The 2026 Nobel Prize announcements will begin with medicine on October 5 and conclude with economics on October 12.
WEB DESK: The 2026 Nobel Prize announcements are set to begin next week, with laureates in six categories to be announced between October 5 and October 12.
The annual awards recognise achievements in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and peace, while the Prize in Economic Sciences is awarded in memory of Alfred Nobel.
According to the official Nobel Prize schedule, the 2026 announcements will take place from October 5 to 12.
When will the 2026 Nobel Prizes be announced?
The announcements will follow this schedule:
- Physiology or Medicine: Monday, October 5, at 11:30 a.m. CEST at the earliest.
- Physics: Tuesday, October 6, at 11:45 a.m. CEST at the earliest.
- Chemistry: Wednesday, October 7, at 11:45 a.m. CEST at the earliest.
- Literature: Thursday, October 8, at 1 p.m. CEST at the earliest.
- Peace: Friday, October 9, at 11 a.m. CEST.
- Economic Sciences: Monday, October 12, at 11:45 a.m. CEST at the earliest.
The announcements will be made by the respective prize-awarding institutions and broadcast through the Nobel Prize’s official digital channels.
For audiences in Pakistan, the scheduled times correspond to approximately 2:30pm for medicine, 2:45pm for physics and chemistry, 4pm for literature, 2pm for peace and 2:45pm for economics, although the announcements marked “at the earliest” can occur later.
What are the Nobel Prizes?
The Nobel Prizes were established through the will of Swedish chemist, inventor and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
Nobel directed that much of his fortune should be used to fund prizes for people who had conferred what he described as the greatest benefit to humankind.
The first Nobel Prizes were awarded in 1901, several years after Nobel’s death in 1896.
The original categories were physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and peace.
Why is there a Nobel Prize in economics?
Economics was not one of the five categories specified in Alfred Nobel’s will.
The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel was established by Sweden’s central bank in 1968 and awarded for the first time in 1969. It is administered under principles similar to the other Nobel prizes and is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
The prize is therefore commonly grouped with the Nobel Prizes, although it was created separately from Nobel’s original awards.
Who awards the Nobel Prizes?
Different institutions are responsible for selecting the laureates.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awards the prizes in physics and chemistry. The Swedish Academy selects the literature laureate, while the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet awards the prize in physiology or medicine.
The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded by the Norwegian Nobel Committee. The Economic Sciences prize is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
When are the Nobel Prizes presented?
The announcements in October are separate from the award ceremonies in December.
The laureates traditionally receive their medals, diplomas and prize money on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.
The Peace Prize ceremony takes place in Oslo, Norway, while the other awards are presented in Stockholm, Sweden.
What do Nobel laureates receive?
A Nobel laureate receives a medal, a personal diploma and a monetary award.
Reuters reported that the prize amount for 2026 has been increased to 12 million Swedish kronor, or roughly $1.21 million, for a full prize.
The Nobel Prize’s official information confirms that a prize can be shared by up to three laureates, with the prize money divided according to the award decision.
A globally recognised award
Over more than a century, the Nobel Prizes have recognised scientists, writers, peace activists and other individuals and organisations whose work has had a major influence in their respective fields.
Among the best-known laureates are Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Ernest Hemingway and Nelson Mandela.
The 2026 Nobel season will begin on October 5, when the first laureate of the year is announced, and conclude on October 12 with the Economic Sciences announcement.
The winners will then be formally honoured during ceremonies on December 10.
