Breakthrough Prize 2026: Winners

Recipients

1. Fundamental Physics

   Muon g−2 collaboration CERN, Muon g−2 collaboration Brookhaven, Muon g−2 collaboration Fermilab

   Physics

   For multi-decade, groundbreaking contributions to the measurement of the muon's anomalous magnetic moment, pushing the boundaries of experimental precision and igniting a new era in the quest for physics beyond the Standard Model.

2. Life Sciences

   Albert Maguire, Jean Bennett, Katherine A. High

   Biology

   For developing a therapy for inherited retinal degeneration that became the first FDA-approved gene therapy for a genetic disease.

3. Life Sciences

   Bryan Traynor, Rosa Rademakers

   Biology

   For the discovery of the most common genetic cause of ALS and frontotemporal dementia which charted the path for new mechanistic studies of these diseases.

4. Life Sciences

   Stuart H. Orkin, Swee Lay Thein

   Biology

   For elucidating the mechanism driving the switch from fetal to adult hemoglobin and validating it as a therapeutic target for sickle-cell disease and beta-thalassemia.

5. Mathematics

   Frank Merle

   Math

   for breakthroughs in nonlinear evolution equations, with regards to their stability, singularity formation, or resolution into solitons.