What is the real per-recipient economic value?

USD 3,500,000 maximum. Award minimum: not published. Dilution/equity: none.

Which jurisdictions and applicants are eligible?

Global teams originally participated under XPRIZE rules. Current participation is restricted to teams advanced into the active rounds.

Track A: detect fires in one minute and characterize/report within ten minutes; Track B: autonomously detect and suppress a high-risk fire in a 1,000 km² zone within ten minutes; Real-world resilience with low false positives and safe operation

What burden or follow-on should I expect?

High-burden field testing under track rules, including detection/characterization timing and autonomous suppression tests. Milestone, grand and bonus prizes within the existing competition only.

XPRIZE Wildfire

$11 million prize purse; $3.5 million first prize in each main track · XPRIZE / PG&E / Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

XPRIZE Wildfire is a prize programme from XPRIZE / PG&E / Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation for Teams worldwide developing autonomous wildfire detection or response solutions and meeting the competition's track rules Current status: closed; Four-year global competition, 2023–2026; it is in finals/semifinals and no new-team window is open. Award economics: USD 3,500,000 maximum; dilution/equity: none.

Tier 1prizeglobalclimatenon-dilutive

Apply Official site Open in the live directory

Key facts

Funder	XPRIZE / PG&E / Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
Amount	$11 million prize purse; $3.5 million first prize in each main track
Decision time	Track-specific technical verification, semifinals and live finals testing; winners are scheduled in 2026.
Eligibility	Global teams originally participated under XPRIZE rules. Current participation is restricted to teams advanced into the active rounds.
Restrictions	High-burden field testing under track rules, including detection/characterization timing and autonomous suppression tests. Dilution/equity: none.
Status	closed

Always confirm on the official page before applying — dates and terms change.

Application process

Register and choose space-based detection or autonomous response
Pass qualification and technical verification
Advance through semifinals
Complete representative outdoor finals testing
Compete for track grand prizes and the detection bonus

Background

XPRIZE / PG&E / Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation operates XPRIZE Wildfire. The official-source pass separates the currently actionable opportunity from historical cohorts and separates per-recipient value from headline program envelopes. The official page names 2025/2026 finalist-team books and four Track-B finalists for Alaska testing.

How the application really works

Register and choose space-based detection or autonomous response → Pass qualification and technical verification → Advance through semifinals → Complete representative outdoor finals testing → Compete for track grand prizes and the detection bonus

Tips

Demonstrate: Track A: detect fires in one minute and characterize/report within ten minutes
Demonstrate: Track B: autonomously detect and suppress a high-risk fire in a 1,000 km² zone within ten minutes
Demonstrate: Real-world resilience with low false positives and safe operation

Watch out for

Current status is closed; do not use an archived form.
Dilution/equity treatment: none.
High-burden field testing under track rules, including detection/characterization timing and autonomous suppression tests.

Track record

The official page names 2025/2026 finalist-team books and four Track-B finalists for Alaska testing.

Finalist lists provide a strong revealed-preference signal; no overall rate is stated.

Frequently asked questions

Is this opportunity actionable now?: closed. Four-year global competition, 2023–2026; it is in finals/semifinals and no new-team window is open.
What is the real per-recipient economic value?: USD 3,500,000 maximum. Award minimum: not published. Dilution/equity: none.
Which jurisdictions and applicants are eligible?: Global teams originally participated under XPRIZE rules. Current participation is restricted to teams advanced into the active rounds.
How does selection work?: Register and choose space-based detection or autonomous response; Pass qualification and technical verification; Advance through semifinals; Complete representative outdoor finals testing; Compete for track grand prizes and the detection bonus. Track-specific technical verification, semifinals and live finals testing; winners are scheduled in 2026.
What appears to win?: Track A: detect fires in one minute and characterize/report within ten minutes; Track B: autonomously detect and suppress a high-risk fire in a 1,000 km² zone within ten minutes; Real-world resilience with low false positives and safe operation
What burden or follow-on should I expect?: High-burden field testing under track rules, including detection/characterization timing and autonomous suppression tests. Milestone, grand and bonus prizes within the existing competition only.

Sources

www.xprize.org/competitions/wildfire — Official status, $11m purse, $3.5m track grand prizes, track rules and schedule (checked 2026-08-10)