Last weekend, the awards returned to recognise individuals, organisations and initiatives making a difference to LGBTQ+ lives
Last Friday (20 March), the Gaydio Awards returned for its fourth year, recognising and celebrating the individuals, organisations and initiatives making a meaningful difference to LGBTQ+ lives across the UK.
This year’s ceremony was hosted at the Deansgate Hotel and saw 16 awards presented alongside a whole host of entertaining performances from the likes of X Factor Winner, Louisa Johnson; breakout girlband XO, viral music sensation MEEK and local drag star Bailey J Mills.
From grassroots activism to major cultural contributions, this year's winners reflected the passion and dedication driving progress for the LGBTQ+ community across the UK.
Among the night's most celebrated moments, the Lifetime Achievement Award supported by Tesco was presented to DJ Paulette, while the Gaydio Icon Award went to Ella Morgan. Coronation Street’s LGBTQ+ domestic abuse storyline received the Outstanding Entertainment Contribution award supported by Hayu, and JADE was named Music Artist of the Year supported by Stanley1913.
See the full list of this year’s award winners, from grassroots volunteers to pioneering charities, below.
2026 Gaydio Awards Winners
- Venue of the Year - Corset Club, recognising its importance as a community-led hub at the heart of Glasgow's queer scene.
- Event of the Year - Out & Wild Festival, celebrated for its commitment to creating the UK's most inclusive space for LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people.
- Enterprise Award - Grounded MCR, awarded for its unwavering commitment to inclusivity, affordability and community.
- Pride Network of the Year - BT Pride Network, for standing firmly behind LGBTQ+ colleagues and communities at a time when corporate support is under increasing pressure.
- Volunteer of the Year supported by Explore Worldwide! - Daniel Browne, with over a decade of dedication to Warwickshire Pride, Daniel has raised over £500,000 for the organisation.
- Charity of the Year - Not a Phase, for delivering vital, community-led support for trans+ adults across the UK through grants, peer groups and direct financial aid.
- Influencer of the Year supported by KAYAK - Alexis & Liam Blake, celebrated for their honest and deeply human insights into queer life across on their podcast, The Blake Debate, and on their social platforms.
- Pride Organisation of the Year supported by London Women's Clinic - Great Yarmouth & Waveney Pride, honoured for their resilience in delivering Pride in 2025 despite facing serious political opposition and far-right intimidation.
- Sports Club of the Year - Village Manchester FC, for nearly 30 years as a proudly trans inclusive and welcoming home for LGBTQ+ footballers.
- Queer Media Award - We'll Go Down In History, an honest and moving portrayal of trans joy and resilience through the story of trans football club TRUK United.
- Queer Arts & Culture Award supported by Skopes - Queer Britain Museum, for being the UK's first and only LGBTQ+ museum and a permanent home for queer history and stories.
- LGBTQ+ Podcast of the Year - The Pieces with Bimini, for keeping the community at the heart and amplifying queer voices across politics, culture and activism.
- Music Artist of the Year supported by Stanley1913* - JADE, awarded for her consistent championing of LGBTQ+ rights and trans visibility throughout her career.
- Outstanding Entertainment Contribution supported by Hayu* - Coronation Street's LGBTQ+ Domestic Abuse Storyline, a sensitive and honest portrayal of abuse in a same-sex relationship that sparked vital national conversations.
- Gaydio Icon Award - Ella Morgan, recognised for her tireless dedication to putting trans voices and visibility at the centre of her public platform.
- Lifetime Achievement Award supported by Tesco* - DJ Paulette, honoured for decades of creating safe, celebratory spaces for LGBTQ+ people through her iconic contribution to queer nightlife.
Kriss Herbert, Network Content Director at Gaydio said, “Four years on, the Gaydio Awards continue to uncover the incredible work happening in communities across the UK that might otherwise go unrecognised. This year’s winners – from volunteer organisers to pioneering charities, grassroots media to inclusive sports clubs – represent the best of what happens when the community comes together to create change. We’re incredibly proud to be shining a light on those who make such a difference and we can’t wait to do it all over again for our fifth year!”
For more information, head to gaydioawards.co.uk.
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