Deadline: 07-Oct-2026
The Earth Partner Prize 2026 invites young artists and creatives worldwide to submit original work responding to the ecological crisis. Open to applicants aged 14–30 as of 7 October 2026, the prize offers cash awards of $10,000, $5,000, or $2,000 to eight winners, along with honourable mentions and international visibility.
Overview
The Earth Partner Prize 2026 is organized by Earth Partner in collaboration with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Re:wild.
The prize supports creative responses to the ecological crisis through art, media, performance, technology, writing, design, and other forms of expression. It gives young creatives a platform to explore environmental issues and communicate urgent climate and biodiversity challenges to wider audiences.
Key Details
- Prize name: Earth Partner Prize 2026
- Organizers: Earth Partner, Global Environment Facility, Re:wild
- Eligible age: 14–30 years
- Age date: Applicants must be aged 14–30 as of 7 October 2026
- Eligible applicants: Young artists and creatives worldwide
- Submission fee: Free
- Eligible formats: Any creative medium
- Winners: 8
- Cash prizes: $10,000, $5,000, or $2,000
- Honourable mentions: 20 creatives
- Additional recognition: Special Impact Award
Focus Areas and Themes
The prize supports creative work addressing ecological and environmental issues.
Key themes include:
- Ecological crisis
- Climate justice
- Corporate greenwashing
- Indigenous rights
- Material innovation
- Wildlife conservation
- Biodiversity protection
- Grassroots activism
- Intersectional environmentalism
- Regeneration
- Pollution and waste
- Recycling and circularity
- Climate-related physical and mental health impacts
Key Concepts Explained
What is the Ecological Crisis?
The ecological crisis refers to interconnected environmental challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, habitat destruction, waste, and resource overuse.
What is Climate Justice?
Climate justice focuses on the unequal impacts of climate change and recognizes that vulnerable communities often face the greatest risks despite contributing least to the crisis.
What is Corporate Greenwashing?
Corporate greenwashing happens when companies present themselves as environmentally responsible while continuing harmful or misleading practices.
What is Intersectional Environmentalism?
Intersectional environmentalism connects environmental protection with social justice, recognizing how climate, race, gender, Indigenous rights, inequality, and economic systems are linked.
What is Circularity?
Circularity refers to reducing waste by keeping materials in use through reuse, repair, recycling, redesign, and regenerative production systems.
Who is Eligible?
The opportunity is open to artists and creatives from around the world.
Applicants must:
- Be aged 14–30 years as of 7 October 2026
- Be of any nationality, race, gender, or faith
- Submit original creative work
- Apply as an individual, duo, or team
- Credit all collaborators where applicable
- Disclose any use of AI tools in the creation process
Eligible Creative Formats
Applicants may submit work in any medium, including:
- Photography
- Film
- Documentary film
- Experimental film
- Performance art
- Spoken word
- Musical composition
- Dance
- Fashion design
- New media
- App development
- Coding-based projects
- Writing
- Social media-based projects
- Multimedia projects
Awards and Recognition
The Earth Partner Prize provides monetary awards and international visibility.
Awards include:
- 8 winners receiving cash prizes of $10,000, $5,000, or $2,000
- 20 honourable mentions selected by an international jury
- A special Impact Award
- Visibility through Earth Partner platforms and associated collaborations
How Submissions Are Judged
Submissions are reviewed by an international jury of leading figures in:
- Art
- Culture
- Media
- Environmental advocacy
Selection is based on:
- Originality of the creative work
- Engagement with ecological themes
- Artistic strength
- Environmental relevance
- Clarity of message
- Creative interpretation of the ecological crisis
- Community impact, especially for the Impact Award
How to Apply
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
Check that you are aged 14–30 as of 7 October 2026.
Step 2: Choose Your Theme
Select an ecological or environmental issue that your work will address.
Step 3: Create Original Work
Develop an original creative submission in your chosen medium.
Step 4: Credit Collaborators
If applying as a duo or team, credit all collaborators clearly.
Step 5: Disclose AI Use
If AI tools were used in the creation process, disclose this in the submission.
Step 6: Submit for Free
Complete the submission process at no cost.
Step 7: Await Jury Review
Submitted works will be assessed by an international jury, with winners, honourable mentions, and the Impact Award selected through the review process.
Why It Matters
The Earth Partner Prize gives young creatives a global platform to respond to environmental challenges.
It matters because it:
- Amplifies youth voices in climate and biodiversity action
- Supports creative environmental storytelling
- Encourages public engagement with ecological issues
- Connects art, activism, and environmental advocacy
- Highlights underrepresented perspectives
- Rewards meaningful community impact
- Promotes global awareness of the ecological crisis
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
- Submitting work that is not original
- Applying outside the age range
- Failing to credit collaborators
- Not disclosing AI tool use
- Submitting work with unclear environmental relevance
- Choosing a theme without a clear message
- Ignoring the connection between creativity and ecological impact
- Submitting work that does not reflect the stated themes
Tips for a Strong Submission
Applicants should:
- Choose a clear ecological issue.
- Use a strong creative concept.
- Make the environmental message easy to understand.
- Show originality and personal voice.
- Connect the work to real-world ecological impact.
- Highlight community relevance where possible.
- Ensure all collaborators are credited.
- Be transparent about any AI involvement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Earth Partner Prize 2026?
It is a global prize for young artists and creatives submitting original work that responds to the ecological crisis.
Who can apply?
Artists and creatives worldwide aged 14–30 years as of 7 October 2026 can apply.
Is there an application fee?
No. Submissions are free of charge.
What types of work are accepted?
Applicants may submit work in any medium, including photography, film, performance, music, dance, fashion, writing, coding-based projects, apps, new media, and social media-based projects.
Can teams apply?
Yes. Applicants may apply individually or as part of a duo or team, provided all collaborators are credited.
Are AI-generated works allowed?
Applicants must disclose any use of AI tools if they were used in the creation process.
What prizes are available?
Eight winners will receive cash prizes of $10,000, $5,000, or $2,000. Twenty creatives will receive honourable mentions, and a special Impact Award will also be presented.
Conclusion
The Earth Partner Prize 2026 offers young artists and creatives worldwide an opportunity to use art, media, technology, and storytelling to address the ecological crisis. Through cash prizes, honourable mentions, and international visibility, the prize supports bold creative work that raises awareness, challenges harmful systems, and inspires environmental action.
For more information, visit Earth Partner.
