Nomination submissions are open for Gayming Awards 2026
Returning for its sixth year, the Gayming Awards, the world’s only LGBTQ geek culture award show, is confirmed to continue broadcasting exclusively on World of Wonder’s WOW Presents Plus worldwide on Monday June 8th, 2026. Nomination submissions are now open to the public in 11 of the 14 Award categories.
From content creators to characters, industry professionals to LGBTQ+ stories, indie games to entertainment shows – the Gayming Awards celebrates all facets of queer geek culture. The 2026 Awards will be the most fan-powered Gayming Awards yet with nearly every category being open for public voting so fans all around the world can make their voices heard.
New for 2026, the Gayming Awards are celebrating LGBTQ+ content creators with a special suite of Awards called the Gayming Awards Creator Honors. These four awards will set out to celebrate and uplift LGBTQ+ gaming content creators of all levels from global superstars to up and coming rising stars.
The Gayming Awards will premiere Monday June 8th, 2026, exclusively on WOW Presents Plus. The awards show airs alongside World of Wonder’s extensive catalogue of award-winning original programming, the entire international Drag Race franchise, World of Wonder-produced documentary films, and licensed content such as the powerful new documentary The Little Pageant that Could and the iconic BBC series Absolutely Fabulous.
Robin Gray, Gayming Magazine & Gayming Awards Founder, said: “I’m so excited about the Gayming Awards returning to World of Wonder’s WOW Presents Plus network globally. We had a blast last year with them, and we’re delighted to be asked back for 2026! I say this every year, but this year’s Gayming Awards will truly be the biggest ever with more categories, our new Gayming Awards Creator Honors suite, and a bigger VIP event in June, right alongside Summer Game Fest. I can’t wait to see who the public put forward and who will make it into the official nominee list.”
Highlights from the Awards will be shared across Gayming’s social media accounts where people can see the key moments unfold and successes celebrated.
To capture all aspects of queer geek culture, there are 14 categories covering games, games makers, community groups, esports, voice actors and geek entertainment. Plus, the new Gayming Awards Creator Honors suite of Awards celebrates LGBTQ+ content creators of all sizes with detailed entry requirements for each Award available at gaymingawards.com/categories.
Fans all around the world will be able to have their voices heard more this year with public voting and nominations submissions in nearly all categories. A panel of judges will also continue to provide their expert opinions and will share voting control 50%-50% with the public in most categories.
The full 14 categories of the Gayming Awards 2025 are as follows:
- Game of the Year
- Gayming Icon Award
- Fan Favorite Award
- Best LGBTQ+ Character Award
- Best LGBTQ+ Indie Game Award
- Industry Diversity Award
- Community Impact Award
- Best LGBTQ+ Contribution to Esports Award – sponsored by Valencia Gay Games 2026
- LGBTQ+ Voice Actor of the Year Award
- Queer Geek Entertainment of the Year Award – sponsored by Q Care Plus
- Gayming Awards Creator Honors
- LGBTQ+ Content Creator Superstar Award
- LGBTQ+ Content Creator of the Year Award
- LGBTQ+ Breakout Creator of the Year Award
- LGBTQ+ Streamer Rising Star Class of 2026
Nomination submissions are now OPEN in 11 of these 14 categories – to have your say, head to gaymingawards.com/nominate to submit your favorites for consideration. Nomination submissions close on February 21, 2026.
The Gayming Awards 2025 are sponsored by Q Care Plus and Valencia Gay Games 2026, and supported by World of Wonder and the Gayming Foundation. More sponsors and supporters will be revealed soon.
Sponsorship opportunities are available at all levels. For more information on how brands can align with this culturally significant and unique opportunity, please email sponsorship@grayjonesmedia.com.
For more information on everything Gayming Awards, head to gaymingawards.com and follow Gayming Magazine on all socials @gaymingmag
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