OSLO — The International Space Station is among the contenders for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, joining a field that includes U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The Norwegian Nobel Committee will announce the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize on October 9, 2026, in Oslo.

The committee received 287 nominations for the 2026 prize, with just over a quarter being organizations, according to Kristian Berg Harpviken, secretary of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. The Nobel Prize money for 2026 is 12 million Swedish kronor.

Haakon Gjerløw, director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo, identified the organization behind the International Space Station as a rare symbol of global cooperation. The station is operated by five partner space agencies: NASA, Roscosmos (Russia), ESA (Europe), JAXA (Japan), and CSA (Canada). It is the first space station built, maintained, and crewed through international cooperation.

The International Space Station has been continuously crewed since November 2000, with 258 astronauts from 19 nations participating in its operations. Since November 2, 2000, the International Space Station has hosted the longest continuous human presence in space.

U.S. President Trump is a candidate for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. He has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize at least four times in his career, including in 2017 for his role in the Korean Peninsula diplomacy and 2020 for his Middle East peace plan. María Corina Machado presented her 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to Trump in January 2026.

Nelson Wiseman, professor emeritus, said "Trump will be unhappy whoever gets the Nobel. If Carney got it, it would make relations with Canada rockier than they are." Time magazine named Mark Carney one of its 100 most influential people of 2026.

Children’s advocates in Ukraine are among the contenders for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. Mykola Kuleba and Save the Children are contenders for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.

The Committee to Protect Journalists is a contender for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to organizations 27 times in its history, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (1917, 1944, 1963) and the United Nations (2001).

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has not publicly disclosed the identities of nominees for the Peace Prize, as the list remains confidential for 50 years after the award is given. Kristian Berg Harpviken assumed office in January 2025, marking the first leadership change since 2015 and overseeing the 2026 prize selection process. Haakon Gjerløw, director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), has previously predicted Nobel Peace Prize winners and is considered a top forecaster by media outlets, though his predictions are not official.

Only 20 of the Nobel Peace Prize’s 112 individual laureates have been women in its 125-year history. In the past 15 years, eight women have won the Nobel Peace Prize individually, compared to six men.

Why It Matters

The inclusion of the International Space Station among 287 nominees shows the committee's consideration of institutional cooperation alongside individual political actions. With 79 organizations in contention, the 2026 cycle reflects a broad interpretation of peacebuilding that spans humanitarian aid, judicial accountability, and scientific collaboration. The selection will occur against a backdrop of ongoing conflicts, including the war launched by the U.S. and Israel in Iran in February 2026.

The candidacy of Mark Carney, who briefly became the favorite on prediction markets with 14% odds, reflects the intersection of trade policy and diplomatic recognition. His nomination follows retaliatory measures against U.S. tariffs and a proposal for closer EU-Canada ties. Meanwhile, Trump’s fourth nomination occurs with skepticism from analysts who cite ongoing military engagements as a barrier to peace recognition.

Timeline

U.S. forces removed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power in early 2026. The U.S. and Israel launched an ongoing war on Iran in February 2026.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a campaign in July 2026 to dismantle the threat posed by the International Criminal Court to U.S. sovereignty. The ICC’s chief prosecutor was removed from office in July 2026 over sexual misconduct allegations. The Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences will be announced on October 12, 2026.

What's New

Later reporting indicates that Trump has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize at least four times in his career, including in 2017 for his role in the Korean Peninsula diplomacy and 2020 for his Middle East peace plan. Additional details show that the International Space Station has been continuously crewed since November 2000, with 258 astronauts from 19 nations participating in its operations, despite geopolitical tensions including Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Mark Carney's 2026 leadership in opposing U.S. tariffs led to a 14% probability of winning the Nobel Peace Prize on the Kalshi prediction market, according to the platform's July 2026 data. He briefly became the favorite for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize on the Kalshi prediction market with 14% odds.

The Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) has a history of publishing annual lists of potential Nobel Peace Prize candidates, with Haakon Gjerløw playing a central role in these forecasts. The Norwegian Nobel Committee's selection criteria emphasize 'durability of peace' and 'promotion of international fraternity,' as outlined in their official guidelines published in 2020. Scott Galloway, professor, said he believes, hands down, Time’s Person of the Year has already been decided and it’s going to be Mark Carney.