Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony Moves to Zurich in 2026 Over Visa and Safety Concerns

Zurich will stage the Sept. 3 ceremony with ETH Domain plus the University of Zurich, before rotating to other European cities in alternating years.

Overview

  • Organizers said the United States has become unsafe for international winners and journalists, citing visa hurdles and guest safety as decisive factors.
  • The 2026 event marks the first relocation after 35 years of ceremonies at Harvard, MIT and Boston University.
  • This year’s ceremony is being produced in collaboration with institutions of the ETH Domain and the University of Zurich.
  • Zurich will host every other year, with other European cities taking turns in between, and organizers report no immediate plans to return to the United States.
  • A separate celebration for past winners is scheduled in Boston on Sept. 24 to maintain ties with the event’s longtime home.