2026 Ig Nobel Prizes Awarded in Zurich for Quirky Science
On September 3, the 2026 Ig Nobel Prizes were revealed in Zurich, Switzerland, marking the first time the ceremony was held outside the U.S. This change occurred because last year's laureates chose not to attend the event in Boston. Organized by Improbable Research, the awards highlight amusing yet insightful accomplishments. Among this year's recipients were investigations into the aerodynamics of nose blowing, the behavior of venomous snakes, and the contrasting odors of teenagers and babies. The Biomechanics Prize was awarded for a team’s work on defining kissing, while the Economics Prize recognized Paul Piff's 2012 research on unethical conduct among the affluent. Additional accolades covered milk proteins, urinal design, and soil activity, with the Peace Prize acknowledging a 2023 study on valuing friends who are cruel to foes.
Key facts
- The 2026 Ig Nobel Prizes were announced on September 3.
- The ceremony took place in Zurich, Switzerland, the first time outside the U.S.
- The awards are organized by Improbable Research.
- The Biomechanics Prize defined kissing in a study published in Evolution and Human Behavior.
- The Economics Prize recognized a 2012 study on unethical behavior among higher-class individuals.
- The Chemistry Prize honored a 2016 study on cockroach milk proteins.
- The Medicine Prize went to a 1977 study on nose-blowing aerodynamics.
- The Biology Prize study on venomous snakes was retracted due to ethics breaches.
Entities
Artists
- Matilda Brindle
- Stuart West
- Catherine F. Talbot
- Dr. Tokuji Unno
- Esther Duflo
- Abhijit Banerjee
- Michel Mayor
- Tim Hunt
Institutions
- Improbable Research
- Boston University
- University of Oxford
- University of California, Irvine
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
- University of California, Los Angeles
- Lenoir-Rhyne University
- Annals of Improbable Research
- Florida Institute of Technology
Locations
- Zurich
- Switzerland
- United States
- Europe