End of an Era: Ig Nobel Ceremony Moves from US to Switzerland Citing Political Climate

The Ig Nobel Prize ceremony, the satirical counterpart to the Nobel Prizes, will be held outside the United States for the first time in its 35-year history, moving to Zurich, Switzerland. The decision to relocate the event, planned for September 2026, was made in response to the changing political climate in the US under Donald Trump. Marc Abrahams, the creator and organizer of the prestigious event, cited increasing visa difficulties and safety concerns for foreign guests as the main reasons for leaving America. Ig Nobel Prizes have been inextricably linked with Harvard University for decades, but the current situation has forced the organizers to seek a safer haven in Europe. Since its inception in 1991, the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony has been held almost exclusively on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The exception was the pandemic years, when the event moved online, but the physical gala had never before left the borders of the United States. These prizes gained worldwide fame by promoting unconventional research, such as analyzing the influence of country music on suicides or studying the levitation of frogs in magnetic fields.

The main motive for the radical change of location is the organizers' belief that the United States has ceased to be a welcoming place for the international scientific community. Marc Abrahams, in his statements to the media, did not hide his disappointment with the current administration, claiming that the visa process has become unpredictable and humiliating for many invited researchers. According to the award's creator, many potential laureates and foreign guests expressed a real fear of traveling to the USA, which could paralyze the gala. Zurich was chosen as a city with high standards of safety, neutrality, and excellent scientific infrastructure, which is intended to guarantee the event's prestige. „In the last year, visiting the US has become unsafe for international guests. We wanted to do it in a more pleasant place for everyone” — Marc Abrahams via Gizmodo

The move to Switzerland marks the end of an era for the American academic community, which had previously hosted this unique celebration of science. This decision is widely commented on in the media as a warning signal regarding the scientific isolation of the United States under the influence of restrictive immigration policy. The organizers emphasize that the priority is to ensure all participants can travel freely without fear of border detentions or entry denials. Zurich is preparing to welcome hundreds of scientists who, in September 2026, will present their peculiar discoveries in the heart of Europe. 35 (years) — tradition of holding the ceremony exclusively in the USA History of the Ig Nobel Relocation: 1991 — Awards Inauguration; March 10, 2026 — Decision Announcement; September 2026 — Gala in Zurich