King Faisal Prize 2026 Winners Revealed Across Key Fields
In a ceremony that spotlights the power of human intellect to transform our world, the King Faisal Prize (KFP) announced its 2026 laureates in Riyadh on Wednesday night. The prestigious awards, now in their fifth decade, recognized a distinguished group of scientists, scholars, and leaders for their paradigm-shifting work across medicine, science, Arabic language, Islamic studies, and service to Islam.
Medicine: A Discovery That Changed Millions of Lives
The Medicine Prize was awarded to Professor Svetlana Mojsov of The Rockefeller University for her pioneering research on the hormone GLP-1. Her work is a landmark in medical history. By discovering and characterizing the active form of this natural intestinal hormone, she unlocked a fundamental understanding of how our bodies regulate blood sugar and appetite. Her subsequent identification of GLP-1 receptors laid the biological groundwork for an entirely new class of medications.
Today, therapies inspired by her research offer life-changing benefits to hundreds of millions worldwide grappling with obesity and type 2 diabetes. In honoring Prof. Mojsov, the KFP celebrates a scientist whose persistence in fundamental research sparked a global revolution in treatment, directly addressing one of our century’s most pressing health crises.
Science: Deciphering the Mathematics of Our World
In Science, the laureate is mathematician Professor Carlos Kenig of the University of Chicago. Prof. Kenig was honored for revolutionizing our understanding of nonlinear partial differential equations—the complex mathematical language that describes how phenomena change, from the flow of water to the propagation of light.
His groundbreaking work, particularly on “free boundary problems” and the long-term behavior of waves, has provided scientists with indispensable analytical tools. His insights find practical application in diverse fields, including fluid dynamics, optical fiber technology, quantum mechanics, and medical imaging. By solving problems that had puzzled experts for decades, he has illuminated the hidden mathematical structures of our physical universe.
Bridging Cultures and Illuminating History
The prize for Arabic Language and Literature was awarded to Professor Pierre Larcher, emeritus professor at Aix-Marseille University. Recognized for his theme of “Arabic literature in French,” Prof. Larcher has masterfully bridged two rich literary traditions. His critical translations and rigorous scholarly work, notably on the Al-Mu’allaqat, have made classical Arabic poetry profoundly accessible and resonant for French readers, fostering deeper cross-cultural appreciation.
In Islamic Studies, the prize was jointly awarded to Professor Abdelhamid Hussein Mahmoud Hammouda (Fayoum University) and Professor Mohamed Waheeb Hussein (Hashemite University). Prof. Hammouda was recognized for his comprehensive, authoritative mapping of trade routes across the Islamic world, providing an unparalleled historical reference. Prof. Hussein’s work combines modern archaeology—using GPS and analytical mapping—with the study of Qur’anic texts to document and illuminate early trade routes on the Arabian Peninsula, offering a tangible link between text, history, and geography.
A Legacy of Service
The Service to Islam Prize was jointly presented to Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Fozan and Dr. Mohammad Abou Moussa, honoring their lifelong dedication and influential contributions to serving the global Muslim community and humanity at large.
Since its inception in 1977, the King Faisal Prize has honored over 300 laureates, each receiving a gold medal, a certificate, and a $200,000 endowment. More than the accolade, the prize serves as a global beacon, reminding us of the enduring impact of dedicated scholarship, scientific curiosity, and cultural bridge-building. The 2026 laureates continue this noble tradition, their collective work offering solutions to modern challenges, deepening our understanding of history and culture, and inspiring the next generation of pioneers.
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