The 2025 Nobel Prizes officially begin on Monday with the announcement of the winner in physiology or medicine, kicking off a week of global anticipation. From October 6 to 13, winners will be announced daily in the categories: medicine, physics, chemistry, literature, peace and economics.
What is the Nobel Prize?
The Nobel Prizes were established under the will of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish chemist and inventor of dynamite, who in 1895 left his fortune to reward those who "have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind."
The first winners were announced in 1901 in the fields of physics, chemistry, medicine, literature and peace. In 1968, the Central Bank of Sweden added the Prize for Economic Sciences in Nobel's honor.
Who gives the prizes and how much is the amount?
The awards are given by various institutions:
• Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (for physics, chemistry and economics)
• Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute (for medicine)
• Swedish Academy (for literature)
• Norwegian Nobel Committee (for peace)
Each winner receives a gold medal, a diploma, and a prize of 11 million Swedish kronor (about $1.2 million), in addition to the instant fame that this honor brings.
Nobel Calendar 2025
• Monday, October 6 – Physiology or Medicine (Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm)
• Tuesday, October 7 – Physics (Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences)
• Wednesday, October 8 – Chemistry (Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences)
• Thursday, October 9 – Literature (Swedish Academy)
• Friday, October 10 – Peace (Norwegian Nobel Institute, Oslo)
• Monday, October 13 – Economics (Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences)
What is expected to dominate this year?
The medical frontrunners are the scientists who discovered the hormone GLP-1, which controls appetite and led to the development of drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro, which have revolutionized the treatment of obesity and diabetes. The most talked-about names are Jens Juul Holst, Joel Habener, Daniel Drucker and Svetlana Mojsov.
Other candidates mention Kenji Kangawa and Masayasu Kojima for the discovery of the hormone ghrelin, which stimulates appetite.
In physics, John Pendry has gained attention with his research on metamaterials and the "invisibility cloak."
The Peace Prize: Between Controversy and Hope
In a world convulsed by wars in Gaza and Ukraine, the Nobel Peace Prize is seen as more political than ever.
US President Donald Trump has publicly claimed he deserves the prize for “ending seven wars” and “bringing peace to Gaza,” but experts consider it unlikely that he will win. The Norwegian committee usually focuses on the sustainability of peace and the smooth functioning of institutions.
Meanwhile, Ylva Engström, vice president of the Royal Academy of Sciences, has warned that academic freedom is under threat from the political interference of the Trump administration.
Award ceremony
The prizes will be awarded on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death.
In Stockholm, the King of Sweden will award medals to the winners in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature and economics. In Oslo, the peace prize will be presented at the city hall by the chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
After the ceremonies, the Nobel Banquet is held, a grand dinner with over 1,000 guests, attended by the royal family, diplomats, scientists, and previous laureates.
