The World Around
Application deadline: June 30, 2026
On the occasion of Earth Day 2026, global nonprofit organization The World Around announces that applications are open for the third cycle of its Young Climate Prize, an accelerator that supports the next generation of designers living and working on the front lines of the climate crisis.
Each program cycle, a cohort of young people aged 25 and under leading impactful, self-initiated climate action projects is selected through a free-to-enter open call. Each participant is paired with a mentor whose experience, expertise, and network can help advance their initiatives through one-on-one sessions. Alongside personalized mentorship, the full cohort joins the Young Climate Prize Design Academy: a weekly series of masterclasses designed to help them develop their personal and professional skills, as well as strengthen, scale, and deepen the impact of their projects.
Leading the Design Academy’s masterclasses are members of The World Around’s global community of educators, designers, and curators, including Paola Antonelli, Al Borde, Humberto Campana, Douglas Cardinal, Aric Chen, Vishaan Chakrabarti, Carson Chan, Eva Franch i Gilabert, Mariam Issoufou, Bruce Mau, Ewan McEoin, Salima Naji, Dominique Petit-Frère, and Alice Rawsthorn. Full list of confirmed participants here.
At the end of the program, an international jury will convene to select the cycle’s three winners—the Young Climate Designer, Young Climate Visionary, and Young Climate Voice—who will travel to New York City to present their projects at The World Around Summit 2027.
All Young Climate Prize cohort members transition into the Young Climate Prize Fellowship upon completion of the prize cycle, joining a structured three-year program that provides ongoing support, resources, and opportunities to develop, implement, and scale their work within The World Around’s global network.
Eligibility criteria
–Applicants must be between the ages of 13 and 25 at the time of application
–Groups of a maximum of three may enter. Each group member must meet the eligibility criteria
–Applicants can be located anywhere in the world
–Applicants must be the founder or co-founder of a live project with demonstrable impact in addressing or mitigating the impacts of climate change in their community. They must be actively leading the project at the time of application
–Eligible projects may span a wide range of climate-related issues, sectors, and creative practices, with a particular emphasis on design as a driver of climate solutions
Submission requirements
–Entry to and participation in the prize is free
–Applicants must share a short video introducing their project and accompanying written or visual materials that show evidence of their work and its impact
–Submissions are accepted in English or Spanish
–Deadline for applications is June 30, 2026, at 11:59pm EDT
What participants gain
–Direct access to leading voices in design, climate, and culture
–Tools for storytelling, communication, and public engagement
–Strategic guidance on scaling and strengthening their projects
–A global peer network of young climate leaders
–The opportunity to travel to New York City and present their work on stage
–Participation in Young Climate Prize Fellowship for three years beyond the program
Apply to Young Climate Prize Cycle 03 here. The World Around also welcomes nominations here. More information about the program, application guidance, and answers to frequently asked questions can be found on the Young Climate Prize website.
Young Climate Prize is supported by Design Partner MillerKnoll, Initiative Partner OBEL, and Academic Partner The Architectural Association. The World Around is grateful to its Institutional Partners for Young Climate Prize Cycle 03: Climate Film Festival, Grace Farms, Sweetwater Foundation, waiwai, and World Water Film Festival. For inquiries about the Young Climate Prize, please contact: inquiries[at]theworldaround.org.
