Today we announce the 2026 winners of our Research & Innovation Prizes, Horizon Prizes, Volunteer Recognition Prizes, and Inclusion & Diversity Prize.
Our winners reflect an extraordinary breadth of achievement, showing not only the diversity of chemistry and its applications, but also the depth and range of our community. Across both academia and industry, many of our winners are collaborating closely with colleagues in other disciplines – such as clinical medicine, history and conservation, and even theatre, to push the boundaries of what’s possible, enabling creativity, innovation, and discovery.
In the realm of fundamental chemistry, winners are adding to the body of human knowledge – developing novel materials and synthesis routes, identifying new antibiotics and drug targets, challenging accepted rules and long-held assumptions about molecular behaviour, and probing reactions and interactions using the latest spectroscopic, computational and AI technology.
Dr Helen Pain, CEO of the Royal Society of Chemistry, said, “Chemistry and chemists are everywhere in daily life and in our society, and our prizes reflect that depth and diversity. Our winners include teams and individuals, researchers, apprentices and technicians, as well as people from all around the world and in a wide range of roles and sectors. Each person’s contribution plays a vital role in advancing human knowledge and bettering the world that we all live in.”
“I extend my warmest congratulations to all of this year’s winners. Winning an RSC Prize is a remarkable achievement. You join the ranks of a star-studded roster stretching back over 150 years, including several dozen who went on to win Nobel Prizes. Our winners are exceptional role models for our communities, and we’re so pleased to be celebrating such an extraordinary cohort this year.”
Reflecting on our Volunteer Recognition Prizes, she added, “Volunteers are vital to the work of the RSC. Whether it’s sitting on our boards and committees, running outreach events, or supporting other members of the community, they’re at the heart of everything we do. Thanks to our volunteers, we are able to make a real difference to aspiring chemists and established scientists alike.”
The full suite of RSC Prizes comprises the Volunteer Recognition Prizes, Research & Innovation Prizes, Education Prizes (announced in November), the Inclusion & Diversity Prize, and the Horizon Prizes – team prizes given to scientific collaborations innovating and conducting cutting edge research at the frontiers of chemistry.