The Norwegian Nobel Committee has registered 287 candidates for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, the institution announced on its website on 30 April. Of those, 208 are individuals and 79 are organizations.
In a statement accompanying the announcement, the committee said the figure reflected sustained global interest in the award, noting that "in an increasingly conflictual world, there is no lack of candidates" working towards peaceful dialogue, conflict resolution, and international cooperation. The committee added that the values underpinning the prize were more important than ever.
Trump and Zelenskyy reportedly on the list
Reuters reports that the leaders of Cambodia, Israel, and Pakistan have publicly stated they nominated US President Donald Trump for the 2026 prize.
Norwegian newspaper Dagsavisen reported in January that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had been nominated together with the people of Ukraine for their role in defending the country during the war. The nomination, according to Dagsavisen, was submitted by Dag Øistein Endsjø, a professor of religious studies at the University of Oslo.
The Nobel Committee itself does not confirm nominees. Names that appear in the media typically come from those who claim to have submitted a nomination or from journalistic speculation.
Process and timeline
Nominations are submitted to the Nobel Committee's secretariat by 31 January each year. After the deadline, members of the committee may add further names during their first meeting. In 2026, that meeting was held on 26 February.
The committee assesses candidates with the help of leading international experts and reviews scholarly and analytical material in each relevant field. Proposals, investigations, and the committee's opinions are sealed for 50 years.
The 2026 laureate will be announced on 9 October, with the award ceremony to follow on 10 December in Oslo.
Background
Ukraine's Center for Civil Liberties received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022 — the first time a Ukrainian organization had been awarded the prize. The award that year was shared with Belarusian human rights advocate Ales Bialiatski and the Russian human rights organization Memorial.
In 2025, Trump publicly stated on multiple occasions that he wanted to win the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his role in resolving seven international conflicts. The 2025 prize was instead awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.
