Professor Kaveh Madani Named 2026 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate

Paris, March 19, 2026: Professor Kaveh Madani, Director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), has been named the 2026 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate. The announcement was made during the World Water Day ceremony at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

Widely regarded as the “Nobel Prize of Water,” the Stockholm Water Prize recognises outstanding contributions to sustainable water resource management. Professor Madani’s recognition marks several milestones—at 44, he is the youngest laureate, as well as the first UN official and former politician to receive the honour.

The award citation recognises his “unique combination of groundbreaking research on water resources management with policy, diplomacy and global outreach, often under personal risk and political complexity".

Professor Madani is known for integrating game theory and decision analysis into water resource management, challenging conventional assumptions of cooperation in water systems. His work has contributed to better understanding of water conflicts, governance challenges, and the role of human behaviour in resource management.

He has also introduced the concept of “water bankruptcy,” highlighting situations where water systems face long-term, irreversible decline rather than temporary shortages. His 2026 Global Water Bankruptcy report has influenced global discourse on water security, climate adaptation, and sustainable management.

Responding to the recognition, Professor Madani said, “This is a great honour and a humbling experience. I accept it with profound gratitude and share it with all those who have stood by me throughout my journey, including millions of my compatriots in Iran, as well as my students, mentors, colleagues and family. At a time when fragmentation is deepening, human rights are under assault and international law is being undermined, I hope this recognition reminds us that our shared vulnerability can still become a basis for shared action. Water is our common denominator and has untapped potential to foster unity within and between nations.”

Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, said, “Professor Kaveh Madani exemplifies the mandate of the United Nations University: turning rigorous scientific insight into practical solutions for the world’s most urgent challenges. His work has transformed how governments and societies understand water scarcity, bringing clarity and urgency to one of the defining issues of our time. Beyond his outstanding scholarship and policy impact, Professor Madani has demonstrated exceptional strategic leadership within the UNU system, revitalizing UNU-INWEH’s global footprint and forging innovative partnerships that bridge the United Nations and academia to accelerate solutions for Member States. The United Nations family is immensely proud to see his leadership and scholarship recognized with the Stockholm Water Prize.”

The prize will be formally presented by H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden during World Water Week in Stockholm in August 2026.

Established in 1991, the Stockholm Water Prize is awarded by the Stockholm Water Foundation in cooperation with the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and is announced annually around World Water Day.