Prince William said he is feeling "renewed optimism" as he announced his Earthshot Prize finalists for 2026.
The Prince of Wales, 44, will be heading to Mumbai in India in November for a two-day summit, culminating in the Awards Night on 17 November.
He will team up with Karan Johar, an Indian filmmaker and host of The Traitors India, who has been confirmed as the evening's host, with additional presenters and performers set to be announced over the coming weeks.
The Prize Council, which selects the winners, includes Queen Rania of Jordan, actress Cate Blanchett, Gisele Bündchen, and chef José Andrés, who is a friend of Prince Harry.
© Getty ImagesExcitingly, the Princess of Wales has also been tipped to join the upcoming trip, though this is yet to be officially confirmed by Kensington Palace.
William, who launched the Earthshot Prize, which aims to tackle global climate issues, in 2020, said: "Every year, our Finalists give me renewed optimism.
"They show us that, even as the environmental challenges remain urgent, extraordinary people around the world are already proving that progress is possible. Seeing solutions work gives us all confidence to act.
"When they succeed, they inspire others and accelerate change. I'm proud to welcome these 15 Finalists to the Earthshot Prize community and look forward to celebrating their stories in Mumbai this November."
Who are the Earthshot 2026 finalists?
This year’s 15 Finalists were selected from The Earthshot Prize’s database of nearly 7,000 nominations across 169 countries.
They represent exceptional climate leadership across the globe, from indigenous and community knowledge through to corporate success stories and AI-powered climate tech.
The finalists are in the running to be awarded £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.
© WireImageThey include: Satellites on Fire, an Argentinian AI-powered wildfire detection and alert platform, spotting and tracking wildfires across 21 countries;
Mahindra Last Mile Mobility, one of India's biggest three-wheeler manufacturers, which sells more electric three-wheelers than anyone else in the country;
Yellowstone to Yukon, which aims to reconnect a vast mountain landscape across Canada and the US so wildlife can once again move freely;
ZEMBA, the Zero Emission Maritime Buyers Alliance, bringing global cargo owners together to make binding commitments to zero-emission shipping;
Ørsted, the Danish renewable energy company behind some of the world’s largest offshore wind projects.
The other finalists include Indigenous Desert Alliance, Bhutan, the 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.
Prince William's Earthshot Prize returns for 2026
The Princess of Wales may be joining her husband in India this year, with a source previously telling The Mirror that she was feeling "inspired" by the prospect of travelling to South Asia in November.
The last time she attended the awards was in Boston in 2022.
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesAhead of the prize's return in just two months, William wrote an exclusive essay for The Independent, highlighting the "devastating" impacts of climate change.
The Prince said a summer of wildfires across Britain served as a "powerful reminder of the risks associated with a warming climate".
He added that his Earthshot Prize competition to find new ways to repair the planet shows that technological solutions can be found.
He said action must be stepped up in what is left of this decade - essentially setting a deadline of 2030, less than four years from now.
