Make your voice heard today!
BY ELLA GAUCI
Calling all DIVAs! It’s that time of year again. We want to hear which LGBTQIA+ trailblazers and allies you think should take home a DIVA Award. With 13 categories spotlighting the incredible changemakers shaping our community, it’s sure to be a night to remember.
Since the inaugural DIVA Awards in 2017, the evening has become a night to platform the work of our community. Since its establishment in 2017 by LGBTQIA+ activist and trailblazer Linda Riley, the DIVA Awards have played a vital role in championing queer visibility. Headline sponsored by Deutsche Bank, the DIVA Awards 2026 are set to be our biggest celebration of LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people yet.
Last year, I Kissed A Girl, Pearl Mackie and Vicky Myers all won big at the DIVA Awards.The 2025 DIVA Awards were hosted by power couple Char Bailey and Megan Jayne Crabbe, with special performance from The Cocoa Butter Club.
Want to have your say about who should be taking home a DIVA Award this year? You can vote now! Voting closes 20 March.
Here is the complete shortlist for the DIVA Awards 2026:
Media Moment Award
- EastEnders – Suki and Eve’s adoption story
- I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! – Alex Scott MBE
- Mighty Hoopla Festival 2025 – Kesha and the Trans Voices Choir
- The Traitors – Amanda Collier
- What It Feels Like For A Girl
- Women’s Rugby World Cup Final 2025
Icon Award
- Cat Burns
- Heather Peace
- jane fae
- Miriam Margolyes
- Rita Hirani & DJ Ritu
- Tabs Benjamin
Sport Award
- Amanda Wah
- Cindy Ngamba
- Football v Homophobia
- Kerstin Casparij
- Lionesses
- Red Roses
Changemaker Award
- Claire Harvey MBE
- Dee Whitnell
- Laïla El-Métoui
- Marty Davies
- Olivia Campbell-Cavendish
- Yasmin Benoit
Creator Award
- Amy Spalding
- GK Barry
- CurvyBlackWitch (Janae Owyn)
- Jessica Kellgren-Fozard
- Megan Jayne Crabbe
- Oscar Davies
Community Initiative Award
- Biscuit
- Black Queers Connect
- Glitter Cymru
- London Dyke Market
- London Trans+ Pride
- Trans is Human
Diversity Champion Award
- Adelle Barker
- Carla Ecola
- Dame Julia Hoggett
- Ella Slade
- Tolu Osinubi
- Zan Kaufman
Ally Award
- Alison King
- Balvinder Sopal
- David Tennant
- Jolyon Maugham
- Sophie Ellis-Bextor
- Suranne Jones
Writer Award
- Ellen Jones
- Hafsa Qureshi
- Isabella Dorta
- Joelle Taylor
- Paula Akpan
- Travis Alabanza
Inspirational Role Model Award
- Dani St James
- Lynne Nicholls
- Mzz Kimberley
- Polly Shute
- Rebecca Paisis
- Sally Carr MBE
Innovation Award
- Erica Rose
- Luciana Cousin
- OutSavvy
- PrideMantra
- Voda
- Zoteria
LGBTQA+ Network Champion Award
- Alessia Cavallini
- Bobbie Saxon
- Ema Nielson-Gee
- Mélissa Brette Ogée
- Sam Fresa
- Tanya Agarwal
Love media made by and for LGBTQIA+ women and gender diverse people? Then you’ll love DIVA. We’ve been spotlighting the community for over 30 years. Here’s how you can get behind queer media and keep us going for another generation: linkin.bio/ig-divamagazine
Did you know that DIVA has now become a charity? Our magazine is published by the DIVA Charitable Trust. You can find out more about the organisation and how you can offer your support here: divacharitabletrust.com