The Nobel Peace Prize 2026 winner is set to be announced in Oslo on Friday, with the Norwegian Nobel Committee selecting from 287 nominated candidates. The announcement comes in the award's 125th year, drawing attention to international peace efforts amid ongoing conflicts and humanitarian crises.
More than a quarter of this year's nominees are organisations. The prize traditionally recognises efforts supporting peace, international fraternity and cooperation. Potential contenders discussed by forecasters include the International Space Station, emergency response teams in Sudan, children's advocates in Ukraine and two major international courts.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has also attracted attention in prediction markets. US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly expressed his desire to receive the award, has also remained a prominent subject of speculation.
A 125-Year History of Recognising Peace Efforts
Since 1901, the Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to 112 individuals and 28 institutions. The International Committee of the Red Cross has received the prize three times, while the UN refugee agency has won twice.
Twenty women have received the award as individuals, including eight in the past 15 years. Education activist Malala Yousafzai remains the youngest laureate, having won in 2014 at the age of 17.
The prize has not been awarded 19 times, largely during the world wars. In 1948, the year Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated, no award was given despite his having been nominated 12 times.
Last year's prize went to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado for her efforts towards democratic transition. Although Machado later gave her medal to Trump, the Nobel Committee has clarified that the honour itself cannot be transferred.
Other Nobel Prizes Announced This Week
The announcements follow awards in medicine, physics, chemistry and literature. Canadian poet, essayist and translator Anne Carson received the literature prize for work that blends classical and modern influences and challenges conventional boundaries between poetry and prose.
The Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences is scheduled to be announced on Monday. This year's Nobel awards carry prize money of 12 million Swedish kronor, approximately US$1.2 million, for each prize, whether awarded to an individual, a group or an organisation.
Friday's announcement will reveal which candidate the committee believes has made the most significant contribution to peace.
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