Star-Studded Earthshot Prize Ceremony Debuts in Rio to Spotlight Global Environmental Innovations
The 2025 Earthshot Prize was held in Rio for the first time, featuring global stars and awarding £1 million to environmental innovators, highlighting Brazil’s growing role in sustainability.
- • The 2025 Earthshot Prize ceremony took place in Rio de Janeiro, its first edition in Latin America.
- • Five winners each received £1 million to advance their environmental projects in key categories.
- • The event featured performances by Anitta, Kylie Minogue, and Shawn Mendes among others.
- • Prince William engaged with leaders and indigenous representatives to promote sustainability.
- • The ceremony recorded record viewership in Brazil, spotlighting the country’s environmental leadership.
Key details
The 2025 Earthshot Prize ceremony was held in Rio de Janeiro for the first time in Latin America on November 5th, attracting a diverse crowd of global and Brazilian celebrities, environmental leaders, and advocates. This prestigious event, often dubbed the 'Oscar of the environment,' took place at the Museum of Tomorrow and marked the fifth edition of the prize, established by Prince William in 2020.
Hosted by Brazilian presenter Luciano Huck alongside notable figures such as Cafu, Rebeca Andrade, and indigenous activist Txai Suruí, the ceremony celebrated five winners who each received £1 million (around R$7 million) to fund innovative solutions across environmental categories including Protecting and Restoring Nature and Combating Climate Change. Since its inception, the Earthshot Prize has awarded over €20 million to 60 initiatives fostering sustainability worldwide.
The event featured performances by renowned artists such as Anitta, who opened the night, alongside Kylie Minogue, Shawn Mendes, and Seu Jorge, blending Brazilian and international talent. High-profile attendees included Prince William, who emphasized the importance of global collaboration and committed to engage with leaders, investors, and indigenous communities in tackling the climate crisis.
This edition of the prize notably achieved record viewership ratings in Brazil, amplifying the country's role in environmental discussions as it prepares to host the 2030 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém do Pará. The event's presence highlighted Brazil’s growing leadership on sustainability on the world stage.
According to coverage, Prince William’s visit included meetings with innovation leaders and representatives from local and indigenous communities to strengthen efforts addressing environmental challenges. The Earthshot Prize’s move to Brazil symbolizes a broadening recognition of Latin America’s critical role in global environmental solutions.
Overall, the Rio ceremony reinforced the Earthshot Prize’s mission to inspire and invest in transformative projects that can reverse environmental damage by 2030, while engaging a wide spectrum of public figures and audiences worldwide.