Filmmaker and television host Karan Johar is set to host The Earthshot Prize Awards Night in Mumbai, becoming the first Indian to take on the role at the annual ceremony.
Founded by Prince William, The Earthshot Prize recognises and supports innovative solutions aimed at protecting and restoring the planet. The Prize’s arrival in Mumbai also highlights India’s contribution to the initiative, with Indian innovations having featured among previous Winners and Finalists.
Expressing his excitement over the opportunity, Johar said hosting the event in Mumbai was a matter of immense pride.
“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,” he said.
Johar drew a parallel between filmmaking and the work of environmental innovators, saying cinema involves imagining new worlds while Earthshot innovators are working to create a better one.
He added that Prince William’s vision provides “not just reasons to hope, but ideas we can act on” and said India had the creativity and ambition to play an important role in shaping the future.
Johar brings experience across cinema, television and streaming to the hosting role. Besides his work as a filmmaker and producer, he is known for hosting Koffee with Karan and the Indian adaptation of The Traitors.
Prince William, Founder and President of The Earthshot Prize, said the annual Finalists continued to give him optimism about the possibilities of environmental progress.
“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,” he said.
Prince William added that seeing environmental solutions work gives people confidence to act and that successful initiatives can inspire others and accelerate change.
He said he was proud to welcome the 15 Finalists to The Earthshot Prize community and looked forward to celebrating their stories in Mumbai.
The Earthshot Prize Summit will bring together global leaders, innovators, funders, businesses and communities to foster connections and mobilise support for environmental solutions.
The programme will culminate in the sixth Earthshot Prize Awards Night on November 17, 2026.