Karan Johar is set to take on a new international role as he becomes the first Indian to host Prince William’s The Earthshot Prize Awards Night. The 2026 ceremony will be held in Mumbai on November 17, marking the first time the global environmental awards are being hosted in India.
The filmmaker and producer confirmed the news through an announcement video featuring his interaction with Prince William. Johar also shared his thoughts on what the opportunity means to him, connecting the worlds of cinema, innovation and environmental action.
Karan Johar To Host Earthshot Prize 2026 In Mumbai
The Earthshot Prize confirmed Karan Johar as the host of its sixth annual Awards Night. The ceremony will bring together 15 finalists from around the world, with five winners set to receive £1 million each to help scale their environmental solutions.
The Prize was founded by Prince William in 2020 to identify and support solutions aimed at repairing the planet. Mumbai was announced as the host city in February, with the 2026 edition marking the first time the event will take place in India.
Karan Johar Meets Prince William Ahead Of The Ceremony
Ahead of the announcement, Johar met Prince William in London as the 2026 finalists were unveiled. Their conversation touched on environmental challenges, the finalists and the importance of developing solutions that can create wider change. Johar described becoming the first Indian host as a moment of immense pride.
He also highlighted the significance of bringing the ceremony to Mumbai, saying that cinema imagines new worlds while the innovators recognised by Earthshot are working to build a better one. The filmmaker has experience hosting television and streaming shows, including Koffee with Karan and The Traitors India, alongside his work in Hindi cinema.
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Earthshot Prize 2026 Finalists And Awards Night
The 2026 Earthshot Prize features 15 finalists working across areas including nature conservation, clean air, ocean restoration, waste reduction and climate action. Among them are Indian organisations Mahila Housing Trust and Mahindra Last Mile Mobility.
The five winners will be announced during the Mumbai Awards Night on November 17. Each winner will receive a £1 million prize, while the wider Earthshot programme will provide finalists with mentorship, resources and access to a global network supporting environmental solutions.
Final Take
Karan Johar’s appointment adds an Indian entertainment figure to the global Earthshot Prize stage as the ceremony heads to Mumbai for the first time. With 15 finalists competing across environmental categories and five winners set to be announced, the November event will bring the Prize’s international spotlight to India.
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