The Fields Medal
Mathematics' top prize, given every four years to two to four mathematicians under 40.
What the paper can ask
- Awarded every four years at the ICM; recipients must be under 40; two to four medals each time.
- First awarded 1936 to Lars Ahlfors and Jesse Douglas.
- Indian-origin winners: Manjul Bhargava (2014) and Akshay Venkatesh (2018).
- Maryam Mirzakhani (2014) was the first woman to win; Maryna Viazovska won in 2022.
Latest
The 2026 medals, announced at the ICM in Philadelphia on 23 July 2026, went to Yu Deng, John Pardon, Jacob Tsimerman and Hong Wang; Hong Wang became the third woman to win.
Why exams ask
Setters ask the age limit, the frequency, the Indian-origin winners and the women winners.
The full story
The Fields Medal is awarded every four years at the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) to between two and four mathematicians who are under 40 on 1 January of the congress year. It recognises existing work and 'the promise of future achievement'. It was first given in 1936 and is funded by a trust set up by the Canadian mathematician J. C. Fields.
Test yourself
1.The Fields Medal, often called the Nobel of mathematics, is awarded to mathematicians under the age of:
Correct. The Fields Medal is given every four years to up to four mathematicians under 40; Manjul Bhargava (2014) and Akshay Venkatesh (2018) are of Indian origin.
Not quite. The Fields Medal is given every four years to up to four mathematicians under 40; Manjul Bhargava (2014) and Akshay Venkatesh (2018) are of Indian origin. It goes into your error book.