The selection panel of the Vigdís Prize for Women's Empowerment, which rewards outstanding initiatives to promote the empowerment of women in all their diversity in Europe and beyond, has today announced the shortlist for the third edition of the prize.
A joint initiative of the Icelandic Government and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the Prize is named after former Icelandic President Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, the first woman in the world to be elected as a head of state.
Meeting in Reykjavik, the panel – made up of six independent members with recognised standing in the field of women’s empowerment and chaired by PACE President Petra Bayr – decided to shortlist the following three nominees, in alphabetical order:
Announcing the panel’s choice, the PACE President paid tribute to the 300 candidacies received from around the world. “This year the panel underlined the particular importance of rewarding initiatives which support the empowerment of women, covering initiatives in gender equality and equal participation in and access to decision-making, as well as action to encourage inclusive policies and practice,” she said.
The overall winner of the 2026 Prize is due to be announced at an award ceremony on the opening day of PACE’s summer plenary session in Strasbourg, Monday 22 June 2026.
The prizewinner receives €60,000 and a diploma, and is awarded the Prize trophy, a sculpture made from volcanic magma from Iceland named “Kvika”.
The first Vigdís Prize was awarded in 2024 to the Irida Women’s Center in Greece, whilst the second was awarded in 2025 to Women of the Sun.
The call for nominations for the 2026 Vigdís Prize is now closed. The deadline for submitting nominations was 27 March 2026.
For information, nominations are submitted by completing an official nomination form, accompanied by a sponsors' signature form signed by at least five sponsors. All supporting documents must be uploaded together through the official online platform. Nominations are only accepted in English or French.
For full details on eligibility and the nomination process, please refer to the Regulations.
The call for nominations for the 2027 Vigdís Prize will open in November 2026.
Individuals or civil society groups, including national or international non-governmental organisations, associations and private companies may be nominated for the Prize.
The Selection Panel, chaired by the President of the Assembly or a designated representative, is composed of six independent members recognised for their expertise in women's empowerment. Three members are nominated by the Bureau of the Assembly based on a proposal made by the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination, and three are nominated by the Government of Iceland.
Panel members serve a two-year term, renewable twice. Current Assembly members are not eligible to serve on the panel.
Selection Panel (October 2025-October 2027)
Selection Panel (October 2023-October 2025)
The Prize is awarded at a ceremony which takes place in Strasbourg on the Monday of the Summer Session of the Parliamentary Assembly, usually in late June.
The name of the prize-winner is announced by the President of the Parliamentary Assembly.
