Actor Youssef Asad Alkhatib named Finland’s Refugee of the Year (opens in new tab)

The Finnish Refugee Council has named Syrian-born actor Youssef Asad Alkhatib as Refugee of the Year 2026, recognising his journey from fleeing war as a teenager to building a career on the Finnish stage. The announcement was made in Helsinki on Tuesday, ahead of World Refugee Day, with the organisation citing Alkhatib’s contribution to Finnish society and his work promoting dialogue between communities.