Gerd Faltings wins 2026 Abel Prize for finiteness result in number theory
Mar 19th 2026
The Norwegian Academy awards Gerd Faltings the 2026 Abel Prize for his 1983 proof that many equations in whole numbers admit only finitely many rational solutions. The result reshaped modern number theory and earned Faltings a Fields Medal in 1986.
- Faltings won the 2026 Abel Prize, announced 19 March by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.
- He was recognised for his 1983 proof that many Diophantine equations have only finitely many rational solutions, confirming Mordell's conjecture.
- That proof solved a central problem in number theory and led to his Fields Medal in 1986.
- Faltings is a number theorist at the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in Bonn, Germany.
- The Abel Prize carries an award of 7.5 million Norwegian kroner, about US$780,000.
Articles
- Mathematician who reshaped number theory wins prestigious Abel prize www.nature.com
- Mathematician wins 2026 Abel prize for solving 60-year-old mystery www.newscientist.com
- Gerd Faltings, mathematician who proved the Mordell conjecture, wins the Abel Prize at age 71 www.scientificamerican.com