Presentation speech for the economic sciences prize