• Pakistani, Israeli, Cambodian leaders claim to have nominated US president; secrecy rules leave bids unconfirmed
• 208 individuals, 79 organisations make up diverse list; winner to be announced on Oct 9, with award ceremony in December
• Committee raises alarm over jailed Iranian laureate’s health
OSLO: The Norwegian Nobel Committee is considering 287 candidates for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, with US President Donald Trump likely among those on the confidential list, the committee’s secretary said on Thursday.
Of the nominations submitted by the Jan 31 deadline, 208 are for individuals and 79 are for organisations, said Kristian Berg Harpviken. He noted that the list features a significant number of new names compared to the previous year.
“Since I am new in the job, one of the things that has to some extent surprised me is how much renewal there is from year to year on the list,” Harpviken, who has held the position since January 2025, said in an interview.
Despite a rise in global conflicts and mounting pressure on international cooperation, the award’s significance has not diminished, he added.
“The Peace Prize is even more important in a period like the one we’re living in,” Harpviken said. “There is as much good work, if not more, than ever.”
Trump’s nomination
The leaders of Cambodia, Israel and Pakistan have publicly stated that they nominated Trump for this year’s prize. If those nominations were formally submitted during the spring and summer of 2025 as indicated, they would be considered valid.
However, there is no official way to verify these claims, as the complete list of nominees and nominators remains secret for 50 years. On Thursday, Harpviken declined to confirm whether Trump was on the list. A nomination is not an endorsement from the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
Thousands of people worldwide are eligible to submit nominations, including members of governments and parliaments, current heads of state, and university professors of history, social sciences, law and philosophy.
Former Nobel Peace Prize laureates are also among those who can propose candidates. Numerous names are already circulating on betting sites as potential laureates.
These include Yulia Navalnaya, the wife of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny; Pope Leo; and Sudan’s Emergency Response Rooms, a volunteer aid group.
Jailed Iranian Laurete
Harpviken also expressed the committee’s deep concern over the declining health of the 2023 Peace Prize laureate, Narges Mohammadi. The jailed Iranian human rights activist recently suffered a heart attack in prison, and her supporters said Wednesday that her life is in imminent danger.
“Her sister was able to visit her in prison yesterday and the reports coming out after that are actually quite alarming as to her health condition,” Harpviken said.
“We see there is a lot of international pressure now,” he added. “So we hope that the Iranian authorities do pay attention to that and release her so that she can have proper medical treatment.”
Who else?
Among other known nominations, a Norwegian lawmaker has put forward Lisa Murkowski, the US senator for Alaska, and Aaja Chemnitz, a member of the Danish parliament from Greenland.
“Together they have worked relentlessly to build trust and to secure a peaceful development of the Arctic region over many years,” said the lawmaker, Lars Haltbrekken, who nominated them.
The Arctic has received particular attention this year in light of Trump’s persistent efforts to acquire Greenland from Nato ally Denmark.
This year’s Nobel Peace Prize will be announced on Oct 9, with the formal award ceremony scheduled for Dec 10. The laureate for the previous year was Venezuela’s Maria Corina Machado.
Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2026
