
Minneapolis Stands Tall As A 2026 Nobel Peace Prize Contender
So… do we all get a tiny slice of the medal? 🏅
The people of Minneapolis have just been nominated for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize—yes, all of us—thanks to a nomination submitted by The Nation magazine.
In a letter sent to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, the magazine put forward “the city of Minneapolis and its people,” pointing to a series of moments that, in their view, showed extraordinary courage and community spirit.

The nomination highlights what it calls “countless acts of courage and solidarity” by residents in response to Operation Metro Surge, including pushback against actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The letter accuses ICE agents of harassment, detention, deportation, and causing injuries to Minneapolis residents.
It also praises the wave of protests and mutual aid efforts that followed—many of which, according to national media coverage, helped spark similar anti-ICE demonstrations around the country.
One moment that’s gotten particular attention: protesters in Boston chanting, “We’re not cold, we’re not afraid—Minneapolis taught us how to be brave.”
The nomination deadline was January 31. While Nobel nominations are officially confidential for 50 years, it’s fairly common for organizations to publicly share who they’ve nominated. For context, last year’s Nobel Peace Prize field included 338 candidates—94 individuals and 244 organizations.
The Nobel Committee is expected to release a short list of finalists in March, with winners announced in October across the Peace, Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, and Economics categories.
Not bad company to be in.
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Gallery Credit: Laura Bradshaw
