Home of Alfred Nobel​​​​​​​

The Nobel Prize is the most prestigious award in the world, and it encourages scientists, researchers, writers, and peace advocates in their work.
Alfred Nobel is perhaps the most famous Swedish innovator of all time. Nobel was a chemist, engineer, innovator, and entrepreneur who held 355 patents and is best known for his discovery of dynamite. In his will, Nobel specified that his fortune was to be dedicated to prizes in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, and peace “to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind.”

Alfred Nobel also designated the institutions responsible for selecting the awardees for the prizes he wished to be established: the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences for the Nobel Prizes in Physics and in Chemistry, the Karolinska Institute for the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, the Swedish Academy for the Nobel Prize in Literature, and the Norwegian Parliament for the Nobel Peace Prize.

The first Nobel Prizes were awarded in 1901. Among the first laureates was Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his discovery of X-rays.​​​​​​
Nobel Price medalNobel Price medal
Nobel Price medal
© The Nobel Foundation. Nobel Price medal. Photo: Alexander Mahmoud
In 1903, Marie Curie became the first woman to be honored with a Nobel Prize when she was named a joint winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics for her research on radioactivity. She shared the prize with her husband, Pierre Curie, and with Henri Becquerel.

In 1968, the Sveriges Riksbank established the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences was given the task to select the laureates in economic sciences starting in 1969.
Photo of Stockholm City Hall at NightPhoto of Stockholm City Hall at Night
Photo of Stockholm City Hall at Night
Stockholm City Hall is the venue of the Nobel Prize banquet and is one of Stockholm’s major tourist attractions.
​​​​​​​Photo: Werner Nystrand/Folio/imagebank.sweden.se
The award ceremonies are held annually on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death, in the Swedish capital, Stockholm. Laureates receive the Nobel Prize medal and diploma from King Carl XVI Gustaf at an award ceremony, which is followed by a banquet for around 1300 people, where Nobel Prize laureates are guests of honor and are seated with members of the Swedish royal family. The Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony takes place in the Norwegian capital, Oslo.

Between 1901 and 2023, the Nobel Prizes and the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel have been awarded to 965 individuals and 27 organizations. More than 400 Americans have been awarded the Nobel Prize—more than any other nationality. Sweden is home to 34 Nobel Prize laureates: five in physics, five in chemistry, nine in physiology or medicine, eight in literature, five in peace, and two in economic sciences.