Kenneth Glad
When the world feels more dangerous than ever, finding someone who genuinely makes it safer is a heavy task. The Oslo committee is sorting through hundreds of names to find a beacon of hope.
Right now, a total of 287 candidates are vying for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, according to Norwegian broadcaster NRK. The confidential roster features 208 individuals and 79 organizations from across the globe.
Many political figures have put forward US President Donald Trump for the honour. Foreign leaders and conservative allies submitted at least 14 nominations in what looks like a coordinated diplomatic push. He desperately wants the recognition.
But experts agree the American leader has almost zero chance of winning. His recent interventions in Venezuela, the war in Iran, and other sprawling conflicts make him an impossible choice for the judges.
Voices from the rubble
The five-member Norwegian committee is looking closely at those caught up in the crossfire. Researchers at Uppsala University in Sweden are tracking the highest number of state-based conflicts since the end of the Second World War. The human cost is staggering.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine remain strong contenders as their grinding defensive war continues. Farther south, the local volunteer networks keeping starving civilians alive in Sudan are drawing serious international attention.
Journalists and medical workers in Gaza have also received numerous nominations this year. Al Jazeera bureau chief Wael Al-Dahdouh is a prominent name. He paid a devastating personal price to keep reporting from the ruined territory, losing family members to airstrikes.
Focus on the vulnerable
Children always bear the heaviest burden when governments and military forces decide to fight. Groups working to rescue kidnapped Ukrainian minors or educate young refugees stand out as very strong candidates.
Another pressing issue is the rapid militarisation of advanced technology. Campaigns pushing to ban autonomous killer robots are gaining major traction worldwide. The same goes for groups trying to keep weapons out of outer space.
Sometimes entire communities get nominated for their collective bravery against state violence. South Korean citizens and the residents of Minneapolis both landed on the list for peacefully standing up to armed authorities.
According to NRK, Norwegian politician Julie E. Stuestøl captured this spirit in her nomination of the city. “This is what real democratic courage looks like: Tens of thousands meeting threats with non-violence and care for each other. That is the very foundation of peace,” she wrote.
No clear frontrunner
The noise around Trump highlights the intense pressure on the judges in Oslo. While foreign allies keep pushing his name, the committee historically resists heavy political lobbying. In fact, aggressive campaigns often backfire. Trump’s ongoing frustration with Norway over past snubs makes a surprise victory even more remote.
Oddsmakers and experts caution that there is rarely a clear favorite at this stage. The committee often bypasses loud political figures in favor of quiet, grassroots efforts working against huge odds. Humanitarian groups like Sudan’s volunteer rescue networks or emergency medical teams operating in crisis zones fit that traditional mold far better.
Whether the judges choose a high-profile institution or an unsung local group, we’ll know at the official announcement at 11 o’clock Central European Summer Time today. One thing is certain. The world will be watching closely.
Sources: NRK, Uppsala University
