Nobel Prize Day
Next: December 10, 2026
Honouring the best of human effort.
The story
Where it comes from
Since 1901, new Nobel laureates have traditionally received their prizes on 10 December, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death in 1896; in a few years, mostly during the two World Wars, no ceremony was held. The prizes in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine and literature are presented in Stockholm, and the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo. Since 1969 the Stockholm ceremony has also included the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel. This Story celebrates the day the prizes are handed over.
How it's celebrated
In Stockholm, the laureates are presented at the Concert Hall and the King of Sweden hands each a diploma and a medal; a banquet for about 1,300 guests, including 250 students, follows at the City Hall. In Oslo, the chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee presents the Peace Prize at the City Hall. It is a fine day to read a laureate's Nobel lecture.
Did you know
- The flowers for the ceremony and banquet are donated by Sanremo, in Italy, where Alfred Nobel spent the last years of his life.
- The first award ceremony, in 1901, ended with a banquet at the Grand Hôtel in Stockholm.
- Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan is the youngest laureate: she was 17 when she shared the 2014 Peace Prize.
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