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Which institutions choose each laureate, how nominations work, and what is new in 2026
There is no single body. Each prize is awarded by a different institution named in Alfred Nobel's will:
| Prize | Awarding institution | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences | Stockholm |
| Chemistry | Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences | Stockholm |
| Physiology or Medicine | Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet | Solna |
| Literature | The Swedish Academy | Stockholm |
| Peace | Norwegian Nobel Committee | Oslo |
| Economic Sciences | Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences | Stockholm |
The Economic Sciences prize was added later and is formally the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel.
The Swedish Academy selects the laureate. Its Nobel Committee reviews nominations, narrows them over several months, and presents a recommendation to the full Academy, which votes. The Permanent Secretary announces the result.
Eligible nominators include members of the Swedish Academy and similar institutions, professors of literature and linguistics, previous laureates, and heads of writers' organizations. Self-nomination is not allowed.
No. Nominee names are kept secret for 50 years, so any "favorites" lists are speculation by commentators and betting sites.
Who decides who gets the Nobel Prize? The institution assigned to each category, as in the table above.
Who chooses Nobel Prize winners? Small expert committees make recommendations, and the full academy or assembly gives final approval.
Can the public vote? No.
Can a prize be shared? Yes, by up to three people in most categories, and the Peace Prize can go to organizations.
Critics point to the secrecy, the historical dominance of European and North American laureates, and the limit of three recipients per science prize. Supporters say confidentiality protects the integrity of deliberations.
