European Parliament awards 2026 Sakharov Prize to the International Criminal Court

A prize for the court under US pressure

On Thursday, 22 October 2026, the European Parliament said it had picked the International Criminal Court and its officials for the 2026 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. The award has been given since 1988 and is considered the European Union's highest human rights honour, recognising the court's work on genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Parliament President Roberta Metsola framed the decision as recognition of the court's role in upholding international law and justice. The court is led by Japan's Tomoko Akane, and the prize is named after the Russian dissident Andrei Sakharov, who was persecuted in the Soviet Union.

With the award of the Sakharov prize to the International Criminal Court and its officials, the European Parliament recognizes the court's important work in upholding international law and justice.

Washington's campaign against the court

The court has been a target of the Trump administration since it issued arrest warrants in 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant. Washington later sanctioned individual judges and prosecutors, a UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, and Palestinian rights groups that had supplied evidence to the court. In early October 2026 the United States moved against the institution itself. The administration has promised to dismantle the court "brick by brick", and the measures are aimed at crippling its day-to-day operations and are due to take effect in six months. Former ICC judge Navi Pillay received the Nobel Peace Prize earlier in October, a development also seen internationally as support for the court.

Akane thanked the parliament and said the court and its members are facing extraordinary challenges. She described the prize as follows:

Against this backdrop, the Sakharov Prize carries particular significance, reaffirming the importance of independent judicial institutions and of those who work to uphold international law.

How the vote went in Strasbourg

The Conference of Presidents, which was tasked with choosing the winner, had three finalists. The ICC was nominated by the Socialists. Tundu Lissu, a Tanzanian lawyer and human rights defender, was backed by the EPP and the ECR group. Iranian activists Taraneh and Romina Rahimi were nominated by the Patriots group. ANSA reported that in the first round each group backed its own candidate, after which the Socialists and Patriots were decisive and the EPP and ECR axis was defeated. When Metsola announced the result, applause and a standing ovation came from the progressive side of the chamber, while the EPP and right-wing groups stayed silent.

Reactions from EU leaders and Spain

Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X that the court should be able to carry out its mission freely, without outside pressure or threats, and said Europe stands firmly behind Akane, the judges and the officials. Antonio Costa posted on social media that the prize sends a powerful message to the world, namely that Europe firmly backs international law, the fight against impunity and accountability for the gravest crimes. On Friday, 23 October, the Spanish government said the award sends an unequivocal message of support for international justice and called on the court to work without outside interference. El Pais noted that the court has 125 member states and faces opposition from the United States, China, Russia and Israel.

What comes next

The award ceremony will be held in Strasbourg on 16 December 2026. The United States measures against the court are due to take effect in six months, and the sequence of key dates so far is shown below.