Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai Win 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 2026. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences recognized their groundbreaking work on non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis. This prestigious award was announced at an event held in Stockholm, Sweden, on October 7, 2026.

According to Heiner Linke, chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry, Kagan and Soai’s discovery provides a solution to a longstanding chemical mystery regarding the spontaneous emergence of homochirality. Their innovative chemical reactions have had a significant impact on the design of reactions for pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Kagan, who hails from France, is affiliated with Université Paris-Sud in Orsay, France. Soai, at the age of 95, is from Japan and is associated with the Tokyo University of Science. Notably, the “Soai reaction” is named after his pioneering experiments.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences made the announcement in a ceremony in Stockholm. This follows last year’s chemistry Nobel, which recognized scientists who developed molecular structures capable of capturing large quantities of gas. This breakthrough holds potential for reducing greenhouse gases or collecting moisture from deserts.

The 2026 Nobel Prize announcements began with the award in medicine, given on Monday to scientists developing a light-based tool for exploring brain function. The physics prize on Tuesday honored work on rare neutrinos. The literature prize is scheduled for Thursday, followed by the peace prize on Friday. The Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences will be announced on Monday.

This year’s prize money amounts to 12 million Swedish kronor, equivalent to approximately $1.2 million. The sum applies whether the prize is awarded to an individual, a group of laureates, or an organization.