Published: 26.05.2026 · Updated: 23.06.2026
The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to María Corina Machado for her work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.
See the whole announcement
The Peace Prize Ceremony takes place in Oslo City Hall at 1 pm on 10 December, and is the highlight of the programme. During the award ceremony on 10 December, the laureate usually delivers their Nobel Peace Lecture. Attendance is by invitation only.
A traditional torchlight parade in honour of the laureate is held on the evening of 10 December. The parade ends in front of the Grand Hotel, where the laureate usually greets the parade from the balcony.
The Nobel Peace Center tells intriguing stories about all the Peace Prize laureates. The Nobel Peace exhibition opens to the public in December, and is open until the following autumn season.
Chemist, engineer, inventor, businessman, and philanthropist Alfred Nobel (1833–1896) built a fortune selling explosives and ammunition and investing in in petroleum companies. Even though he sold weapons, he hoped that his inventions would eventually remove the need for wars entirely.
In 1895, Nobel drew up a will in which his wealth was to be devoted to the annual award of five prizes "to those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind" within the fields of chemistry and physics, litterature, economics, medicine and peace.
The will laid down that the Nobel Peace Prize was to be awarded in Norway by a five-member committee appointed by the Norwegian Storting (the legislative assembly). The first Nobel Peace Prize was awarded in 1901, and it is always awarded on December 10th.
Like much else concerning the Nobel Prizes, the reasons why Alfred Nobel picked the Norwegian Parliament to award the Peace Prize remain unclear. Regardless of Nobel's thoughts and intentions, though, Oslo's inhabitants are very proud that their hometown gets to host the Peace Prize ceremony.
The deadline for nominating candidates for the Peace Prize is midnight at 31 January.
Nobel decided that the prize should be awarded to someone who "has worked most or hardest for fraternity between people and the abolition or reduction of standing armies, as well as the foundation or promotion of peace congresses.”.
Neither the names of nominators nor of nominees for the Nobel Peace Prize may be divulged until 50 years have elapsed.
In cooperation with the Nobel Committee, the commitee secretary produces a shortlist of between 20 to 30 of the most interesting and worthy candidates.
The winner is announced at the Nobel Institute in Oslo by the leader of the Nobel Committee at 11 am.
9 December: The winners hold their press conference at the Norwegian Nobel Institute.
10 December: The award ceremony takes place at 1 pm, at Oslo City Hall. Attendance by invitation only, but you can see a live transmission of the ceremony at the Nobel Peace Centre.
In the afternoon, the traditional torchlight parade in honour of the winners is held. The parade ends in front of the Grand Hotel where the laureates usually greet the parade from the balcony.
11 December: The current year's winners unveil the new exhibition at the Nobel Peace Centre, presenting their important work.
12 December: The exhibition opens to the general public.
