Nomination Forms are Now Available for the 2026 National Honours

NASSAU, The Bahamas -- Nomination forms are now available for the general public to nominate persons for the National Honours. The public has until March 31, 2026 to complete the forms and return them to the Secretariat at the Cabinet Office in the Tradewinds Building on Bay Street in Nassau.

The Foreign Affairs Minister and Chair of the Committee, the Hon. Fred Mitchell said, "The Public is hereby notified that in accordance with the provision of Section 5 of the National Honours Act 2016 and Regulations made thereunder, the Advisory Committee for National Honours invites nominations from the general public for the award of Honours under the established Societies of Honour as follows:

(a) The Order of National Hero;

(b) The Order of The Nation;

(c) The Order of The Bahamas;

(d) The Order of Excellence;

(e) The Order of Distinction;

(f) The Order of Merit;

(g) The Order of Lignum Vitae."

The Societies of Honour are listed in order of seniority and persons or organizations making nominations may indicate the area of service to which they wish to nominate persons, the Minister said during a press conference at the Foreign Affairs Ministry on Monday, January 19, 2026.

He noted that the Order of Lignum Vitae is reserved for young persons under the age of 25.

The Minister said, additionally, Regulations made under the National Honours Act also provide for the award of medals as follows:

(a) Distinguished Service Medals Citizens of The Bahamas in recognition of exceptional service in the public service or Civil Society or;

(b) Badge of Honour for persons in Civil Society who perform exceptional service to The Bahamas; and

(c) Medals for acts of Bravery undertaken in The Bahamas by any person.

The Minister explained that persons recommended for awards must be Bahamian citizens and must have made a significant contribution to the building and uplifting of The Nation.

"However, there are a few Societies of Honour that are limited in scope to a specific category of persons. These include the Order of National Hero, The Order of The Nation and The Order of The Bahamas."

He said the Order of Excellence is reserved for Foreign Dignitaries or friends of The Bahamas who are not Bahamians but have made a positive impact on the Nation.

Nomination forms can be obtained on the Bahamas Government website at www.bahamas.gov.bs, the Cabinet Office, or the Office of the Administrator in all Districts of the Family Islands.

The forms must be completed in full and where possible be accompanied by a passport-sized photo.

On Monday, January 19, 2026, a press conference was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to announce that nomination forms are now available for the general public to nominate persons for the National Honours. The public has until March 31, 2026 to complete the forms and return them to the Secretariat at the Cabinet Office in the Tradewinds Building on Bay Street in Nassau. Seated from left: Assistant Commissioner of Police Janet McKenzie; Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chair, National Honours Committee, the Hon. Fred Mitchell; Senior Commander of the Royal Police Force Granville Adderley and Representative, Cabinet Office, Maxine Duncombe.

(BIS Photos/Kristaan Ingraham)