‘Heated Rivalry,’ Jonathan Bailey, Cynthia Erivo and Bella Ramsey Among Queerties 2026 Nominations (EXCLUSIVE)

The 14th annual Queerties Awards have unveiled a star-studded slate of nominees, with Jonathan Bailey, Cynthia Erivo, Bella Ramsey, and Reneé Rapp recognized alongside established icons like Lady Gaga and Colman Domingo. The film categories feature strong showings from "Wicked: For Good," "The Wedding Banquet," and "Kiss of the Spider Woman," while television contenders include acclaimed series such as HBO's "The Last of Us" and "The White Lotus," alongside Apple TV's "Severance" and Netflix's "Loot."

Public voting for the awards, which are produced by Q.Digital, opens on January 20. Fans can cast one vote per day in each category through February 17, with the winners set to be announced at a ceremony in Los Angeles this March. The event's host and additional honorees will be named in the coming weeks. Scott Gatz, CEO of Q.Digital, emphasized the awards' community-driven purpose, stating, "The Queerties gives voice to the LGBTQ+ community. It’s the pop culture awards show where queer people honor the best of the best." Media analyst Dr. Lena Cho notes that such platform-specific awards are increasingly vital for recognizing diverse storytelling that mainstream ceremonies often overlook.

This year's nominations span 25 unique categories, celebrating achievements from film and television to music, digital media, and theater. Notable breakout categories include "Next Big Thing," which highlights upcoming projects like the "Heartstopper" special on Netflix and the long-awaited "Practical Magic 2," and "Anthem," featuring new tracks from Lady Gaga and Chappell Roan. The "Drag Royalty" category showcases performers from "RuPaul's Drag Race" alumnae like Aja and Utica Queen to viral sensation Brigitte Bandit.

The Queerties have seen significant growth in participation, building on the momentum of last year's event, which drew nearly two million votes and was hosted by Bob the Drag Queen—the stage persona of performer Caldwell Tidicue, who won the eighth season of "RuPaul's Drag Race." This expansion reflects a broader cultural shift toward dedicated platforms for LGBTQ+ recognition in entertainment.

Other highlighted categories feature a mix of emerging and established talent. In "Podcast," favorites like Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers' "Las Culturistas" are nominated, while "Theater" includes Cole Escola's critically acclaimed off-Broadway hit "Oh Mary!" The full list of nominees is available below, offering a comprehensive snapshot of the queer creative community's most impactful work of the past year.