In commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary, the National Endowment for Democracy will honor the individuals and organizations who carry forward the legacy of 1776 by advancing fundamental freedoms in their own communities.

We are pleased to invite you to join us for the 2026 Democracy Awards at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, a site deeply symbolic of America’s dedication to self-governance. The evening will include a reception on the Mount Vernon lawn followed by an awards program.

Inspired by the freedoms enshrined in the First Amendment, NED’s Board of Directors will present the 2026 Democracy Awards to honorees championing freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. These core values have defined the American experiment for generations and continue to inspire people in every region of the world to claim these rights as their own.

DETAILS

The 2026 Democracy Award honorees are:

• Freedom of Religion: Friede Allen, whose support for Russian anti-war clergy has helped preserve a moral witness against the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine and its effort to turn religious doctrine into an instrument of state power. Co-founders Father Andrey Kordochkin and Father Valerian Dunin-Barkovsky will accept the award.
• Freedom of Speech: Imprisoned Cubans Félix Navarro, Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, and Maykel Castillo Pérez, whose courage as political prisoners and dissident artists has challenged the Cuban regime’s control over public expression, inspired wider civic participation, and exposed the fear behind state censorship. Cuban activist Anamely Ramos and José Daniel Ferrer will accept the award on behalf of the honorees, who remain either imprisoned or otherwise restricted.
• Freedom of Petition: The Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression, which has helped Syrians reclaim the right to be heard after five decades of brutal dictatorship by documenting abuses, defending civic space, and pressing new state institutions for accountability. The organization’s founder, Mazen Darwish, and journalist Yara Bader will accept the award.
• Freedom of the Press: The Addis Standard in Ethiopia, whose high-impact independent reporting has brought vital facts to light on underreported conflict situations despite severe access restrictions, state repression, and targeted attacks. The outlet’s founder, Tsedale Lemma, will accept the award.
• Freedom of Assembly: The pro-democracy community organizers of Burma’s Spring Revolution, for sustaining civic participation and community resilience. A member of Burma’s pro-democracy community will accept the award.
• Champions of Freedom: Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL) for using the power of his office to support those seeking freedom around the world. Congressman Díaz-Balart has been one of Congress's most forceful advocates for freedom and democracy across the world. Born to parents who fled communist Cuba, he has championed the cause of its people throughout his congressional career, rallying legislators to support pro-democracy activists on the island and consistently lending his voice to those who have risked everything in the struggle for freedom. As Chairman of the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP), he has directed U.S. foreign assistance to high-impact democracy and human rights initiatives across the globe, especially in the Western Hemisphere, including in Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba.

Democracy Service Medal

Awarded by the National Endowment for Democracy’s Board of Directors, the Democracy Service Medal honors individuals whose courage and leadership have advanced freedom, human rights, and democratic governance around the world.

Honoree:

• Ales Bialiatski is a Belarusian human rights defender and one of the country’s most prominent advocates for democracy and political freedom. Beginning his activism under Soviet rule, he founded the Human Rights Center “Viasna,” which has become Belarus’s leading human rights organization, documenting political repression and supporting political prisoners and their families. His advocacy has repeatedly made him a target of the regime, leading to his imprisonment in 2011 and 2021. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize while in prison in 2022, Bialiatski has remained a steadfast voice for justice, human rights, and Belarus’s democratic future, both in captivity and since his release in 2025.

Join us as we celebrate these remarkable individuals and reaffirm our shared commitment to advancing freedom and democracy worldwide.

Please reach out to democracyawards@ned.org with any questions.