Nobel Peace Prize Season in Oslo: A Visitor's Guide to the Nobel Peace Center and City Hall

Key dates for Nobel season 2026

Nobel season in Oslo runs from the October announcement to the December ceremony. Most of it happens within a few minutes' walk of City Hall Square (Rådhusplassen) on the harbour. These are the dates to plan around:

• Friday 9 October, 11:00 CEST: the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the 2026 Peace Prize laureate at the Norwegian Nobel Institute.
• Thursday 10 December: the Peace Prize ceremony at Oslo City Hall.
• 12 December: the planned end of renovation work on the second floor of the Nobel Peace Center.

Announcement day: 9 October

On 9 October the Nobel Peace Center held an early-morning event called "Who will receive the Nobel Peace Prize 2026?" before the announcement.

The announcement itself was made at the Norwegian Nobel Institute at Henrik Ibsens gate 51, a short walk from the waterfront, and was streamed live.

The Nobel Peace Center this autumn

The Nobel Peace Center stands on City Hall Square, facing the harbour and directly opposite City Hall. It tells the story of Alfred Nobel, the Peace Prize and its laureates, and it hosts changing exhibitions on war, peace and human rights.

What's open during the renovation

Parts of the second floor are closed until 12 December 2026 while the exhibition spaces get a major upgrade. A visit is still worthwhile, because the following remain open:

• Paths to Peace
• An Exhibition About Dialogue and Peace
• The Pop-Up Studio

If you have seen older photos of the building, expect a slightly smaller experience until the renovation finishes, and the reopened galleries afterwards.

Recently closed: Sonic Citizenship

The exhibition SONIC CITIZENSHIP opened on 18 September 2026 in the Pop-Up Studio and closed on 11 October. The centre's own exhibition pages have more about it and about what is on now.

Hours and tickets

Opening hours change with the seasons. Summer hours ran from 1 June to 31 August. Autumn hours are usually shorter, and the centre may close or change its schedule for special events during Nobel season. Get current times and admission prices from the Nobel Peace Center's visitor page.

Oslo City Hall: where the prize is awarded

Across the square stands Oslo City Hall (Rådhuset). The Peace Prize ceremony takes place here every 10 December. Inside, the large main hall is one of the most impressive interiors in the city.

City Hall can close for official events, and you should expect restricted access in the run-up to 10 December. The ceremony itself is a formal occasion, so plan to see the hall on another day.

The City of Oslo website has current visiting information.

Join a Nobel Peace Walk

The Nobel Peace Center runs the Nobel Peace Walk, a 75-minute guided walk through the parts of central Oslo connected to the prize. It is an easy way to link the Peace Center, City Hall and the Nobel Institute into one story.

• Meeting point: in front of the Nobel Peace Center
• Dates, prices and booking: check the Peace Center's website for current details

Around 10 December

Oslo feels different in the days around the ceremony. The laureate is in town, security is noticeable around Rådhusplassen and the Nobel Institute, and the Peace Center's renovated second floor is due to reopen just after, on 12 December.

For many years a Nobel Peace Prize Concert was held on 11 December. It has not been confirmed whether there will be one in 2026, so don't build a trip around it until an announcement appears. The Peace Center's events page is the place to watch for any public programme connected to the laureate's visit.

Planning your visit

• Combine the sights: the Peace Center and City Hall face each other across Rådhusplassen. You can see both comfortably in a single morning or afternoon.
• Pick your timing: Autumn gives you calmer exhibition rooms. Early December gives you the ceremony atmosphere but less access to City Hall.

Hours, prices and event details can change during Nobel season, so check before you go. Use the Nobel Peace Center for exhibitions and opening times, the Nobel Prize announcement page for dates, and Visit Oslo for general visitor information.