( CNN ) -- Writing in his will in 1895 , Alfred Nobel designated who should determine the winners of the annual prizes which he intended to be established after his death . Alfred Nobel 's statue in Stockholm . Nobel laid down who should nominate prizewinners in his will . Since its inception in 1901 , the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize has been chosen , in accordance with Nobel 's wishes , by a five-member committee of lawmakers elected by the Norwegian parliament , the Storting , and assisted by specially-appointed expert advisers . The 2009 committee is headed by Thorbjørn Jagland , a former Norwegian prime minister and the current president of the Storting . The decision-making process starts in September , more than a year before the winner of the prize is announced , when the committee sends out letters to qualified individuals inviting them to nominate contenders -- either individuals , joint individuals or organizations -- for the peace prize . Qualified individuals include members of national assemblies , governments , international courts , heads of universities and academics and previous Nobel laureates . The names of nominees and other information about the deliberation process are kept secret for 50 years . No-one can nominate themselves . The deadline for nominations closes in February when the committee begins its work whittling scores of contenders down to a shortlist , typically of between five and 20 names . Expert advisers are then recruited to provide additional information about the remaining candidates and evaluate their merits . The winner of the prize is decided by a majority vote of committee members at the start of October . Unlike the other Nobel prizes , which are awarded in Stockholm , the peace prize ceremony and laureate 's lecture takes place in Oslo in December .
Alfred Nobel determined who would decide winners in his will establishing prizes . Peace prize decided by five - person committee elected by Norwegian parliament . Committee chooses nominees from list of qualified nominators . Nominees are then nominated and winner is decided by public vote .