The ongoing war in Ukraine and the Israel-Palestine conflict are examined from different points of view. Furthermore, the nominated reports deal with terrorism using the example of Boko Haram, raw material extraction in the Amazon, dead migrants on Europe's coasts, the bombing of Iran's nuclear program, or the global impact of fast fashion. All of the award-winning texts reflect the current state of the world, but there is also room for somehow uplifting news: a love story between teenagers separated by war, the boom in seawater desalination plants in the Arabian Gulf, and the creation of a new language among Bedouins.

The nominees were chosen from 959 submissions from 103 countries, written in 22 different languages.

The 36 nominees will be invited to the True Story Festival in Bern from June 5-7, 2026 where their work will be presented to the public at individual events in the centre of the Swiss capital. The three winning texts in the categories storytelling excellence, impact and relevance, and research intensity will be chosen by our main Jury and announced at the award's ceremony on June 5.

We congratulate our colleagues on their nomination and look forward to welcoming them in Bern!

Daniel Puntas Bernet
Curator
True Story Award