The sixth Earthshot Prize ceremony is set to take place in Mumbai, as India continues to rank among the world’s most polluted countries.
Prince William has announced the 2026 Earthshot Prize ceremony will be held in Mumbai for the first time. The announcement came during Mumbai Climate Week, with the November ceremony expected to bring together environmental leaders, philanthropists and investors from around the world.
‘We must continue to look to the future with urgency and optimism, which is why I am delighted that Mumbai will host the Earthshot Prize 2026,’ Prince William said. ‘India is one of the world’s most important forces for climate and nature. What succeeds in India at scale has the power to inspire progress everywhere.’
He continued: ‘With the largest population of young people in the world, there is a real sense of momentum – to not only imagine a better future, but to inspire change and make it at reality.
‘Together we can rise to meet our greatest challenge, to repair and restore our planet by 2030.’
The decision to hold the awards in India comes as the country faces major air quality challenges. In mid-February 2026, parts of Mumbai were recorded as having ‘unhealthy’ air and pollution levels in the city have sometimes been higher than in Delhi, which tops the list of major cities with the world’s worst air quality.
However, India has produced more Earthshot finalists and winners than any other country. Previous winners include Boomitra, which incentivises soil restoration through a verified carbon-credit marketplace.
Founded by the Prince of Wales in 2020, The Earthshot Prize includes a ‘Clean Our Air’ category, recognising projects aimed at improving air quality and enhancing public health.
In 2025, the city of Bogotá won in this category for efforts to reduce heavy freight vehicles. The city prioritises walking and cycling, operates one of the world’s largest electric bus fleets – with more than 1,400 buses – and has introduced three new cable car lines.
A video describing last year’s winner can be viewed below or on The Earthshot Prize’s YouTube channel.
Devendra Fadnavis, chief minister of Maharashtra state, said hosting the awards in Mumbai would shine a global spotlight on India’s climate efforts.
‘The Earthshot Prize is the world’s most prestigious environmental award and I’m proud to announce that it will be hosted in Mumbai in November,’ he said.
‘Sustainability and climate action remain top priorities for Maharashtra, and The Earthshot Prize will create global attention for India’s leadership and commitment to turning our goals into meaningful action on the ground.’
Since its launch, the prize has recognised more than 5,600 environmental innovations from 156 countries and awarded £25m to winners.
Image: Karthik M/UnSplash
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