Zayed Award for Human Fraternity reveals 2026 winners

The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity has announced the winners of its 2026 edition.

The honourees are the historic peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and Afghan girls’ education advocate Zarqa Yaftali — marking the first time recipients have come from the Caucasus and Afghanistan.

The peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan is being recognised for its role in ending decades of conflict and humanitarian suffering.

The award honours the ongoing process of dialogue, reconciliation and normalisation between the two countries, highlighting that peace is built through sustained commitment.

Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Armenia, called the award a 'great honour' in recognition of the efforts undertaken to help establish peace in the Caucasus region, and a sincere acknowledgement of everyone who contributed to bringing this historic agreement to fruition.

Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan, expressed his appreciation for the Award’s recognition of the peace agreement and extended his gratitude to the judging committee for honouring efforts to establish peace in the South Caucasus region and the world.

Zarqa Yaftali, a long-time advocate for girls’ education in Afghanistan, is being honoured for her work providing education, psychosocial support and community services to more than 100,000 people, offering hope and opportunity to girls living under restrictive conditions.

Yaftali said that the award represents a powerful and meaningful message for women in Afghanistan, bringing hope and encouragement to many Afghan women, especially students in online schools and young women enrolled in peace, security and leadership courses.

The 2026 honourees were selected by an independent global judging committee made up of experts in dialogue and coexistence.

The award ceremony will take place on February 4, 2026, at the Founder’s Memorial in Abu Dhabi, coinciding with the United Nations’ International Day of Human Fraternity.

Inspired by the 2019 signing of the Document on Human Fraternity by the late Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al‑Azhar, and by the humanitarian legacy of the UAE’s founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the award recognises outstanding efforts to promote peace, compassion and human unity worldwide.

Since its launch in 2019, the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity has honoured 19 recipients from 19 countries.

The @ZayedAward has announced its 2026 honourees, namely the historic peace agreement between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Afghan girls’ education advocate Zarqa Yaftali – the first recipients from the Caucasus and Afghanistan, respectively. pic.twitter.com/Ip0MYuYIFC

— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@ADMediaOffice) January 19, 2026