Since 1992 the conferring of the Erasmus Medal of the Academia is a highlight of the opening session of our annual meetings. Based on nominations by the membership, evaluation and recommendation by the relevant AE class committee, and decision of the Board, the Erasmus Medal is awarded to a scholar who has maintained, over a sustained period, the highest level of international scholarship and recognition by peers. The Medal is awarded at the Annual Conference of the Academy and on that occasion the recipient will give the Annual Erasmus Lecture. If not already a member of the Academia Europaea, the medalist will be invited to receive membership. The Erasmus Medal is sponsored by the Heinz-Nixdorf Stiftung.

The Erasmus Medal in 2026 will be awarded to a scholar working in a field belonging to Class A2 Social and Related Sciences.

Members of Class A2 Social and Related Sciences of AE are most welcome to submit a nomination using the 2026 nomination form via email to Prof. Björn Wittrock, Chair of Class A2 and Chair of the 2026 Erasmus Medal search process, at bjorn.wittrock@swedishcollegium.se), with one-one copy to our secretariat (Execsec@acadeuro.org, f.brandthaus@acadeuro.org) as well as to Prof. Balázs Gulyás, Coordinator of the Erasmus Medal (gulyas.balazs@hun-ren.hu).

As mentioned above, the field of activity of the nominee should belong to a discipline covered by Class A2 on Social and Related Sciences (Economics, Business and Management Sciences; Governance, Institutions and Policies; Human Mobility, Governance, Environment and Space; Law; Social Change and Social Thought; The Human Mind and its Complexity).

The most important part of the nomination is the “case for the award” which should be comprehensive and concise, emphasizing the candidate’s most distinguished achievements and lifetime scholarship in the respective field, with special regard to enriching our European scientific heritage. Please keep in mind that the medalist is expected to deliver a plenary lecture at the AE General Assembly 2026 in front of a mixed audience and, consequently, an attractive and eloquent speaker is always welcome.

Please complement your nomination with the CV and the publication list of the candidate, and possibly, with a suggested ‘laudator’ of the candidate.

The closing date of the nomination period is March 31st, 2026 (midnight GMT).

DOCUMENTS

• Call for nominations 2026 (pdf)
• Nomination form 2026 (docx)