Mifal HaPais presented its 2026 Landau Prizes for Arts and Sciences to leading Israeli researchers, artists and cultural figures on Wednesday evening, following a conference held with the Weizmann Institute of Science examining the relationship between science and art.
Each of the nine winners received a NIS 150,000 grant. The ceremony marked the 25th anniversary of the Landau Prize, which recognizes exceptional achievements and contributions to Israeli research, culture and society.
The 2026 Landau Prize winners
The four science prizes were awarded to:
- Prof. Dan Peer for nanotechnology
- Prof. Irit Dinur for computer science
- Prof. Alexandra Kalev for sociology
- Prof. Leora Bilsky for Holocaust research
The arts prizes were awarded to:
- Iris Erez for dance
- Shahar Marom for children's theater
- The Jerusalem Piyyut Ensemble in the musical ensemble category
- Ido Dolev for production design in film
A special prize for a nonprofit organization working to promote dialogue and bridge divisions in Israeli society was awarded to Desert Stars, which develops educational and leadership programs for young Bedouins in the Negev.
The award ceremony was attended by Mifal HaPais chairman Itzik Lary, CEO Benny Dreyfuss and Weizmann Institute Vice President Prof. Rony Paz, as well as the winners, their families, university officials, researchers and artists.
Bringing scientists and artists together
Before the ceremony, Mifal HaPais and the Weizmann Institute held the inaugural “Experiment and Inquiry” conference, whose Hebrew title, “Nisui VeTehiya,” plays on the Hebrew expression for trial and error.
The event, hosted by Itay Mautner, featured short talks and discussions with scientists, researchers, artists and creators. The program examined how knowledge, imagination, physical materials, consciousness and technology influence one another.
Participants included researchers from the Weizmann Institute, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Bar-Ilan University, alongside representatives of the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, contemporary artists, musicians and writers.
When illustration meets science
The conference also featured the exhibition “When Illustration Meets Science,” presenting work created through a course in Bezalel's Department of Visual Communication.
Third- and fourth-year students designed covers for a fictional science magazine in cooperation with researchers from four laboratories at the Hebrew University’s Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences.
The project was led by illustrator Amit Trainin, head of the illustration program in Bezalel’s Department of Visual Communication, together with cognitive-science researcher and designer Hagar Segev, who also curated the exhibition.
“Mifal HaPais has worked for decades to advance culture, art, science and excellence in Israel,” Lary said.
“To mark 25 years of the Landau Prize, we are proud to hold the ‘Experiment and Inquiry’ conference together with the Weizmann Institute of Science, giving the public an opportunity to encounter the meeting point between research, creativity and innovation.”
“The connection between science and art brings together curiosity and imagination, discovery and creation, and two worlds that expand the boundaries of human thought and activity,” he added.