As Rolex celebrates the 50th anniversary of its unique Awards programme, the brand is pleased to announce five new Laureates for 2026. Hailing from Indonesia, Nigeria, Peru, China and the United States, this year’s Laureates are five women who represent a truly international effort to protect the planet for generations to come.

The impactful new programme is an evolution of the Rolex Awards. Since their foundation in 1976 to mark the 50th anniversary of the first waterproof wristwatch produced by Rolex, the Oyster, the Awards have supported 165 Laureates, whose projects have had a profound impact across over 67 countries.

The tangible benefits of the Laureates’ projects are directly related to the environment, with more than 50 million trees planted; 137 endangered species and 32 major ecosystems protected, including 57,600 square kilometres of Amazon rainforest; hundreds of new species discovered; 25 challenging expeditions completed; and 50 innovative technologies developed for a range of applications. 

Millions of people across the world have benefitted from the Laureates’ award-winning projects over the past 50 years. Rolex supports the work of its Laureates on the long term and stands by their side long after they receive their Award, by providing them help, guidance and access to the Perpetual Planet Initiative’s extensive network of experts in their respective fields.

For the 50th anniversary of the Rolex Awards, Rolex has renamed the programme the Rolex Awards. Part of the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, the revamped programme aims to increase the brand’s positive impact of its continuous support in the fields of environmental conservation, science, health and technology. The Rolex Awards will now run annually rather than biannually.
To win a Rolex Award requires an original, visionary project aligned with the programme’s key categories, that can benefit humanity and/or the planet, along with the skills and determination to implement it. 

The projects are judged on their originality and the impact they have on the world at large, as well as on the candidates’ leadership skills.

The Rolex Awards are managed at the company’s headquarters in Geneva. The applications, which can be submitted in English, Spanish or Chinese, are selected by Rolex and assessed with the help of experts in relevant fields.

On the 100th anniversary of the Oyster wristwatch, the 2026 Laureates and their respective projects highlight Rolex’s dedication to a Perpetual Planet and the evolution of the Awards programme since its inception half a century ago.
From applying innovative technologies to prevent virus outbreaks in West Africa to protecting a unique rainforest ecosystem in Indonesia, Rolex is honoured to support these innovative projects. 

THE 2026 LAUREATES

Binbin Li 
Protecting wild pandas
There are fewer than 2,000 giant pandas living in the wild, and they favour the mountainous bamboo forests of central China, but so do free-ranging livestock. Environmental scientist Binbin Li is working with local communities to create a sustainable approach to livestock grazing – benefitting their economies, whilst also protecting the panda and its habitat. The Rolex Award will help Li implement and scale up solutions across several mountain ranges throughout China.

Farwiza Farhan
Defending a forest in Sumatra
The Leuser Ecosystem of Sumatra, Indonesia, is the last place on earth where elephants, tigers, orangutans and rhinoceros still coexist in the wild – but it is under persistent pressure from development and deforestation. Forest conservationist Farwiza Farhan has successfully mobilized local communities and led numerous campaigns against the destruction of the ecosystem. The Rolex Award will help continue her work enabling women and grassroots communities to monitor and defend their unique ecosystem, demonstrating that local voices can and should be at the forefront of environmental decision-making.

Pardis Sabeti
Preventing epidemics
Medical geneticist Pardis Sabeti has been at the frontline of fighting virus outbreaks and potential pandemics in West Africa for decades. She is applying pioneering technologies and algorithms to the detection and containment of infectious diseases, and her skills are instrumental in training local partners in the countries closest to potential outbreaks. The Rolex Award will allow her to develop and test a new, portable diagnostic tool in remote communities in Sierra Leone, with the potential to catch viral outbreaks before they spread to large populations, saving millions of lives.

Rachel Ikemeh
Mobilizing community-led conservation in Nigeria
Credited with bringing the Niger Delta red colobus monkey back from the brink of extinction, Rachel Ikemeh inspires community-led conservation. Her innovative approach involves and equips communities in the Delta – a little-studied biodiversity hotspot and the heart of Nigeria’s oil industry – and has successfully allowed her to protect over 5,839 hectares of forest and at least 13 threatened species, while improving the livelihoods of more than 2,500 people. The Rolex Award will support her in building a new training hub and mobile education programme in the Delta, helping to recreate her success throughout neighbouring communities.

Rosa Vásquez Espinoza
Saving bees to protect the Amazon
Chemical biologist Rosa Vásquez Espinoza was the first to scientifically link deforestation in the Amazon with the decline of stingless bees – a critical pollinator of endemic plant species, benefitting livelihoods by securing food production. Her research significantly contributed to a landmark case in Peru, which resulted in the legal protection of stingless bees. The Rolex Award will allow her to expand an indigenous-led corridor of protected stingless bee habitats throughout the northern Amazon.

Over the coming months, Rolex will publish each Laureate’s story in full, helping them raise awareness of the crucial issues they are tackling.

ABOUT THE PERPETUAL PLANET INITIATIVE
Rolex celebrates human achievement, recognizing journeys marked by milestones and emotions that culminate in defining moments.

For nearly a century, Rolex has supported pioneering explorers to help them achieve countless historic feats. Over time, the company has moved from championing exploration for the sake of discovery to protecting the planet. Through the Perpetual Planet Initiative, Rolex stands alongside those building a better future for all life on earth.

The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative was launched in 2019 and now has a portfolio of more than 30 partners and 165 Laureates of the Rolex Awards, active in three main focus areas: Oceans; Landscapes; and Science, Health and Technology.

For the Oceans, Rolex supports a wide range of projects such as Mission Blue and Coral Gardeners as well as Testimonees, including Sylvia Earle, Cristina Mittermeier and Paul Nicklen.