Ten investigations shortlisted for 2026 Daphne Caruana Galizia Journalism Prize

Strasbourg: The jury of the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism has shortlisted ten investigations for the sixth edition of the European Parliament’s press award, the Parliament has announced. The shortlisted works include two major environmental investigations — one on how Big Tech wrote secrecy into EU law to hide data centres’ environmental toll, and one on how green investment funds bankroll the arms industry with EU backing.

Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize 2026: record entries

Between 4 May and 31 July 2026, journalists from all 27 EU member states submitted a record 344 entries for consideration, according to the European Parliament. Ten investigations were selected as finalists.

The prize, launched in 2020, is open to professional journalists and teams of journalists of any nationality whose in-depth reporting has been published or broadcast by media based in one of the 27 EU countries. An independent jury composed of representatives of the press and civil society from the 27 member states, together with representatives of the main European journalists’ associations, will choose the winning entry. The prize carries €20,000 in prize money.

Environmental investigations among the finalists

Among the ten finalists are two investigations with a direct environmental and climate angle, underlining the growing weight of green journalism in European investigative reporting.

Data centres’ hidden environmental toll

The investigation “How Big Tech wrote secrecy into EU law to hide data centres’ environmental toll” was carried out by Investigate Europe and published with media partners including Altreconomia (Italy), Die Zeit (Germany), El País (Spain), EU Observer (Belgium), the Guardian (United Kingdom), the Journal (Ireland), Le Monde (France), Publico (Portugal) and Tech Policy Press (United States).

The same cross-border investigation into the environmental footprint of Europe’s rapidly expanding data centre infrastructure was earlier supported by a €46,400 grant from the Investigative Journalism for Europe programme, according to the International Press Institute.

“War Made Sustainable”

The second environment-linked finalist, “War Made Sustainable: how green investment funds bankroll the arms industry with EU backing”, was coordinated by Voxeurop (France), with contributions from El País (Spain), IrpiMedia (Italy) and Mediapart (France).

Other finalists cover migration policy, disinformation, press freedom and security — including a major cross-border investigation into how Russia protects its nuclear weapons, produced by NDR, WDR and Süddeutsche Zeitung with Le Monde, ICIJ, Kyodo, NRK, Pointer, SVT, The Times and the Washington Post.

Winner to be announced on 21 October in Strasbourg

The winner will be announced at an award ceremony on the evening of 21 October 2026 at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, in the Daphne Caruana Galizia Press Room. A seminar on press freedom, analysing the role of journalists and the threats they face, will be held earlier the same day; journalists must register for the seminar and interviews by 15 October at 15:00.

Two members of the European Fact-Checking Standards Network — EFE Verifica (Spain) and Maldita.es (Spain) — are also among this year’s finalists, the network has confirmed, noting that the Parliament announced the ten finalists from 344 submissions this week.

About the prize

The prize honours Daphne Caruana Galizia, a Maltese journalist, blogger and anti-corruption activist who was murdered in a car-bomb explosion on 16 October 2017. Five persons have been imprisoned for executing the murder, while the mastermind has yet to be convicted, according to the European Parliament.

The shortlist once again demonstrates the Parliament’s stated support for investigative journalism and a free press — and the central role environmental reporting now plays in it.

Read more of Watan News’ international climate and media coverage here.

FAKTA

• Prize: Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism, sixth edition
• Finalists: 10 investigations, chosen from a record 344 entries from 27 EU countries
• Environmental finalists: data centres’ environmental toll (Investigate Europe); “War Made Sustainable” (Voxeurop)
• Prize money: €20,000
• Winner announced: 21 October 2026, European Parliament, Strasbourg