Nobel Foundation increases prize money for 2026

The Nobel Foundation announced on September 18, 2026, that it will increase the prize money for each of the six Nobel categories by 9%. This adjustment brings the award for each discipline to 12 million Swedish kronor, which is approximately 1.22 million US dollars or 1.06 million euros.

According to Hanna Stjärne, the executive director of the Nobel Foundation, this decision is intended to support the long-term significance of the Nobel Prize and ensure that the monetary value of the award maintains its purchasing power over time. The winners in the fields of Physics, Chemistry, Peace, Literature, Economics, and Medicine or Physiology are scheduled to be announced between October 5 and October 12, 2026. This year marks a significant milestone as the foundation celebrates the 125th anniversary of the first awards.

The Nobel Prizes were established by the will of Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel, with the inaugural ceremony taking place in 1901. At that time, each recipient was awarded 150,782 Swedish kronor. The current increase reflects the foundation's ongoing commitment to managing the legacy of the endowment while adapting to modern economic conditions.