The Digester

Organizers say safety concerns for winners and journalists have forced the 2026 Ig Nobel Prize ceremony out of the United States after 35 years, with Zurich and Swiss institutions stepping in to host the event.

Founder Marc Abrahams says it is unsafe for international winners and journalists to travel to the United States this year.
After 35 years of US ceremonies at venues such as Harvard, MIT and Boston University, the 2026 event will be held in Zurich.
The 2026 ceremony is produced in collaboration with institutions of the Domain of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology and the University of Zurich.
The Ig Nobel Prize honors unusual and humorous scientific work while encouraging reflection, and often features real Nobel laureates in the program.
Winners receive satirical trophies and novelties, such as a piece of paper or 10 trillion Zimbabwean dollars, alongside short acceptance rituals.

Ig Nobel moves ceremony from US to Zurich after 35 years over safety concerns

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