Candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize Include the ISS

This year’s Nobel Peace Prize could venture into the cosmos by recognizing the International Space Station (ISS). However, significant terrestrial contenders remain, including US President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, emergency response teams in Sudan, advocates for children’s rights in Ukraine, and two major international courts, experts suggest.

As anticipation builds for the Norwegian Nobel Committee’s announcement on October 9 in Oslo, the annual guessing game grows more intense. While predictions are inherently speculative, past results have shown surprising and controversial choices. This year, the committee received 287 nominations, with over a quarter representing organizations.

Experts note that the committee typically prioritizes enduring peace, global fraternity, and the often-overlooked institutions that foster these ideals. Haakon Gjerlow, director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo and a leading predictor, highlights the ISS—representing a rare moment of global cooperation in space exploration amid declining multilateralism and rising national interests on Earth.

Gjerlow’s annual watch list informs many pundits and analysts about the top contenders. Trump, openly desiring the award, faces controversy following the US and Israel’s ongoing military actions in Iran since February. Mark Carney has gained international attention this year for his firm stance against Trump on tariffs and other issues.

Gjerlow also mentions children’s advocate Mykola Kuleba from Ukraine, Sudan’s grassroots Emergency Response Rooms, and the Committee to Protect Journalists, acknowledging the deadliest period for reporters in nearly 45 years.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC) are also in the running. The ICC has received both criticism and respect for its arrest warrants against leaders such as Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Jody Williams, who won the Peace Prize in 1997, advocates for a continued focus on awarding women. With only 20 women among the 112 individual laureates in the prize’s 125-year history, recent years have seen a shift, with eight women winning individually compared to six men.

This year, predictions include notable women such as Gaza surgeon Sara al-Saqqa and Yulia Navalnaya, the Russian opposition figure and widow of Alexei Navalny.

Nobel week starts Monday with the announcement of the medicine prize, followed by physics on Tuesday, chemistry on Wednesday, and literature on Thursday. The peace prize will be awarded Friday, and the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences will be announced on October 12.

Content contributed by staff member, reported from Oslo, Norway, sourced by, business-standard.com