WRLDWorld NO. ---

ICC Sakharov Prize 2026: court honoured amid new US sanctions

The European Parliament has awarded its 2026 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to the International Criminal Court and its officials, less than two weeks after Donald Trump announced new US sanctions on the court.

By Rowan Ashby Published 22.10.26 10:46 UTC 5 min read

Exterior of the International Criminal Court building in The Hague, with its glass and pale stone towers, photographed in 2022 — Choinowski / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source

Key takeaways

The International Criminal Court (ICC) and its officials have won the European Parliament's 2026 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, according to the Parliament's press office. The award was announced in Strasbourg on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at about 10:00 UTC.
The court was chosen over two other finalists: Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, and Iranian sisters Taraneh and Romina Rahimi.
Reuters reports that the prize comes less than two weeks after US President Donald Trump announced new sanctions against the court.
The award ceremony is scheduled for December 16, 2026, during the Parliament's plenary session in Strasbourg.

ICC wins Sakharov Prize 2026: what happened

The ICC Sakharov Prize 2026 win was announced by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola in Strasbourg on October 22. The prize is "collectively awarded" to the International Criminal Court and its officials, less than two weeks after Donald Trump announced new US sanctions, Reuters reports.

In its press release, the Parliament said the prize recognizes the court's investigations, prosecutions, trials and arrest warrants. The ICC tries individuals for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression. Metsola said: "The European Union is built on respect for multilateralism and international institutions." According to the release, she added that the Parliament recognizes the court's work in upholding international law and justice.

According to France 24, ICC President Tomoko Akane welcomed the award. She said it "comes at a time when the court and its officials face unprecedented challenges."

How the 2026 laureate was chosen

Each year, the Parliament's political groups nominate candidates for the prize. On the evening of October 19, the Foreign Affairs and Development committees cut the list to three finalists. The Conference of Presidents, made up of the Parliament President and the political group leaders, chose the winner on October 22.

Stage (2026)	Date	Outcome	Source
Nominees presented to MEPs	October 1	Six nominations, including the ICC, Nayib Bukele, Standing Together, Hussam Abu Safiya, Tundu Lissu and the Rahimi sisters	Brussels Signal
Committee shortlist vote	October 19	Finalists: the ICC and its officials, Tundu Lissu, Taraneh and Romina Rahimi	European Parliament
Laureate chosen	October 22	The International Criminal Court and its officials	European Parliament
Award ceremony	December 16	Plenary session, Strasbourg	European Parliament

According to Brussels Signal, the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group nominated the ICC. The Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) group nominated Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele for his anti-gang campaign. Bukele did not make the shortlist. This week he has been in the news for a separate reason. On Wednesday, October 21, he announced on X that El Salvador had launched a military operation in Haiti. The operation aims to rescue four Salvadoran aviation technicians serving with the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force, who have been missing since gangs attacked their armoured vehicle on Sunday, Al Jazeera and the BBC report.

What we know and what we don't know yet

Confirmed

The laureate, the date of the announcement and the ceremony date, all from official European Parliament releases.
The two other finalists, from the Parliament's shortlist release and France 24.
That Trump announced sanctions against the court less than two weeks before the award, according to Reuters and France 24.

Not yet clear

How the court will use the prize, or which officials will accept it in Strasbourg. The Parliament has not said.
Whether the US government will respond to the award. No US reaction had been reported at the time of writing (about 11:00 UTC on October 22).
How the latest sanctions will affect the court's day-to-day work. France 24 reports that they cut the court off from US-based financial services, technology companies and the US dollar, and that US companies and individuals have six months to wind down their business with it.

Background: the ICC under pressure

The ICC is based in The Hague. It was set up under the Rome Statute and is the world's first permanent international criminal court. It acts as a court of last resort when national courts cannot or will not prosecute. The United States is not a member.

Washington's dispute with the court grew sharply after November 2024. That month, ICC judges issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant. Israel rejects the court's jurisdiction and denies the allegations. The European Parliament says the United States has imposed threats and sanctions on the court and its prosecutors, judges and staff since 2025. MEPs have called these "serious attacks on the international justice system." They have repeatedly asked the European Commission to use the EU's 1996 "blocking statute" to protect ICC officials from the effects of foreign sanctions.

Reuters notes that the Sakharov Prize is the court's second major international honour this month. Former ICC judge Navi Pillay received the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, a choice widely seen as a show of support for the court. Trump's sanctions announcement came hours after that Nobel decision, according to Reuters. Bullquill has more on this year's Nobel season in our guide to the literature laureate Anne Carson.

The Sakharov Prize is named after Andrei Sakharov, the Soviet physicist and dissident. The Parliament has awarded it every year since 1988 for work on human rights, freedom of expression, minority rights, international law and democracy.

What it means

The prize is symbolic, but its timing matters. It sets the European Parliament clearly against current US policy on the court, at a time when transatlantic relations are already strained. Bullquill has recently covered Trump's statements on Iran and US diplomacy over Ukraine.

The prize does not change EU law. Any practical protection for ICC staff, such as triggering the blocking statute, would require action by the European Commission and EU governments. For now, the court continues to work under US sanctions. The December 16 ceremony in Strasbourg will be the next fixed point to watch, along with any response from Washington and any Commission decision on the blocking statute. For how Brussels handles other cross-border rules, see our explainer on the EU AI Act. Bullquill will update this story as verified information emerges.

Frequently asked questions

Who won the Sakharov Prize 2026?

The International Criminal Court and its officials, collectively. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced the laureate in Strasbourg on October 22, 2026.

Who were the other 2026 Sakharov Prize finalists?

Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, and Iranian sisters Taraneh and Romina Rahimi, nominated on behalf of all those persecuted by the Iranian regime, according to the European Parliament.

When is the 2026 Sakharov Prize ceremony?

The European Parliament says the award ceremony will take place on December 16, 2026, during its plenary session in Strasbourg.

Why has the US sanctioned the International Criminal Court?

US opposition to the court escalated after ICC judges issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister in November 2024. Reuters reports that Donald Trump announced further sanctions less than two weeks before the Sakharov award.