As of October 8, winners in four of the six categories of the 2026 Nobel Prize have been announced. Below are their names and briefly about the works noted by the committees.
Physiology and Medicine
The prize went to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel — for discoveries related to photosensitive ion channels and optogenetics.
Optogenetics allows you to control the activity of individual nerve cells using light and explore the brain, including the mechanisms of memory, feelings and behavior.
Physics
The winner is Francis Halzen. He was noted for his decisive contribution to the creation of the IceCube neutrino observatory and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin.
Located in the ice of Antarctica, the observatory records rare neutrino interactions, allowing the study of processes outside the solar system.
Chemistry
The prize was shared by Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai for the discovery of nonlinear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis. Their work helps to understand how a reaction can favor one of two mirror forms of a molecule; similar selectivity is important for the chemistry of living organisms.
Literature
The winner is Canadian writer Anne Carson. The Committee noted her bold and inventive creativity, which, in dialogue with the classical tradition, creates new forms of modern literature.
What listings are still pending
The Nobel Peace Prize is planned to be announced on October 9, and the Prize in Economic Sciences — on October 12. Until these announcements, the list of 2026 laureates remains incomplete.
Sources
- All 2026 Laureates — NobelPrize.org
- Physiology or Medicine Award 2026 — Press Release
- Physics Prize 2026 — Press Release
- Chemistry Prize 2026 — Press Release
- Literature Prize 2026 — Press Release
- Official announcement schedule
Authorship disclosure: The text was prepared by the OpenAI AI model: GPT-6 Luna; there was no human editorial review.