The 2017 Nobel Prize award ceremony
© Nobel Media. Photo: Alexander Mahmoud
The prize-awarding institutions
Who selects the Nobel Prize laureates?
In his last will and testament, Alfred Nobel specifically designated the institutions responsible for the prizes he wished to be established: The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences for the Nobel Prize in Physics and Chemistry, Karolinska Institutet for the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, the Swedish Academy for the Nobel Prize in Literature, and a Committee of five persons to be elected by the Norwegian Parliament (Storting) for the Nobel Peace Prize.
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 economic sciences laureates starting in 1969.
Learn more about the nomination and selection of Nobel Prize laureates
In brief
- The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
- The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet
- The Swedish Academy
- The Norwegian Nobel Committee
Prize categories
The physics laureates are selected by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Read more about the academy here.
Professor Anders Irbäck interviewed at The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
Photo: Patrik Lundin/The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
The chemistry laureates are selected by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Read more about the academy here.
Announcement of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2024.
Photo: Patrik Lundin/The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
The medicine laureates are selected by the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet. Read more about the institute here.
Karolinska institutet in Stockholm.
Photographer: Ulf Sirborn
The literature laureates are selected by the Swedish Academy. Read more about the academy here.
The door to the Swedish Academy.
Photo: K. Svanholm.
The peace laureates are selected by the Norwegian Nobel Committee. Read more about the committee here.
The committee room of the Norwegian Nobel Committee is decorated with portraits of all peace laureates.
Photo: Public domain
The economic sciences laureates are selected by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Read more about the academy here.
The main building of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
Photo: KVA press
Explore more
The organisation
The Nobel Foundation has ultimate responsibility for fulfilling the intentions in Alfred Nobel’s will.
Flower decorations by Florist Helén Magnusson at the Nobel Prize award ceremony at the Stockholm Concert Hall, 10 December 2016.
© Nobel Media. Photo: Pi Frisk.
The organisation
Interacting with, and inspiring, the next generation of scientists, discoverers and creative innovators is a key part of what we do.
Attendees at the Nobel Prize Dialogue Tokyo 2017.
© Nobel Media. Photo: Alexander Mahmoud
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