The Buchalter Cosmology Prize was conceived on the premise that there are still fundamental gaps in our understanding of cosmology and that currently-accepted paradigms such as inflation and dark energy are incomplete, and possibly even incorrect descriptions of our Universe. It was created to stimulate ground-breaking theoretical, observational, or experimental work in cosmology that challenges, extends, or illuminates current models and/or helps explain the cosmic expansion from first principles. The ultimate goal is to help spur the formulation of a broader cosmological theory that explains current observations, puts forth testable new predictions, and fundamentally advances our understanding of physics.
Three prizes will be awarded for the 2026 Buchalter Cosmology Prize. The prize amounts will be as follows:
If a winning paper has multiple authors, the prize will be split equally among the authors.
All decisions of the judging panel, including eligibility of submissions in meeting qualification criteria and the determination of winners, will be final. No comments, reviews, or feedback will be provided.
Winners of the 2026 Buchalter Cosmology Prize will be announced in January 2027 and posted on the Announcements page.