For the 101st time in its lengthy and occasionally controversial history, the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize is set to be named.
This year's award arrives in a year dominated by conflict, uncertainty, and a pandemic that has claimed more than 1 million lives worldwide - lending an amplified significance to the prize, and leading to speculation among Nobel watchers that the committee could acknowledge the Covid-19 crisis in its decision-making.
As always, the names of the contenders are fiercely guarded by the Norwegian Nobel Committee. There are 318 candidates, of which 211 are individuals and 107 are organizations, and as per tradition their names will not be divulged for 50 years.
But experts predict a diverse range of candidates, ranging from world leaders to activists to international organizations.
"I'm less sure (of who will win) this year than I have been for a long time," Dan Smith, the director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, told CNN last week.
The winner will be announced at the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo at 11:00 a.m. local time (5 a.m. ET).
Read more about the leading contenders here.