Culture & sport · Updated September 2026
Nobel Prize facts
Nobel Prizes: five original categories from Alfred Nobel’s will, plus the economics prize added later. Peace is awarded in Oslo; the others in Stockholm.
Alfred Nobel, a Swedish inventor, left a will (1895) that created prizes for people who had done the most for humanity in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and peace. The first prizes were given in 1901.
A sixth prize in economic sciences was added in 1968 by Sweden’s central bank. It is announced with the Nobels and is often called a Nobel, but it is not in the original will.
The Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, Norway. The other prizes are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden. There is no Nobel for mathematics (the Abel Prize and Fields Medal are separate). A prize can be shared by up to three people in most categories.
Nobel Prize facts — key facts (2026)
| Topic | Fact |
|---|---|
| First awarded | 1901 |
| Original five | Physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, peace |
| Economics prize | Added 1968 (Sveriges Riksbank) |
| Peace Prize city | Oslo |
| Other ceremonies | Stockholm |
| No maths Nobel | True — use Abel / Fields |
| Shared prizes | Usually at most three laureates |
| Organisations | The Peace Prize can go to an organisation (for example the UN, WFP) |
Figures are the usual classroom and news-desk numbers for 2026. Border disputes and membership votes can change a count by one or two.
People also ask
How many Nobel Prize categories are there?
Five in Nobel’s will, plus the economics prize. People often say six.
Why is the Peace Prize in Norway?
Nobel’s will put the Peace Prize with a Norwegian committee. Norway and Sweden were in a union when he wrote the will.
Can someone win twice?
Yes — rare examples include Marie Curie, Linus Pauling, John Bardeen and the ICRC.