Applications Invited for the Earth Prize 2026

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About the Organization

The Earth Foundation was founded in 2020 in Geneva, Switzerland, to inspire, educate, mentor, and empower students, schools, researchers, and young entrepreneurs with innovative ideas to tackle environmental challenges. Through its initiatives The Earth Foundation strives to build its very own ecosystem.

The Ecosystem: Channeling youth enthusiasm. Supporting schools. Promoting research. Empowering change-makers. Creating opportunities. Building a network of inspiration. All to create a self-perpetuating ecosystem that accelerates positive change towards environmental sustainability.

About the Event

The Earth Prize is a $100,000 environmental sustainability competition open to teenage students worldwide. It recognizes and awards students who develop the best solutions to accelerate positive change towards environmental sustainability.

The Earth Prize seeks projects that tackle environmental challenges and inspire positive change. Participants can submit either groundbreaking new ideas or showcase existing projects. Whether local, national, or global, all projects are welcome—whether they take the form of organizations, enterprises, or campaigns.

Area of Focus: Projects should broadly focus on environmental sustainability issues. A variety of approaches are encouraged, and participants are free to explore solutions to different environmental challenges.

Submission Themes:

• Waste
• Environment
• Pollution

Evaluation: Projects will be evaluated based on their potential to solve environmental challenges, their innovation, feasibility, and the impact they can have locally or globally.

Recognition:

• Regional Winners: The top team in each region will be awarded the Regional Winner distinction, based on their final project proposals evaluated by The Earth Prize Adjudicating Panel. These teams will be recognized for their contributions to environmental sustainability. Seven teams (one from each region) receive $12,500 each to develop and implement their idea. The regions: Oceania & Southeast Asia, Asia, Middle East, Africa, Europe, Central & South America, North America.
• Scholars: The Scholars distinction is awarded to students whose project proposals demonstrate exceptional quality. Scholars are announced in February, selected by The Earth Prize team and external reviewers.
• Global Winner: The Earth Prize Global Winner will be chosen by a public vote from among the seven Regional Winners.
• Educators of the Year: Two teachers or educators who have made outstanding contributions to education and mentorship during The Earth Prize competition will be awarded the Educator of the Year award, as selected by The Earth Foundation’s Advisor, Mario Salomone. $2,500 will be allocated to the new project, Educators Hub, for teachers and educators registered in The Earth Prize competition.
• Mentors of the Year: The three most engaged Mentors, as voted by the participants, will receive the Mentor of the Year award in recognition of their dedication and support throughout the competition. Three mentors receive $2,500 each.

Eligibility

The Earth Prize is open to students worldwide who meet the following criteria:

• Age: Participants must have been born between 2006 and 2012 (inclusive).
• Education: The competition is for secondary education students only (not tertiary education).
• Institution: Students must be enrolled in a school or educational program. Homeschooled students are also eligible. There are no geographic restrictions—students from any country can participate.

How to Apply

All projects must be submitted by January 31st, 2026.

Complete the online registration form to join The Earth Prize Discord Community, where you'll gain access to exclusive content and mentoring.

Read the full rules of the competition

For more information please check the Link

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