Who are possible winners of this year's Nobel Peace Prize, and can Trump win it?

The winner of the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize will be announced on October 9.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has not released a public list of nominees. Under Nobel rules, the names of nominees remain confidential for 50 years.

The committee received 287 nominations this year — 208 individuals and 79 organisations. That secrecy has not stopped some names from emerging. People and organisations have been publicly put forward by nominators, while analysts and international observers have also speculated about possible winners.

Among the names discussed are Pope Leo, the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice and Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Sudan’s Emergency Response Rooms, which provides humanitarian assistance through community networks during the country’s civil war, has also attracted attention. Save the Children has been mentioned for its work with children caught up in conflicts.

The International Space Station has even entered the speculation. Its decades-long cooperation between the United States, Russia and European countries has made it an unusual example of countries working together despite political tensions.

US President Donald Trump is another publicly named nominee. Leaders from Cambodia, Israel and Pakistan have said they nominated him, although those claims cannot be independently checked because official nomination records are sealed.

A nomination, however, does not mean that a candidate has a strong chance of winning. Thousands of people are eligible to submit names each year, and the Norwegian Nobel Committee does not treat a nomination as an endorsement.

The final decision rests with a five-member Norwegian Nobel Committee appointed by parliament. Its members traditionally have political or academic backgrounds, and its composition reflects the political balance in Norway’s parliament.

The committee assesses candidates against the principles in Alfred Nobel’s 1895 will. The prize was intended for those who make significant efforts to promote friendship between nations, reduce standing armies or advance peace efforts.

The committee also looks at the wider circumstances surrounding a candidate’s work, including major international developments and peace initiatives that could have a broader impact.

The pool of people allowed to nominate candidates is also wide. It includes government and parliament members, heads of state, university leaders and academics in several fields, as well as previous Nobel Peace Prize winners and members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

The nomination deadline was January 31, although committee members can submit nominations until their first meeting in February.

With the shortlist kept secret, speculation will continue until the committee announces its choice on October 9.