Stockholm Water Prize 2026

Sponsor

Stockholm Water Foundation, Bacardi, Grundfos Foundation, Water Environment Federation, Xylem Inc, and Ålandsbanken

Description

The Stockholm Water Prize recognizes people and organizations who have made outstanding contributions to the sustainable use and protection of the world’s water resources. The main achievements of the candidate should be within one or both of the following categories:

Policy and Practices 

This broad category covers achievements in the continuum from political initiatives to practical implementation that has improved the governance and management of water as a natural and economic resource and/or as a human right and basic service. The category includes:

• Human rights
• Conflict resolution and international cooperation
• Sustainable and safe management of water resources
• Provision of water supply and sanitation services
• Development and application of appropriate technologies or economical, legislative, institutional or administrative principles for efficient, equitable and sustainable water management and services provision

Research 

This category includes both basic and applied research to develop new knowledge of, and scientific leadership in:

• Natural, physical, and/or technological processes
• The functioning of complex systems
• Development or improvement of economical, legislative, institutional or administrative principles for efficient, equitable and sustainable water management and service provision.

For both categories, great achievements in outreach and awareness-raising are considered merits. This includes education and training of students, water professionals or communities as well as dissemination of information to, and awareness-raising of, decision-makers and the general public.

Eligibility

• The candidate shall have attained outstanding achievements of lasting significance for sustainable use and protection of the world’s water resources.
• The results achieved by the candidate shall have proven impact or great potential and provide stimulation for further important contributions to the conservation and protection of water resources and to improved health and well-being of the planet’s inhabitants and ecosystems.
• Self-nominations or nominations by persons with direct professional or family ties to the candidate are not permitted.
• Nominations which cannot be supported by documented scientific merits should be accompanied by at least two support letters from individuals or organizations without direct professional or family ties to the candidate.
• The candidate cannot be employed by, or in close professional relation to, Stockholm Water Foundation or any of its associated entities.

Nominations as well as all award nomination materials are confidential.

How to Apply

The nomination must be submitted directly using the nomination form provided on the Stockholm Water Prize webpage by the external deadline. 

Please also submit a copy of the full nomination and OR-5 to research.services@uoguelph.ca.

For More Information

Please see the Stockholm Water Prize webpage or contact swp.secretary@siwi.org or ailsakay@uoguelph.ca.