The NATO military alliance has been announced as the winner of the International Peace of Westphalia Prize in 2026.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is to accept the award on behalf of the Transatlantic Defense Alliance at Munster City Hall, organizers in the West German city announced on Wednesday.
The name of the prize refers to the two peace treaties signed in 1648, which ended a series of wars in Central Europe between 1618 and 1648.
Past recipients of the prize, which is presented every two years by the Economic Society of Westphalia and Lippe (WWL), include former German Chancellors Helmut Kohl and Helmut Schmidt, the International Space Station (ISS) crew, King Abdullah II of Jordan and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Late Holocaust survivor Margot Friedlander received a special award in 2025.
In times of global uncertainty, NATO creates reliability, promotes partnership and ensures peace through stability, said WWL Chairman Reinhard Zinkann.
“Under the leadership of Mark Rutte, this shows that military power and peacekeeping are not contradictory, but interdependent,” Zinkann explained.
Since taking office in 2024, the Dutchman has made a decisive contribution as leader to ensuring that the NATO alliance operates in a united and peace-oriented manner, according to the jury.
In their statement, the jury praised NATO's long-standing peacekeeping missions, such as in Kosovo, and NATO's support for Ukraine.
In response to the announcement, Hendrik Wüst, premier of the West German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, said the award underlines the importance of the defense alliance.
“NATO does indispensable work for global security and is the guarantor of our personal freedom,” Wüst said. He added that, especially in times of Russian aggression, it is “an indispensable alliance for world peace.”
In addition to the main prize, a youth prize is also awarded. In 2026, the youth network “socioMovens” will be recognized. Since 2013, the organization has been organizing regular projects with young people in Central and Eastern Europe.
