GLAAD Media Awards 2026 Honors Top LGBTQ Storytelling

HBO Max's "Heated Rivalry" and Netflix's "Stranger Things" among the big winners at the 37th annual ceremony.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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The 37th annual GLAAD Media Awards were held in Los Angeles, recognizing the best in LGBTQ media and storytelling over the past year. Highlights included HBO Max's "Heated Rivalry" winning Outstanding New TV Series, Netflix's "Stranger Things" and Apple TV's "Palm Royale" taking the top Drama and Comedy series prizes, and a range of film, documentary, and other category winners.

Why it matters

The GLAAD Media Awards serve as an important annual benchmark for progress in LGBTQ representation and inclusion across the entertainment industry. The awards honor fair, accurate, and inclusive LGBTQ stories, celebrating the creators and content that are moving the needle on visibility and understanding.

The details

The ceremony was hosted by Mean Girls actor Jonathan Bennett, with Quinta Brunson receiving the Vanguard Award and Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers taking home the Stephen F. Kolzak Award. Other notable winners included the films Kiss of the Spider Woman, A Nice Indian Boy, and Plainclothes, as well as the documentary Come See Me in the Good Light. The event will be streamed on Hulu starting March 21.

  • The 37th annual GLAAD Media Awards ceremony took place on Thursday, March 6, 2026.
  • Hulu will begin streaming the awards show on Saturday, March 21, 2026.

The players

Jonathan Bennett

The actor hosted the 2026 GLAAD Media Awards ceremony.

Quinta Brunson

The Abbott Elementary multihyphenate received the 2026 Vanguard Award.

Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers

The Las Culturistas podcasters were awarded the Stephen F. Kolzak Award for their work to eliminate homophobia.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, Grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

The GLAAD Media Awards continue to be an important platform for celebrating and uplifting LGBTQ stories and storytellers, recognizing the progress made while also highlighting the ongoing need for fair, accurate, and inclusive representation across media.