diff --git a/searx/settings.yml b/searx/settings.yml
index 2497a764b..8df151b14 100644
--- a/searx/settings.yml
+++ b/searx/settings.yml
@@ -24,6 +24,12 @@ ui:
     default_locale : "" # Default interface locale - leave blank to detect from browser information or use codes from the 'locales' config section
     theme_args :
         oscar_style : logicodev # default style of oscar
+#   categories_order :
+#     - general
+#     - files
+#     - map
+#     - it
+#     - science
 
 # searx supports result proxification using an external service: https://github.com/asciimoo/morty
 # uncomment below section if you have running morty proxy
diff --git a/searx/webapp.py b/searx/webapp.py
index f3f5f21b8..46d4e949c 100755
--- a/searx/webapp.py
+++ b/searx/webapp.py
@@ -355,17 +355,12 @@ def render(template_name, override_theme=None, **kwargs):
                              if (engine_name, category) not in disabled_engines)
 
     if 'categories' not in kwargs:
-        kwargs['categories'] = ['general']
-        kwargs['categories'].extend(x for x in
-                                    sorted(categories.keys())
-                                    if x != 'general'
-                                    and x in enabled_categories)
+        kwargs['categories'] = [x for x in
+                                _get_ordered_categories()
+                                if x in enabled_categories]
 
     if 'all_categories' not in kwargs:
-        kwargs['all_categories'] = ['general']
-        kwargs['all_categories'].extend(x for x in
-                                        sorted(categories.keys())
-                                        if x != 'general')
+        kwargs['all_categories'] = _get_ordered_categories()
 
     if 'selected_categories' not in kwargs:
         kwargs['selected_categories'] = []
@@ -443,6 +438,17 @@ def render(template_name, override_theme=None, **kwargs):
         '{}/{}'.format(kwargs['theme'], template_name), **kwargs)
 
 
+def _get_ordered_categories():
+    ordered_categories = []
+    if 'categories_order' not in settings['ui']:
+        ordered_categories = ['general']
+        ordered_categories.extend(x for x in sorted(categories.keys()) if x != 'general')
+        return ordered_categories
+    ordered_categories = settings['ui']['categories_order']
+    ordered_categories.extend(x for x in sorted(categories.keys()) if x not in ordered_categories)
+    return ordered_categories
+
+
 @app.before_request
 def pre_request():
     request.start_time = time()