This year’s award ceremony for the International Prize of Westphalian Peace will take place on October 1 in Münster’s historic town hall—where the peace treaty that ended the Thirty Years War was signed in 1648. The Economic Society for Westphalia and Lippe (WWL) will present the 2026 Prize of Westphalian Peace to … NATO. Secretary General Mark Rutte will accept the award on behalf of the alliance. It has now been confirmed that Chancellor Friedrich Merz will deliver the laudatory speech for the recipient.

One of several demonstrations against NATO as the recipient of the Peace Prize is currently taking place on Domplatz. Protesters say that the Peace of Westphalia Prize stands for peace through dialogue, not for a military alliance. Several more demonstrations have already been announced. Police expect a total of 2,000 demonstrators in the city.