The award ceremony took place in the Frankfurter Paulskirche, where Sands accepted the 2026 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade.
In his acceptance speech, Sands warned of the “burden and dangers of silence,” emphasizing the moral responsibility to speak out against injustice.
The prize, awarded annually by the German Book Trade Association, recognises individuals whose work promotes peace and human rights through literature and public advocacy.
Sands, a noted international lawyer and author, joins a distinguished list of previous laureates who have contributed to cultural dialogue and conflict resolution.