Prince William names 15 Earthshot finalists ahead of Mumbai awards night
Prince William has revealed the 15 finalists in the running for the 2026 Earthshot Prize.
The announcement, published on 18 September 2026, sets up the next Awards Night for 17 November in Mumbai, India. The Mumbai event will run as a two-day summit culminating in the awards evening, according to Hello! Magazine.
The Earthshot Prize is the environmental awards scheme William launched in 2020 to tackle global climate issues. Each year it names 15 finalists and five winners.
This year's 15 were picked from nearly 7,000 nominations across 169 countries. The prize money is serious. Finalists compete for £1 million each across five categories: Revive our Oceans, Fix our Climate, Build a Waste-Free World, Protect and Restore Nature and Clean our Air.
The shortlist spans tech, transport, energy and nature. Satellites on Fire, from Argentina, is an AI-powered wildfire detection platform tracking fires across 21 countries. Mahindra Last Mile Mobility, from India, makes electric three-wheelers. Yellowstone to Yukon aims to reconnect mountain landscape across Canada and the United States.
ZEMBA, the Zero Emission Maritime Buyers Alliance, is also through. So is Ørsted, the Danish renewable energy company behind large offshore wind projects.
Filmmaker Karan Johar has been confirmed as host of the awards evening in Mumbai. Winners will be chosen by the Earthshot Prize Council, which includes Queen Rania of Jordan, actor Cate Blanchett, model Gisele Bundchen and chef Jose Andres.
Mumbai will be the sixth annual Awards Night. The programme notes it will celebrate India's leadership, stewardship and culture, according to Earthshot Prize. Last year's winners were announced in Rio de Janeiro, with re.green, the City of Bogotá, the High Seas Treaty and Lagos Fashion Week among the five winners.
What makes this stand out for fans is the mix. A Bollywood host, a Mumbai stage and a shortlist that jumps from satellites to three-wheelers to shipping. The test now is who turns a finalist slot into £1 million on 17 November.
