30/04/2026 Prizes
The Selection Panel for the Vigdís Prize for Women's Empowerment, chaired by Petra Bayr, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), and composed of six independent members with recognised standing in the field of women’s empowerment, will meet on 6 May at the Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs to determine a shortlist of three nominees from among the candidatures received.
This shortlist – three individuals, associations, private companies or civil society groups who have taken outstanding initiatives to promote the empowerment of women in all their diversity – will be published following the meeting.
The Selection Panel will designate the prize winner at a second meeting to be held in camera on 21 June 2026 in Strasbourg. The Prize will be awarded at a ceremony on the first day of the PACE Summer plenary session on 22 June 2026 in Strasbourg, after the official announcement of the winner by the PACE President to the Assembly.
A joint initiative of the Icelandic government and PACE, the Prize pays tribute to former Icelandic President Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, the first woman in the world to be elected as Head of state. It will be awarded for the third time this year and is worth €60,000.