Art Partner has unveiled the 2026 Earth Partner Prize – an international competition dedicated to empowering young people to take impactful action in response to the climate emergency. This year’s edition is developed in collaboration with the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and Re:Wild.
Submissions close at 23:59 CET on Wednesday, October 7.
Young creatives between the ages of 14 and 30, from all backgrounds and identities, are encouraged to present original artworks exploring the environmental and social challenges the planet is facing. Entries are welcome across a broad spectrum of formats, including but not limited to photography projects, documentary and experimental film, performance art, spoken word, musical compositions, fashion design, app development, dance, and new media.
Applicants may interpret topics such as climate justice, corporate greenwashing, Indigenous rights, material innovation, wildlife and biodiversity, waste and pollution, grassroots activism, recycling and circularity, and the physical and mental impacts of the climate crisis.
Eight winners will receive monetary awards of $10,000, $5,000, or $2,000.
In addition, 20 honorable mentions will be selected, alongside a special Impact Award to the project that demonstrates the most meaningful impact on communities.
Winners will have their work presented in an online showcase hosted by earthpartner.com, and promoted through Art Partner’s social media channels.
Participants will also have the opportunity to show their work and join activities surrounding COP 31, which will convene thousands of government delegates, world leaders, climate experts, and other stakeholders to advance efforts to limit global warming, through a collaboration with the GEF.
This year, the international jury brings together some of the most influential voices in the cultural sector and environmental space, including:
- Derrick O. Boateng, acclaimed afrofuturist artist
- Dr. Robin Moore, photographer and CCO at Re:wild
- Dr. Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
- Giovanni Testino, founder of Art Partner
- Marina Testino, sustainability advocate
- Hans Ulrich Obrist, leading art curator and artistic director of the Serpentine Galleries
- Ferdinando Verderi, creative director
- Marcela Villafaña, Indigenous Arhuaco filmmaker
- Shaway Yeh, sustainable fashion pioneer
Through the Earth Partner Prize, Art Partner seeks to involve young people in discussing environmental matters by offering a high-visibility platform for emerging talent—especially from underrepresented communities.
Last year, the Earth Partner Prize drew more than 1,200 submissions from over 100 countries, showcasing creativity and environmental engagement of young artists around the world. Among the winners, Benson Apah (Nigeria) received the top award for his powerful project, The Last of Us. You can explore the full list of 2025 winners here.
