PRESS RELEASE:
HM King Abdullah II of Jordan Prize for UN World Interfaith Harmony Week 2026
On September 23rd 2010, HM King Abdullah II of Jordan introduced a World Interfaith Harmony Week at the Plenary Session of the 65th UN General Assembly in New York. This resolution was adopted by the UN on October 20, 2010, and the first week of February, every year, has been declared a UN World Interfaith Harmony Week.
https://www.un.org/en/observances/interfaith-harmony-week
https://worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com/

The Background
HM King Abdullah II of Jordan has long been known for his peace initiatives including  The Amman Message and the Common Word.
The UN World Interfaith Harmony Week seeks to promote the common basis of “Love of God and Love of the Neighbour, or Love of the Good and Love of the Neighbour” among people as a means to safeguard world peace. Its message invites everyone, excludes no one, and is purely voluntary.

The HM King Abdullah II World Interfaith Harmony Week Prize
The HM King Abdullah II World Interfaith Harmony Week Prize was established to recognize three events which best promote the goals of the World Interfaith Harmony Week.
The prizes are:
First: $5,000 and a gold medal
Second: $3,000 and a silver medal
Third: $1,000 and a bronze medal

The 2026 HM King Abdullah II World Interfaith Harmony Week Prize
Over 1400 events were held in honour of the UN World Interfaith Harmony Week 2026 and from these 53 reports were submitted for the prizes. The judges are highly appreciative of all the efforts of all those who held events and applied for the prize. They wish they could reward all who held an event, but are consoled by the fact that good deeds are their own reward so that everyone who held an event—whether they applied for the prize or not—is a true winner.
In judging, the judges took into consideration the excellence of efforts, collaboration and impact of events. They looked carefully at efforts made despite scantiness of resources, unfavourable political and social climates, and also took into consideration consistent efforts made over the years. They further took into consideration whether events were consistent with the text of the UN Resolution establishing the Prize. Accordingly, judges did not reward movements towards religious syncretism but rather rewarded events which respected each religion as it is. Finally, in accordance with the terms of the Prize, judges rewarded events specifically celebrating the World Interfaith Harmony Week rather than good interfaith work in general.

Accordingly, the judges are delighted to announce:

First Prize
The Islamic Community in the Republic of Slovenia
Slovenia
Sharing a Table, Sharing Values: Interfaith Breakfast in Ljubljana
See Report 32 – Sharing a Table, Sharing Values: Interfaith Breakfast in Ljubljana
The Interfaith Breakfast was attended by the highest representatives of the four largest religious communities in Slovenia, which together represent more than 90 percent of the country’s total population. Their presence gave the event particular significance and conveyed a clear message of unity in diversity.

• Sci. Nevzet Porić, Mufti and President of the Meshihat – Islamic Community in the Republic of Slovenia
• Stanislav Zore – Catholic Church
• PhD Aleksander Erniša – Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovenia
• Petar Kozakijević, Deacon – Serbian Orthodox Church

Second Prize
Horizon Health Network
CANADA
Spiritual Diversity Education Day
See Report 33– Spiritual Diversity Education Day

This initiative reflected Horizon’s strong commitment to inclusive, compassionate care by recognizing spiritual diversity as an essential component of holistic healthcare. The event engaged more than 100 staff members, physicians, and volunteers in education and dialogue focused on the importance of spiritual care within clinical settings. Through thoughtful programming and meaningful discussion, Horizon reinforced its dedication to supporting not only the physical needs of patients, but also their spiritual, emotional, and cultural well-being.

Third Prize
The Multi-Faith Council of NW Ohio
USA
Annual Faith Leader Breakfast: Faith Leaders Breakfast: Building Freedom, Dignity and Solidarity
See Report 4: Faith Leaders Breakfast: Building Freedom, Dignity and Solidarity

47 clergy members, lay leaders and neighbors of 16 diverse faith traditions came together to explore religious pluralism in northwest Ohio. Using the World Cafe model, attendees rotated among hosted tables to address three questions.  We shared our vision for a community rich with religious diversity, we identified current threats to our freedom of conscience and religion, and we laid the foundation for protecting religious pluralism. We started with sumptuous breakfast buffets with restaurant style hot foods and cold continental style breakfast choices.  Care was taken to provide kosher, gluten free, and vegetarian options to meet all dietary needs. The discussions were energetic and gave opportunity to all attendees to participate.

Many, many congratulations to the winners and to all those who took part in World Interfaith Harmony Week 2026.

The Judges
HRH Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad
HB Patriarch Theophilus III – Patriarch of the Holy City, Palestine and Jordan
HE Sheikh Dr Ali Gomaa – former Grand Mufti of the Arab Republic of Egypt
HE Bishop Munib Yunan – Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, and President of the World Federation of Evangelical Lutheran Churches
Sheikh Usama al-Sayyid Al-Azhari – Professor at Al-Azhar University
Father Nabil Haddad – Founder and Executive Director of the Jordanian Interfaith Coexistence Research Centre
Dr Tarek Elgawhary– Director of the Royal Aal Al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought