The Holberg Prize is an international prize awarded annually for outstanding contributions to research in the humanities, social sciences, law and theology.
The Holberg Prize was established by the Norwegian Parliament in 2003 and is awarded annually to a scholar who has made outstanding contributions to research in the humanities, social sciences, law or theology. The Prize may be awarded both for work within a particular academic discipline and for work of a cross-disciplinary nature. The recipient must have had a decisive influence on international research.
The Prize is worth NOK 6,000,000.
Anyone holding an academic position at a university, academy or other research institution may nominate candidates for the Holberg Prize.
The nomination deadline is 15 June each year.
The deadline for 2025 has now passed, but we welcome nominations for the 2026 Holberg Prize. We ask that all nominations are submitted online. It is possible to save your progress in the nomination form and complete it at a later time if needed.
Requirements and restrictions
These are the requirements and restrictions for nominations for the Holberg Prize. Please consider these, before you start filling out the nomination form.
- The candidate must be an active contributor to research in the humanities, social sciences, law or theology.
- The candidate must have had a decisive influence on international research.
- Nominations of organisations or groups, self-nominations and posthumous nominations will not be considered.
- Joint nominations do not strengthen a candidacy.
- Nominations are strictly confidential and should not be disclosed to the nominee or to others at any time.
- All text and attachments must be written in English, to count in the committee’s assessment of the candidate.
In the online form, nominators are asked to submit the following:
- Information about the nominator: Name, affiliation and contact details.
- Information about the candidate: Name, affiliation and contact details.
- A short statement of 1000-3000 characters (incl. spaces), explaining why the candidate should receive the Holberg Prize.
- The candidate’s CV and publication list.
- Names of three possible referees who know the candidate’s work and who can provide additional information if needed.
The selection process
The Board of the Holberg Prize awards the Prize at the recommendation of the Holberg Committee, which consists of internationally renowned scholars in the relevant research fields. The Holberg Prize Laureate will be announced in March, and the Award Ceremony takes place in Bergen, Norway, in the first week of June.
Questions?
If you have any questions or should experience technical difficulties with the nomination form, please contact info@holbergprisen.no.