Record number of nominations to the 2026 WIN WIN Award
The WIN WIN Gothenburg Sustainability Award has received 1,224 nominations from 136 countries for its 2026 theme of Gender-Equal Societies, demonstrating unprecedented global engagement at a time when diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives face growing political resistance
The record-breaking number of nominations sends a clear message: while debate around gender equality has intensified, action has not slowed. Across continents, changemakers, movements and organisations are accelerating efforts to build fairer, more inclusive societies — often against the tide.
"At a moment when gender equality is questioned or deprioritised in many parts of the world, this response is both powerful and hopeful," says Sara Larsson, Executive Director of the WIN WIN Gothenburg Sustainability Award. "These nominations show that progress is happening everywhere — sometimes quietly, but boldly and persistently."
In recent years, gender equality and DEI policies have faced rollbacks, budget cuts and politicisation in several countries. Yet the breadth and diversity of this year's nominations reveal a counter-narrative: community leaders and global organisations are not stepping back — they are stepping forward.
The nominations span initiatives focused on women's economic empowerment, gender-equal leadership and governance, education and access to opportunity, and legal and policy reform.
The scale of engagement serves as a clear signal to policymakers, business leaders and international institutions: global commitment to gender equality remains strong, even when political support wavers.
As the award process moves forward, the WIN WIN Gothenburg Sustainability Award will spotlight finalists and winners whose work demonstrates that progress is not only possible - it is already well under way.
For further information:
Lovisa Ralpher, Head of Communications
+46 73 925 50 89
lovisa.ralpher@winwinaward.org
The WIN WIN Award is an international sustainability prize recognising outstanding contributions to solving global sustainability challenges. The prize, amounting to SEK 1 million, has been awarded annually in Gothenburg since 2000. The WIN WIN Youth Award, established in 2018, recognises young changemakers aged 13–29 and carries a prize of SEK 100,000. The non-profit organisation serves as a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration and action to advance sustainable development with the support of engaged partners from public sector, business and academia.
