A Full Breakdown of How National Awards Spotlight Yorkshire’s LGBTQ+ Community

It’s that time of year again when the spotlight turns to the people making a real difference in local communities. The official shortlist for the highly-anticipated Gaydio Awards 2026 was announced on Friday 20th February, and it’s packed with incredible individuals and organisations from across the UK. Now in its fourth year, the event is all about celebrating the unsung heroes within the LGBTQ+ community. Forget just the big-name celebs; these awards focus on grassroots efforts, giving a massive thank you to the people working tirelessly behind the scenes. And the brilliant news? Yorkshire is representing, with three fantastic nominations making the final cut.

Celebrating the real heroes of the LGBTQ+ community

So, what are the Gaydio Awards all about? Think of them as a massive celebration of the people who create real change. It's an evening dedicated to honouring the local charities, dedicated individuals, and amazing organisations that work day in, day out to improve LGBTQ+ lives. These are the community members who are building safer, more inclusive spaces and driving progress from the ground up. The awards shine a light on this vital, and often unseen, work. Twelve of the sixteen categories were opened up to the public for nominations back in December 2025, giving everyone a chance to shout about the people making a difference in their queer community. It's a fantastic way to recognise the grassroots efforts that form the backbone of the wider LGBTQ+ community.

Yorkshire's time to shine

It’s always great to see local names getting national recognition, and this year, Yorkshire has plenty to be proud of. Three nominees from the region have made the prestigious shortlist, highlighting the amazing work happening right on our doorstep. Let's give them a massive round of applause!

• Alexis & Liam Blake - Nominated for Influencer of the Year.

• Johnathan Zemlik - The Wakefield-based creator is also nominated for Influencer of the Year.

• Happy Valley Pride - The Calderdale-based organisation is up for the coveted Pride Organisation of the Year award.

Having local heroes like these on the shortlist is a testament to the vibrant and active LGBTQ+ community in Yorkshire. Happy Valley Pride, in particular, has done incredible work in creating a celebrated and inclusive event that brings the entire community together. The winners will be announced at the ceremony, but getting nominated is a huge achievement in itself.

What's the big deal about these awards?

The Gaydio Awards are more than just a ceremony; they are a major event in the LGBTQ+ calendar. The shortlisted nominees will be honoured at a glitzy event on Friday 20th March 2026, at the Manchester Deansgate Hotel. The night is set to be a spectacular one, with performances from breakout girl group XO and drag superstar Bailey J Mills. Previous years have seen huge names like Raye and Sigala perform, with a guest list that included everyone from the cast of The Traitors to TV writer Russell T Davies. But it's not all about the glamour. The awards have become an important platform for amplifying LGBTQ+ voices. Last year, Russell T Davies' acceptance speech for the Icon Award sparked a national conversation, proving that the Gaydio Awards are a powerful force for celebrating the community and promoting activism.

A look at the full shortlist

While it’s brilliant to see Yorkshire locals in the running, they’re up against some stiff competition from across the UK. An independent panel of community judges had the tough job of whittling down all the public nominations to create the final shortlist. The winners for each of these categories will be revealed on the night.

• Venue of the Year – Corset Club; Eagle; Scene

• Event of the Year – Cardiff Lions Drag Rugby; Out and Wild Festival; Sparkle

• Enterprise Award – Bootyque; Grounded MCR; Queerify

• Pride Network of the Year – BT Pride Network; InterMediaUK; NSPCC PINCC Network; Tesco; Universal Media Group; Worldpay Pride Network

• Volunteer of the Year – Andrew Waite; Daniel Browne; Shell Buckle

• Charity of the Year – Not a Phase; Proud2bParents; Sahir

• Influencer of the Year – Alexis & Liam Blake; Ali Najjar & Adam Imber; Johnathan Zemlik

• Pride Organisation of the Year – Great Yarmouth & Waveney Pride; Happy Valley Pride; Trans Pride Brighton

• Sports Club of the Year – Ishigaki Jujitsu; London Royals Hockey Club; Village Manchester FC

• Queer Media Award – Dear Viv; Koupeopia; We'll Go Down In History

• Queer Arts & Culture Award – BFI Flare; Queer Britain Museum; Queer East

• LGBTQ+ Podcast of the Year – Proudly Said; The Gossip Gays; The Pieces with Bimini

On top of these, special awards like Music Artist of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award will also be announced on the night, making for a very exciting evening for the whole LGBTQ community.

Who decides the winners?

The panel of judges who selected the shortlist is seriously impressive, bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge from across the queer community. The panel includes Annie Wallace, known for her role in Hollyoaks and her 30 years of LGBTQ+ activism. She's joined by Char Bailey, an award-winning activist and Director of Birmingham Pride, and Conor Clark, a prominent LGBTQ+ journalist. Also on the panel are Lars Fellows, a media contributor and community advocate, and Matthew Chew, a marketing expert and co-chair of WPP's LGBTQIA+ network, Unite, which previously won at the British Diversity Awards. Having such respected judges ensures that the winners truly represent the best of the best, from pioneering charities to the most impactful LGBTQ+ media.

The awards are a fantastic reminder of the incredible work happening all the time in communities everywhere. As 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 shortlist - from volunteer organisers to pioneering charities, grassroots media to inclusive sports clubs represents the best of what happens when the community come together to create change. We can't wait to honour our nominees on the night.” The final winners will be revealed at the ceremony on Friday 20th March, so be sure to keep an eye out for the results.