The Nobel Peace Prize committee is the Norwegian Nobel Committee, a five-member group appointed by the Norwegian Parliament. Following the will of Alfred Nobel, this committee is responsible for selecting the laureate who has "done the most or best to advance fellowship among nations, the abolition or reduction of standing armies, and the establishment and promotion of peace congresses". 
This committee was established by the Norwegian Storting in 1897 in accordance with the will of Alfred Nobel, who designated that the Peace Prize would be awarded by a Norwegian committee, while other Nobel Prizes are awarded by Swedish committees.

Structure and members

• The committee is assisted by the Norwegian Nobel Institute, which serves as its secretariat.
• Members are appointed to six-year terms and are eligible for reappointment. While members are chosen by political parties, they are expected to act independently.
• The composition of the committee is intended to reflect the relative strengths of the political parties in the Storting (the Norwegian Parliament), but it is a private body.
• As of 2025, the committee's chair is Jørgen Watne Frydnes. 

Selection process

The committee follows a strict annual timeline to select the Peace Prize laureate: 

• February 1: The deadline for submitting nominations is January 31st. Any nominations received after this date are considered for the following year.
• February–March: The committee reviews all nominations and develops a shortlist of candidates.
• March–August: Experts and advisers prepare reports on the shortlisted candidates.
• October: After careful deliberation, the committee chooses the laureate by a majority vote, though it strives for a unanimous decision. The decision is final and without appeal.
• October 10: The winner of the Nobel Peace Prize is announced. 

 Secrecy and eligibility

• 50-year secrecy rule: The names of nominees and any details regarding the committee's evaluations are kept confidential for 50 years.
• Who can nominate: Only certain individuals are eligible to submit nominations. These include members of national governments and parliaments, university professors in relevant fields, past Nobel Peace Prize laureates, and current or former members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

Public speculation: Any early releases of candidate names in the media are based on speculation or public announcements from nominators, as the committee itself does not confirm them. 
 

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