Karin Sennefelt awarded the 2026 Disa Prize

The Disa Prize was instituted by Uppsala University and Studentbokhandeln in Uppsala to promote popular science writing. The prize has been awarded annually since 2001. The winner in 2026 is Karin Sennefelt, professor of history at Stockholm University, who defended her thesis at Uppsala University in 2001. Karin Sennefelt has received the prize for her book about life in the 17th century, in which she offers a picture of the conditions that governed people’s lives in Sweden 400 years ago.

The jury’s motivation reads:

“With in-depth knowledge, an abundant flora of sources and great empathy, in Livet enligt 1600-talet Karin Sennefelt gives us a picture of how people lived in Sweden 400 years ago. Body and soul, nature and religion – everything was intertwined in a totality that was entirely logical for its time. While much of this is foreign to us today, the feelings of sorrow and joy, astonishment and trust are the same. Sennefelt’s narrative is generous and accessible, with scope for the reader to make their own interpretations. It brings the realisation that while people are always children of their time, they are also in essence always and forever the same.”

The prize of SEK 50,000 will be given to Karin Sennerfelt by Vice-Chancellor Anders Hagfeldt at Uppsala Culture Night on 12 September 2026. Karin Sennefelt will also hold a lecture as part of the prize-giving ceremony under the heading Livet enligt 1600-talet (Life in the 17th Century). The lecture will be given in Swedish.

Time: 12 September at 15 – 16.30

Place: Tidskriftsläsesalen, Carolina Rediviva, Dag Hammarskjölds väg 1, Uppsala.

Ulrika Hurtig