George Clooney will present the inaugural Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity.

From April 22-24, special guests from the global humanitarian community will convene in Yerevan, Armenia, for a weekend of discussions focused on the most pressing humanitarian issues. The weekend will culminate in the awarding of the inaugural Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity 

The Aurora Prize ceremony will honor the outstanding contributions of the four finalists and their nominated organizations.  

On Saturday, April 23, leading humanitarians, Nobel Laureates, academics and former statesmen will convene for the Aurora Dialogues, a series of insightful discussions. The Dialogues will include panels on the global refugee crisis, women as agents of change in the humanitarian community and the role of media in drawing attention to humanitarian crises around the world.   

The Dialogues will also unveil the results of the Aurora Prize Humanitarian Index, a unique survey investigating international attitudes on responsibility and the effectiveness of humanitarian intervention, as well as motivations to intervene on behalf of others. 

On Sunday, April 24, Armenian Genocide Memorial Day, participants will join a flower-laying ceremony at Armenia’s Genocide Memorial, Tsitsernakaberd. 

That evening, Aurora Prize Selection Committee Co-Chair, George Clooney, will present the $100,000 grant to the inaugural Aurora Prize Laureate. The Laureate will then invite his or her nominated organization(s) to the stage to receive the $1 million award. 

The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) will also present the inaugural ICFJ Integrity in Journalism Award in partnership with the Aurora Prize, which celebrates the courage, commitment and impact of a journalist reporting from the frontlines of some of the world’s most pressing humanitarian crises.

The Ceremony will be attended by VIP guests and feature musical performances from leading Armenian talents.