At a glance…
- The Earthshot Prize rewards innovative solutions to the world’s biggest environmental challenges.
- It was founded by Prince William in 2020.
- Five winners are chosen each year, tackling five “Earthshots”: protecting nature, cleaning the air, reviving oceans, creating a waste-free world, and fixing the climate. They each win £1 million, along with support and global exposure to help scale their solution.
- Robert Irwin is a Global Ambassador for the Earthshot Prize.
- Princess Catherine hasn’t attended the ceremonies since 2022, but is expected to appear in 2026.
Today’s society is facing multiple environmental issues like climate change, pollution, and habitat destruction, but Prince William’s Earthshot Prize offers a bold approach to tackling these various issues.
Yes, instead of fanfare and vague promises, the Earthshot Prize is purely focused on finding solutions that could make a real impact and then funding them.
What is the Earthshot Prize?
The Earthshot Prize is one of the world’s most prestigious environmental awards.
Made up of five categories or ‘Earthshots’, the Earthshot Prize is awarded to five individuals and/or organisations who come up with innovative solutions to some of today’s most pressing environmental issues: protecting and restoring nature, improving air quality, reviving oceans, reducing waste, and combating climate change.
The prestigious award was founded by Prince William.
The Prince of Wales launched it in 2020 as part of his commitment to environmental advocacy and global sustainability, and to inspire hope and action toward saving the planet.
Ahead of the 2025 ceremony in Brazil, Prince William revealed there was more to his interest in sustainability.
“As a father, I think constantly about the world my children will inherit,” he told Hello!. “I want them to grow up surrounded by nature, opportunity and a sense of hope about the future.”
“But I also know that unless we act boldly now, that future is at risk. The Earthshot Prize is about turning the tide, about proving to our children that we are willing to fight for their tomorrow.”
How much is the Earthshot Prize worth?
Each category winner is awarded £1 million (roughly AU$1.9 million).
A total of five awards are distributed each year, amounting to £5 million total in prize money.
This significant financial award is intended to help scale up the winners’ projects and bring their solutions to a larger audience, ultimately accelerating positive change in environmental conservation and sustainability.
Who judges the award?
The Council, led by Chair Christiana Figueres, selects the winners each year.
Members of the council include Prince William, Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, Cate Blanchett, Sir David Attenborough, Ernest Gibson, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Indra Nooyi, Luisa Neubauer, Naoko Yamazaki, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Stella McCartney, José Andrés, Wanjira Mathai, and Nemonte Nenquimo.
What does Earthshot mean?
The term “Earthshot” is inspired by the “moonshot” initiatives of the 1960s, which were bold and ambitious attempts to achieve what once seemed impossible — landing a person on the moon.
“Earthshot” refers to similarly ambitious efforts, but with a focus on addressing urgent environmental crises.
Where are the Earthshot Prize awards held?
The Earthshot Prize Awards have been held in different cities around the world since the prize was launched in 2020. The inaugural Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony was held at Alexandra Palace in London. The second ceremony took place at the MGM Music Hall at Fenway in Boston, Massachusetts. The third edition was hosted at The Theatre at Mediacorp in Singapore.
The 2024 Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony was held in Cape Town, South Africa in a purpose-built venue located beside Cape Town Stadium, dubbed The Earthshot Prize Dome.
The 2025 Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 5 November, 2025. This marked the first time the event was held in South America and coincided with Brazil hosting the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30).
The attendees included Australian pop sensation Kylie Minogue, Matthew McConaughey, and singer Shawn Mendes.
In 2026, the Earthshot Prize Awards will be held in India, and for the first time in years, Princess Catherine is expected to attend.
Why has Catherine missed the Earthshot Prize Awards?
In 2023, Catherine skipped the awards as they were happening in Singapore. Instead, she stayed in the UK to support Prince George who was sitting his first major school exams.
She missed the 2024 awards in Cape Town as she had stepped back from royal duties while battling cancer. There was no reason given for missing the 2025 awards, however, shhe was still only returning to royal duties.
Therefore, her suspected 2026 appearance will be a great comeback for the princess! However, Kensington Palace has not yet formally confirmed her attendance
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