3 min readUpdated: Feb 5, 2026 06:21 PM IST
Rouble Nagi, an artist from Jammu and Kashmir who has set up an art studio in Mumbai, has won the $1 million Global Teacher Prize at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The coveted prize is known as the “Nobel of Teaching” and honours an educator who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession.
Who is Rouble Nagi
Nagi is an award-winning, internationally acclaimed artist with over 800 murals and over 150 exhibitions worldwide. She is a member of the India Design Council (IDC), and contributed to Mumbai’s beautification with art installations around the city.
She promotes young and talented artists from India and abroad. Under Misaal Mumbai, a slum transformation initiative, she has painted and repaired more than 1,50,000 plus homes and is working in over 163 slums and villages across India.
WINNING MOMENT 🏆
Watch as Indian educator Rouble Nagi is announced the winner of the 2026 GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize!
Rouble received the trophy from Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Sunny Varkey, Founder of the Global Teacher… pic.twitter.com/MSIGlKOotI
— Global Teacher Prize (@TeacherPrize) February 5, 2026
What is Rouble Nagi Art Foundation
Her non-profit organisation, Rouble Nagi Art Foundation, was established with the vision to make sure all children gain education that “helps them become caring, responsible, and productive citizens”. The foundation introduced several programmes that aim to provide quality education to underprivileged children by introducing low-cost and sustainable educational models, reads a description on Nagi’s website.
As part of her Misaal Mumbai initiative, more than 1,50,000 houses were painted and repaired. As per her website, the group is currently working in over 163 slums and villages across the country.
Rouble Nagi’s foundation has introduced several programmes that aim to provide quality education for underprivileged children. (Credit: Instagram/roublenagi)
Why Rouble Nagi won Global Teacher Prize
Nagi, a social worker, won the award for setting up more than 800 learning centres and painting educational murals across the walls of slums across India.
What Nagi plans to use $1 mn prize money for
Nagi also paints mural that teach literacy, science, math and history, among other topics. Nagi pursued BA Political Science and studied Fine Art at Slade School of Fine Art as well as European Art at Sotheby’s London. Nagi is also credited with holding multiple art exhibitions in several parts of the country and different nations. With the prize money, Nagi aims to build an institute that offers free vocational training.
Nagi is the tenth teacher to win the award.
Nagi is an award-winning, internationally acclaimed artist with over 800 murals and over 150 exhibitions worldwide. (Credit: https://www.roublenagi.com/)
Global Teacher Prize past winners
The past winners of Global Teacher Prize include a Kenyan teacher from a remote village who gave away most of his earnings to the poor, a Palestinian primary school teacher who teaches her students about non-violence, and a Canadian educator who taught a remote Arctic village of Inuit students.
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In 2025, a Saudi educator Mansour al-Mansour, renowned for his work with the poor in the UAE, was adjudged the winner.