The Nobel Prizes were set up by the 1895 will of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor of dynamite, and first awarded a few years after his death in five fields: physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and peace. A sixth prize, in economic sciences, was added in 1968 and first given in 1969. Winners are announced in early October and the prizes are presented on 10 December, the anniversary of Nobel's death.
Key facts
- Will dated 27 November 1895; economics prize created 1968, first awarded 1969.
- Prizes are presented on 10 December; no prize may be shared by more than three persons; no posthumous awards since 1974.
- To date 633 prizes have gone to about 1,020 people and organisations; 69 women have been awarded 70 times. (as of 23 Oct 2026)
- The youngest laureate was 17 when awarded; the Peace Prize is the only one not presented in Stockholm.
- Winners are announced in early October each year; the economics prize is announced last.
Latest
2026 laureates: Physics Francis Halzen (IceCube neutrino observatory at the South Pole); Chemistry Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai; Medicine Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel; Literature Anne Carson (Canada); Economics Robert Hall and Michael Woodford; Peace Navanethem (Navi) Pillay of South Africa, a former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and former ICC judge.
Why exams ask about it
Every October: who won, for what, from which country, which body awards each prize and where the Peace Prize is given.