STAT+: The Ig Nobel Prizes, long held in the U.S., head to Europe due to Trump policies

STAT PlusIn the Lab The Ig Nobel Prizes, long held in the U.S., head to Europe due to Trump policies Organizers of the annual spectacle cited concerns about safety for international attendees Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By Allyson Chiu — Boston GlobeSept. 2, 2026 It usually takes 10 minutes for Marc Abrahams, founder of the Ig Nobel Prizes, to walk from his home in Cambridge, Mass., to the annual award ceremony — a world-renowned spectacle celebrating quirky scientific achievements. But this year, Abrahams’s trip involves an international flight.Advertisement For the first time since the awards — a satirical version of the Nobel prizes — were created in 1991, the ceremony, which takes place Thursday and draws hundreds of scientists and journalists from around the world, is not being held in Cambridge or Boston.

Organizers said they decided to move the event to Zurich, Switzerland, due to concerns that many international participants, including award winners, would not feel comfortable or be able to come to the United States amid the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown and upending of science. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts.

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