8 University Scholars Win 2026 Kavli Prize

On June 10 (local time), the recipients of the 2026 Kavli Prizes in Astrophysics, Nanoscience, and Neuroscience were announced by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, honoring groundbreaking scientific discoveries. The Kavli Prize is widely recognized as one of the world's most prestigious international awards in science.

This year, ten scientists representing nine nationalities from three continents have been honored for research that has expanded our understanding of the vast, the minute, and the complex. Laureates in each prize category will share an award of USD 1 million.

The 2026 Kavli Prize in Astrophysics is awarded to Vasily Belokurov, Amina Helmi, and Rodrigo Ibata for uncovering fossil evidence of past galactic mergers, demonstrating that the Milky Way was formed through hierarchical accretion.

The 2026 Kavli Prize in Nanoscience is awarded to Eva Y. Andrei, Pablo Jarillo-Herrero, and Allan H. MacDonald for their pioneering contributions that established the field of twistronics.

The 2026 Kavli Prize in Neuroscience is awarded to Christine Holt, Kelsey Martin, Erin Schuman, and Oswald Steward for discovering local protein translation in neurons and establishing its critical role in brain development and neural plasticity.

The awardees are affiliated with leading institutions including the University of Cambridge, the University of Groningen, the University of Strasbourg, Rutgers University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The University of Texas at Austin, and the University of California, Irvine. Among these institutions, the University of Cambridge is represented by two laureates.

“Honoring these outstanding scientists is not only a recognition of achievement; it is an investment in our shared future, affirming the curiosity, rigor, and courage that drive human progress,” said Annelin Eriksen, President of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.

The complete list of laureates is shown below:

About the Kavli Prizes

The vision for the Kavli Prize originated with Fred Kavli, a Norwegian-American entrepreneur and philanthropist who transformed his lifelong passion for science into a lasting legacy that recognizes scientific breakthroughs and supports fundamental research.

Established through a partnership among the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research, and the Kavli Foundation, the Kavli Prizes are awarded biennially to honor scientists whose breakthroughs in astrophysics, nanoscience, and neuroscience have transformed our understanding of the big, the small, and the complex. Laureates in each field share a prize of USD 1 million.

The Kavli Prize laureates are celebrated in Oslo, Norway, at a ceremony presided over by the Norwegian Royal Family. To date, the Kavli Prizes have honored 73 scientists from 14 countries: Austria, China, Czechia, France, Germany, Japan, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Ten Kavli Prize laureates have subsequently gone on to receive the Nobel Prize.