International Court of Justice to Receive 2026 Carnegie Wateler Prize

The award ceremony, held at the Peace Palace in The Hague, will coincide with the 75th presentation of the prize since its inception in 1931. ICJ President Judge Iwasawa Yuji is scheduled to accept the honor from Piet Hein Donner, Chairman of the Carnegie Foundation, during a high-level forum dedicated to the role of law in maintaining global stability.

Since its establishment in 1945, the Court has remained the only principal UN organ located outside of New York. The institution currently manages a docket of 24 active cases, reflecting a consistent demand for its advisory opinions on humanitarian law and state responsibility. The Foundation emphasized that this recognition honors not only the fifteen presiding judges but also the Registry staff who facilitate the Court’s mandate. To mark the occasion, the Peace Palace Visitors Centre will open a special exhibition in late October detailing the history and architectural significance of the Great Hall of Justice.