Prince William unveiled the 15 finalists for the Earthshot Prize 2026 and said their work gives him "renewed optimism" amid urgent environmental challenges. The Awards Night will take place in Mumbai on 17 November, with Karan Johar confirmed as host and the Princess of Wales possibly attending. Finalists were selected from nearly 7,000 nominations across 169 countries and will compete for five £1 million prizes across key environmental categories. William warned that action must accelerate before a 2030 deadline, citing recent UK wildfires as a stark reminder of climate risks.
Prince William Unveils 2026 Earthshot Prize Finalists and Issues Urgent Call to Accelerate Climate Action
Prince William at Everton Football Club (Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace)
Prince William said he felt "renewed optimism" as he unveiled the 15 finalists for the Earthshot Prize 2026, a global competition that supports bold solutions to the climate crisis.
The 44-year-old Prince of Wales will travel to Mumbai, India, in November for a two-day summit that culminates in an Awards Night on 17 November. Bollywood filmmaker and TV host Karan Johar has been confirmed as the evening's host, with further presenters and performers to be announced.
Prince William has announced his Earthshot Prize finalists for 2026 (@ Getty Images)
Selection and Prize Details
The 15 finalists were chosen from nearly 7,000 nominations submitted across 169 countries. Each finalist competes for one of five £1 million prizes across the categories: Revive Our Oceans, Fix Our Climate, Build a Waste-Free World, Protect and Restore Nature, and Clean Our Air.
Prince William and Kate at the Earthshot Prize in 2022 (@ WireImage)
Prize Council
The Prize Council, which helps select the winners, includes international figures such as Queen Rania of Jordan, actress Cate Blanchett, model Gisele Bündchen and chef José Andrés.
The Prince is passionate about the environment (@ POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
"Every year, our Finalists give me renewed optimism," William said. "They show us that, even as the environmental challenges remain urgent, extraordinary people around the world are already proving that progress is possible."
Notable Finalists
- Satellites On Fire (Argentina) – An AI-driven wildfire detection and alert platform operating across 21 countries.
- Mahindra Last Mile Mobility (India) – One of India’s largest three-wheeler manufacturers and the top seller of electric three-wheelers in the country.
- Yellowstone To Yukon (Canada/US) – A transboundary conservation initiative reconnecting mountain landscapes to allow wildlife to move freely.
- ZEMBA (Zero Emission Maritime Buyers Alliance) – Brings cargo owners together to make binding commitments to zero-emission shipping.
- Ørsted (Denmark) – A leading renewable energy company behind major offshore wind projects.
- Other finalists: Indigenous Desert Alliance, Bhutan (national conservation effort), Mahila Housing Trust, Pula, PFAS-Free France, Korea Zero Waste Movement Network, Mother Earth Foundation, Niue Ocean Wide Trust, the city of Barcelona, and AirQo.
Sources say the Princess of Wales has been tipped to join the trip, though Kensington Palace has not formally confirmed her attendance. The Princess last attended the Earthshot Awards in Boston in 2022.
Context and Call to Action
Ahead of the Mumbai summit, William wrote an essay for The Independent describing the "devastating" impacts of climate change, citing recent wildfires in the UK as a "powerful reminder" of the risks associated with a warming planet. He warned that action needs to accelerate in the remainder of this decade, effectively setting a 2030 deadline for stepping up global efforts to curb climate damage.
The Earthshot Prize aims to spotlight solutions — from indigenous and community-led projects to corporate and AI-driven innovations — that can be scaled to repair the planet and inspire wider action.
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