The nomination period for the 2025 Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity formally ended on May 8. Awarded on behalf of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and in gratitude to their saviors, the $1 million Aurora Prize continues to spotlight exceptional individuals who risk their own lives to save the lives of civilians around the world facing violence, atrocities, and oppression.
Launched in May 2024, following the 2024 Aurora Prize events in Los Angeles, this nomination round has seen an unprecedented global response in the context of growing humanitarian need and declining funding from donor governments. A total of 868 submissions were received, representing 800 unique candidates serving people in need in 120 countries and territories.
Each year, the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative calls on individuals around the world to recognize modern-day humanitarians who display extraordinary courage and an unshakable commitment to alleviating human suffering. This year is especially meaningful as Aurora celebrates its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of honoring those who stand up for others in the face of adversity. The occasion is commemorated through a series of high-profile events, including the Human Rights and Humanitarian Forum, held recently in Los Angeles; the announcement of the 2025 Aurora Humanitarians in New York in September; and the Aurora Prize Ceremony on Ellis Island in November.
“The Aurora Prize calls us to rise up to our shared responsibility to open doors, extend opportunities, and act with courage. It is a reminder that our humanity goes beyond merely surviving, but rather that we all have the opportunity to thrive when we stand together against injustice. Together, let us continue to instill hope and nurture the flame of compassion and dignity,” said Dr. Denis Mukwege, internationally acclaimed gynecological surgeon, human rights advocate, and 2024 Aurora Prize Laureate.
All submitted nominations will now undergo a rigorous review process led by the Aurora Prize Expert Panel, composed of professionals from the humanitarian sector. Following this assessment, the Aurora Prize Selection Committee, a distinguished body of global humanitarians, Nobel and Pulitzer Prize Laureates, and world leaders, will select the 2025 Aurora Humanitarians (finalists) and, ultimately, the 2025 Laureate. With the 2025 nomination cycle now concluded, submissions for the next round are officially open.
“What we see in these humanitarians, from war zones to refugee camps, from forgotten villages to big cities, is something beyond heroic. These are people who don’t just talk about change; they are the change,” said Hamdi Ulukaya, member of the Aurora Prize Selection Committee and Founder and CEO of Chobani. “And the most beautiful part? It’s not just about them. It’s about their communities, the people they serve, and all of us who get to witness their courage. Celebrating them is a reminder that there’s still so much hope in the world.”
The 2025 Aurora Prize Laureate will be announced at the Ceremony held in New York on November 6, 2025, and will receive a $300,000 award to support their brave and essential humanitarian work. In addition, the Laureate will have the opportunity to continue the cycle of giving by allocating $600,000 to other local humanitarians or grassroots relief organizations. The two other finalists will each be awarded a $50,000 grant in recognition of the impact they are having in their communities.
Photo: Sister Angélique, DRC © UNHCR/John Wessels