Deadline: 27th March 2026.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in partnership with the Government of Iceland, has issued a call for nominations for the 2026 Vigdís Prize for Women’s Empowerment.
Launched in 2023 and named after Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, the first woman in the world to be elected as a Head of State, this annual Prize consists of a sum of 60,000 euros and a trophy. It rewards outstanding individuals, organisations or initiatives that have demonstrated significant commitment to empowering women and girls in all their diversity.
At a time when women’s rights and gender equality face increasing challenges across Europe and beyond, the Prize recognises achievements in advancing gender equality, promoting equal participation in decision-making, and fostering inclusive policies and practices that contribute to women’s full and equal participation in political, social, and economic life.
The 2026 Vigdís Prize will be awarded at an official ceremony in Strasbourg on 22 June 2026, during the Summer part-session of the Parliamentary Assembly.
Prize
Prize consists of a sum of 60,000 euros and a trophy.
Eligibility
- Individuals, civil society groups, associations or private companies may be nominated for the Prize.
- Nominations should be submitted in English or French, using the form available on the Prize web page, and must be supported by the signatures of at least five sponsors.
Application Process
Please read the full regulations carefully before submitting a nomination. Complete the 2026 nomination form, providing details about the nominee and their actions to promote women’s empowerment. The nomination form is available here.
You should also include the signatures of at least five sponsors using the sponsors’ signatures form. The document is available here.
To complete your application, please upload all supporting documents and the 5 sponsors’ signatures in one PDF file, named as follows: for a legal entity: NAME – Country / for an individual: FAMILY NAME – First name – Country. Upload your file here.
For more information.