The 2012 Goldman Environmental Prize ceremony will take place on Monday, April 16 at the San Francisco Opera House.

The Goldman Environmental Prize recipients are honored every April at the Goldman Environmental Prize ceremony in San Francisco, California, and again in Washington D.C. The ceremonies celebrate and present to the world the outstanding accomplishments of the grassroots environmental leaders who come from the far reaches of the globe to receive their prizes. A special youth program motivates future generations of environmentalists. Following the ceremonies, guests are invited to meet the Prize recipients at an informal reception.

The San Francisco ceremony is held at the War Memorial Opera House, the historic and beautiful home to the San Francisco Opera and Ballet, built in 1932. Over 3,000 people attend the always packed, emotion-filled event. Later that week, Prize recipients fly to the east coast for the ceremony in Washington D.C., hosted by the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. At the ceremonies, short documentary films provide an introduction to the Prize recipients and their accomplishments. A member of the Goldman family presents the recipients with their Ouroboros Prize statuettes, and the recipients address the audience. Attendance to both the San Francisco and Washington D.C. ceremonies is by invitation only.

During their Prize tour recipients meet with influential organizations, policy-makers, and the press. Key decision-makers host events to honor them. In the past Prize recipients have been received by members of the US Congress, the President of the United States, the World Bank, and ambassadors from various countries. Typically, a Goldman Prize nominating organization hosts a reception attended by Washington D.C.-based environmental organizations to pay tribute to the recipients and celebrate their environmental achievements.

The Goldman Environmental Prize greatly appreciates the many diverse organizations and individuals that have supported and recognized the growing family of Prize recipients.