Gal Gadot Chosen as 2026 Genesis Prize Laureate for Support of Israel and Global Advocacy

In a powerful acknowledgment of courage, compassion, and Jewish identity, Gal Gadot has been named the 2026 Laureate of the $1 million Genesis Prize. Often referred to as the “Jewish Nobel,” the award honors individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to humanity while demonstrating a strong connection to Jewish values and the State of Israel.

The Genesis Prize Foundation selected Gadot not for her global celebrity, but for her unwavering support for Israel and the Jewish people during one of the most painful chapters in recent history. Since the Hamas-led terror attack of October 7, 2023, Gadot has used her massive international platform to draw global attention to the plight of Israeli hostages, call for their release, and advocate for healing and unity in a nation scarred by war.

“Gal Gadot is a passionate and courageous advocate for Israel and the Jewish people,” said Genesis Prize Foundation Chairman Stan Polovets. “She is unafraid to speak her conscience, even in a climate of escalating antisemitism and hostility toward Israel.”

Gadot's social media following over 100 million strong became a critical platform for raising awareness of the hostages taken during the 2023 attacks. She personally visited freed hostages and bereaved families, ensuring the world didn’t forget the faces behind the headlines. In an era when silence and equivocation are the easy route, Gadot chose to stand publicly, and proudly, with Israel.

But her recognition goes beyond advocacy. Like all Genesis Prize recipients, Gadot declined the monetary award and has asked the foundation to dedicate the funds to philanthropic efforts focused on healing Israel’s wounded society. The Genesis team is working with local and national agencies to direct the funds toward trauma care, mental health support, displacement recovery, and economic rehabilitation areas still deeply affected two years after the attacks.

Polovets noted that nearly a quarter million Israelis were displaced at the war’s peak, and tens of thousands remain permanently uprooted. More than 16,000 wounded soldiers have required treatment, many suffering from post-traumatic stress. Gadot’s vision is to use the prize to address this unseen toll and to help restore lives.

The Genesis Prize has previously honored figures such as Michael Douglas, Natan Sharansky, and Albert Bourla. While many entertainers and public figures like Jerry Seinfeld, Mayim Bialik, and Liev Schreiber have courageously supported Israel, the Selection Committee determined that Gadot's singular global reach and her embrace of the Jewish people’s pain and purpose made her the most appropriate choice for 2026.

This isn’t a political statement, says the foundation. “The Genesis Prize is not a political award,” Polovets explained. “Our mission is to strengthen Jewish identity and that mission is inseparable from a strong and secure Jewish state.”

In honoring Gal Gadot, the Genesis Prize sends a message not only about who she is, but about who we are: a people that celebrates not only brilliance, but bravery; not only fame, but faith.

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