Karan Johar To Host Earthshot Prize Awards In Mumbai, First Indian To Take The Role
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Filmmaker and broadcaster Karan Johar will host The Earthshot Prize Awards Night in Mumbai this November, becoming the first Indian to take on the role for the annual global ceremony.
The sixth edition of the awards will be held in Mumbai on November 17, 2026, marking the first time that The Earthshot Prize is being hosted in India. Fifteen finalists will be recognised at the ceremony, with five ultimately named as the 2026 winners. Each winner will receive £1 million to help scale their environmental solutions.
Karan Johar To Welcome Global Environmental Innovators
The Earthshot Prize confirmed Johar as the host while announcing its 15 finalists for 2026.
In a video shared by Johar and the official Prince and Princess of Wales social media handles, the filmmaker is seen speaking with Prince William, who founded The Earthshot Prize in 2020.
Johar said being the first Indian to host the ceremony was a matter of pride and that bringing the event to Mumbai made the occasion particularly meaningful.
“To be the first Indian to host The Earthshot Prize Awards Night is a moment of immense pride for me, and to do so in Mumbai makes it all the more meaningful,” Johar said.
He added that while cinema allows people to imagine new worlds, the innovators recognised by Earthshot are working to build a better one.
Mumbai To Host Earthshot Prize For First Time
Mumbai was announced as the host city in February 2026. The city becomes the sixth host of The Earthshot Prize, following London, Boston, Singapore, Cape Town and Rio de Janeiro.
The event will bring together environmental leaders, innovators, businesses, funders and communities for a multi-day programme focused on scaling solutions to environmental challenges.
The two-day Earthshot Prize Summit will precede the Awards Night and will focus on connecting innovators with potential partners, investors and other organisations that can help expand their work.
15 Finalists To Compete Across Five Earthshots
The 15 finalists for 2026 have been selected across five categories: Protect and Restore Nature, Clean Our Air, Revive Our Oceans, Build a Waste-Free World, and Fix Our Climate.
Among the finalists are India's Mahindra Last Mile Mobility, selected under Clean Our Air, and Mahila Housing Trust, selected under Fix Our Climate.
The other finalists represent countries including Australia, Bhutan, Canada, Argentina, Uganda, the United States, Niue, Spain, South Korea, France, the Philippines, Kenya and Denmark.
Five Winners To Receive £1 Million Each
The five winners will each receive £1 million to help expand their solutions and reach more communities.
According to The Earthshot Prize, the 2026 finalists were selected from nearly 7,000 nominations across 169 countries. The organisation said the finalists represent a range of environmental approaches spanning conservation, clean air, oceans, waste reduction and climate action.
Prince William, Founder and President of The Earthshot Prize, said the finalists demonstrated that progress on environmental challenges was already possible and that seeing solutions work could encourage further action.
India Has Strong Earthshot Prize Connection
India already has a significant presence in The Earthshot Prize ecosystem. According to the organisation, India is home to seven Earthshot Prize finalists, including four winners, more than any other country.
Previous Indian winners and finalists include S4S Technologies, Boomitra, Kheyti and Takachar, while Gujarat was among the 2025 finalists for its particulate-emissions trading scheme.
The 2026 Mumbai edition will therefore bring the global awards ceremony to a country that has featured prominently among the Prize's previous finalists and winners.
Earthshot Prize Awards Night On November 17
The Earthshot Prize Summit will culminate in the Awards Night on November 17, 2026, when the 15 finalists will be celebrated and the five winners announced.
With Johar as host, the ceremony will combine the global environmental awards with India's entertainment and cultural spotlight as the event makes its debut in Mumbai.
