The Raoul Wallenberg Academy, in cooperation with the Swedish Institute and the embassies of Sweden, is proud to announce this year’s winners of the Young Courage Award.
The award recognizes young people aged 13 to 20 who, despite limited resources, have acted in the spirit of Raoul Wallenberg, showing exceptional courage and extraordinary initiative. This year, the award has reached more countries than ever before.
Namely, this year’s winners of the Youth Courage 2026 international award include Jovan Kostadinov from Vinica, who saved 21 lives in the tragic nightclub fire in Kochani.
“At a time when the role of young people in shaping society is too often underestimated, it is more important than ever to recognize those who create positive change in their communities and beyond through courage, moral conviction and concrete action. This year’s winners demonstrate how young people can translate values into action and truly contribute to a better life for others, in the spirit of Raoul Wallenberg,” said Anna Urombi, Secretary General of the Raoul Wallenberg Academy.
The winners were selected from nominations submitted by citizens, schools and embassies from 15 countries: Australia, Canada, Greece, Hungary, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Serbia, Sweden, Tanzania, Uganda and the United States.
