Ig Nobel Prizes 2026 Held in Zurich for First Time in Europe

The 2026 Ig Nobel Prizes were awarded in Zurich, marking the first time the ceremony has been held in Europe since its inception in 1991. Organized by the Annals of Improbable Research, the prizes honor scientific studies that first make people laugh and then make them think. The event featured a trophy shaped like a giant mushroom growing from a human foot on a base resembling blue cheese, and guests participated in the tradition of throwing paper airplanes. Some scientists presented their work through the 24/7 format, explaining their research first in 24 seconds and then in seven words.

Award winning research included a study on the aerodynamics of blowing one's nose, which honored a late Japanese researcher. Other prizes were given for the creation of anti splash urinals, the use of mosquito proboscises as high resolution 3D printing nozzles, and a study on the proteins in cockroach milk. In the field of biology, a team was recognized for stepping on venomous snakes to understand what triggers biting. A soil health study involved burying 2,000 pairs of underwear across 25 countries. Other winners included researchers who found that wealthy people are more likely to steal candy from children and a team that demonstrated that parents find the smell of babies wonderful but not the smell of teenagers.

Outlets with a center lean described the move to Europe as being in contrast to the policies of Donald Trump. Outlets with a center left lean framed the relocation as a response to the political climate in the United States, specifically citing strict visa policies and immigration enforcement as factors that made travel unsafe for guests. The organizers announced that the ceremony will now take place in Zurich every two years, with the 2027 event scheduled for Antwerp, Belgium.