World Child Forum

The World Child Forum wants to make it possible for all children in the world to be collectively nominated for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. It's about carrying the question "What if all children were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize?" into the world, so that people with nomination rights take up this idea.

Because peace isn't created by individuals, but only together. Children show us this daily - they play with each other, regardless of where they come from. They don't start wars, they are natural peacemakers.

No. It's about a new standard: If every decision must ask "Does this serve a world where all children can flourish?", everything changes. Politics, business, society.

Members of national parliaments and governments of sovereign states, current heads of state, professors of certain disciplines (social sciences, history, philosophy, law, theology), former Peace Prize laureates, members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, and other qualified persons according to the statutes.

The complete list is on the official Nobel Prize website.

The nomination is made as a collective. There are precedents - organisations like the Red Cross or the EU have received the prize.

No. We want to enable the nomination by carrying the question into the world. The nomination must come from qualified persons who are convinced by the idea.

Ask the question: "What if all children were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize?" In your conversations, networks, at work. No pre-written messages - your own words count.

Make it personal. Tell why this question moves you. Which child comes to mind? You'll find suggestions at nobelprize.worldchildforum.org/share, but your own story is stronger.

We don't want to talk about children or portray them, but listen to them. No campaign images, no stock photos. The initiative lives through the question, not through pictures.

The World Child Forum, founded in 2021 as a creative complement to the World Economic Forum. Whilst they discuss numbers, we explore imagination and play.

A small core team works with volunteers. Supported by the Rosa und Bernhard Merz Foundation. Initiator is Bernhard Hanel.

We're developing this answer together until January 2026.

This decision is too important to make alone. We're seeking dialogue with former laureates, experts, and above all: the children themselves.

Have ideas?
mail@worldchildforum.org

152 million children work instead of learning. 400 million grow up in conflict zones. Naive is accepting this. This initiative asks: What if we measured differently?

The prize itself? Nothing. The question "What if children's wellbeing were our standard?" Everything. It's already working in people's minds.

No. An independent initiative. The Committee never comments on nominations.

No. Malala Yousafzai was 17. There's no rule against collective nominations.

Collective prizes yes. But recognising all children as peacemakers? That would be new. That's the point.