Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony Moves to Europe Amid U.S. Visa Concerns

The annual satirical awards show will be held in Zurich, Switzerland this year due to difficulties for international attendees obtaining U.S. visas.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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The Ig Nobel Prize, a parody of the prestigious Nobel Prizes that honors unusual scientific achievements, is shifting its annual ceremony from the United States to Europe for the first time. Organizers cited concerns about international attendees being able to obtain U.S. visas as the reason for the move, which will see the 36th Ig Nobel ceremony take place in Zurich, Switzerland.

Why it matters

The Ig Nobel Prizes have been held in the U.S. for the past 35 years, with winners traveling to the country to accept their awards. However, the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration and tightening of visa policies has made it increasingly difficult for international guests to attend the ceremony, prompting the organizers to relocate the event to Europe.

The details

The Ig Nobel Prize ceremony, organized by the Annals of Improbable Research magazine, is known for honoring scientific achievements that 'make people laugh, and then think.' Past winners have included researchers studying whether painting cows with zebra stripes prevents flies from biting them, and whether certain types of pizza are preferred by lizards. This year's ceremony will be produced in collaboration with institutions in Switzerland, including the ETH Domain and the University of Zurich.

  • The 36th annual Ig Nobel Prize ceremony will be held in Zurich, Switzerland in 2026.
  • The ceremony has traditionally taken place in the U.S. in September, a few weeks before the actual Nobel Prizes are announced.

The players

Marc Abrahams

The master of ceremonies and editor of the Annals of Improbable Research magazine, which organizes the Ig Nobel Prize.

Milo Puhan

An epidemiologist at the University of Zurich and a Swiss Ig Nobel Prize winner in 2017, whose research showed that playing the didgeridoo can help reduce snoring and sleep apnea.

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What they’re saying

“During the past year, it has become unsafe for our guests to visit the country. We cannot in good conscience ask the new winners, or the international journalists who cover the event, to travel to the USA this year.”

— Marc Abrahams, Master of Ceremonies and Editor, Annals of Improbable Research (travelindustrytoday.com)

“The Ig Nobel Prize makes research visible, and does so with a wink.”

— Milo Puhan, Epidemiologist, University of Zurich (travelindustrytoday.com)

What’s next

The Ig Nobel Prize ceremony will be held in Zurich, Switzerland in 2026, and will shift between Europe and other locations every other year going forward. There are no immediate plans to return the event to the United States.

The takeaway

The relocation of the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony from the U.S. to Europe highlights the challenges that international attendees have faced in obtaining visas to travel to the United States under the Trump administration's stricter immigration policies. This move underscores the broader impact of these policies on global academic and cultural exchanges.