Kristian Berg Harpviken, secretary of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said on Thursday that more than 287 candidates have been shortlisted for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize this year. US President Donald Trump is also likely to be included among the candidates.Harpviken said 208 of the nominees are individuals and 79 are organizations, with several new names added this year.“Since I’m new to the job, one thing that has surprised me somewhat is how much the list gets renewed from year to year,” Harpviken said in an interview. He took over this post in January 2025.He said that despite increasing global conflicts and pressure on international cooperation, the Nobel Peace Prize remains highly relevant.He said, “The Peace Prize is even more important in the times we live in. If not more than ever, a lot of good work has been done.” Harpviken said Trump was likely to be among the nominees for this year’s award, though he did not confirm any individual names, as nominations remain confidential for 50 years. The leaders of Cambodia, Israel and Pakistan have said they have nominated Trump for this year’s award, Reuters reports. However, Harpviken clarified that the nomination does not represent an endorsement by the Nobel Committee.In addition to the committee members, thousands of people from around the world can propose names, including parliamentarians, heads of state, university professors and former Nobel laureates.The Nobel Committee does not publicly disclose nominees and the official list remains sealed for decades. Several names under discussion also appear on betting platforms, including Russian opposition leader Yulia Navalnaya, Pope Leo and Sudan’s Emergency Response Room, a volunteer aid group.Those reportedly recommended for the award include US Senator Lisa Murkowski and Danish Parliament member Aja Chemnitz, who has been nominated for her work on Arctic cooperation and regional stability.Lars Hultbreken, the Norwegian MP who nominated him, said, “He has worked tirelessly over many years to build trust and secure the peaceful development of the Arctic region.”The 2026 Nobel Peace Prize laureate will be announced on 9 October, with the award ceremony taking place on 10 December.Last year’s Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado for her efforts to promote democracy and peaceful political change in Venezuela.Trump was also a contender for the 2025 award, amid claims that he deserved the honor for his role in resolving several international conflicts.