Heated Rivalry Wins Big at the 2026 GLAAD Media Awards, Stranger Things & The Traitors Won, Plus the Full Winners List & Photos

NEED TO KNOW

Heated Rivalry took home Outstanding New TV Series at the 37th annual GLAAD Media Awards, while Stranger Things won Outstanding Drama Series and Palm Royale claimed Outstanding Comedy Series.
The Traitors won Outstanding Reality Competition Program for the third consecutive time, and Abbott Elementary’s Quinta Brunson received the prestigious Vanguard Award.
The ceremony, hosted by Jonathan Bennett and opened with a Demi Lovato performance, will stream exclusively on Hulu beginning March 21.

The GLAAD Media Awards never fail to bring the energy, and Thursday night’s 37th annual ceremony at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles was no exception. Heated Rivalry, Stranger Things, and The Traitors were among the big winners at the GLAAD Media Awards Thursday night in Los Angeles. If your streaming queue isn’t already overflowing, consider this your sign.

The HBO Max/Crave phenomenon Heated Rivalry skated off with the Outstanding New TV Series prize. The show, which has quietly become one of the most talked-about series of the year, follows the love story of two professional hockey players, Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams. Creator Jacob Tierney accepted the award alongside his cast, and his speech was exactly the kind of moment GLAAD was built for.

37th Annual GLAAD Media Awards - Inside — BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 05: (L-R) Brendan Brady, Nadine Bhabha, Jacob Tierney, Connor Storrie, François Arnaud, Christina Chang, and Robbie G.K. accept an award onstage during the 37th Annual GLAAD Media Awards at The Beverly Hilton on March 05, 2026 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for GLAAD)

“Making queer art is hard. It’s hard to get it made. It’s hard to get it seen. I think a lot of us in this room know that and we owe so much to the shows that come before us,” Tierney said. Pucks down, trophies up.

Stranger Things won Outstanding Drama Series, an award accepted by Noah Schnapp. The fifth and final season of the Netflix sci-fi juggernaut went out on top — which, honestly, feels right. Apple TV+’s recently axed Palm Royale won for best comedy series. Getting canceled and then winning a GLAAD Award in the same season? That’s a very specific kind of Hollywood karma.

Over in reality TV land, The Traitors took Outstanding Reality Competition Program, an award accepted by cast members Chrishell Stause, Parvati Shallow, and Monet X Change. The Traitors has won in that same category at the Primetime Emmys the last two years running, making it the reigning queen of competitive reality. Bravo’s Southern Hospitality also took home Outstanding Reality Program, because apparently Bravo is just having a moment.

The show was hosted by Jonathan Bennett from the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Abbott Elementary star Quinta Brunson received the Vanguard Award, introduced by Scott Evans. “I want to thank GLAAD for honoring me with the Vanguard Award… and for being such big and amazing supporters of Abbott Elementary since we premiered Day One,” Brunson said in accepting the award.

The night also had its share of genuine emotion. Liza Minnelli received GLAAD’s Inaugural Liza Minnelli Storyteller Award in honor of her upcoming memoir Kids, Wait Till You Hear This! “I’m so glad to be here with you, all of you,” Minnelli said. “You make me so proud, ’cause you’re strong, and you stand up for what you believe in.”

GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis wasn’t here to mince words, either. “Here’s the real story,” she said. “LGBTQ people are parents. We are business leaders. Philanthropists and creators. People of every faith, race, class, and creed. We are America – a really, really well-dressed America… The truth is, America is with us. We see it in the total obsession with our stories: Heated Rivalry. Pluribus. Abbott Elementary. The Hunting Wives. The Traitors. Stranger Things. Even video games like ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows.’ These aren’t niche. They are global hits.”

Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers of Las Culturistas received the Stephen F. Kolzak Award, while the ceremony opened with a performance from Demi Lovato. On the film side, Kiss of the Spider Woman — Bill Condon’s adaptation starring Jennifer Lopez, Tonatiuh, and Diego Luna — won Outstanding Wide Theatrical Release.

The 37th GLAAD Media Awards will stream exclusively on Hulu beginning Saturday, March 21. Set your reminders, because you’re going to want to see Liza Minnelli’s entrance again.

THE 2026 WINNERS LIST and PHOTOS

Outstanding New TV Series
Heated Rivalry (HBO Max/Crave)

Outstanding Drama Series
Stranger Things (Netflix)

Outstanding Comedy Series
Palm Royale (Apple TV)

Outstanding Film – Wide Theatrical Release
Kiss of the Spider Woman (Roadside Attractions)

Outstanding Reality Program
Southern Hospitality (Bravo)

Outstanding Reality Competition Program
The Traitors (Peacock)

Outstanding TV Journalism Segment
“Community during fascism: Actress Laverne Cox on the importance of WorldPride in Trump’s D.C.” The Weekend (MS Now)

Outstanding Podcast
Handsome (Headgum)

Outstanding Podcast Episode
(TIE)
“Straight Panic, Gay Excellence” I’ve Had It (PodcastOne)
“Chappell Roan: Are People Scared of Me?” Call Her Daddy (The Unwell Network / SiriusXM)

Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
Wayward (Netflix)

Outstanding Film – Limited Theatrical Release
(TIE)
A Nice Indian Boy (Blue Harbor Entertainment)
Plainclothes (Magnolia Pictures)

Outstanding Film – Streaming or TV
Queen of Coal (Netflix)

Outstanding Documentary
Come See Me in the Good Light (Apple TV)

Outstanding Music Artist
Young Miko, Do Not Disturb (The Wave Music Group / Capitol Records)

Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist
Katseye (Hybe x Geffen Records)

Outstanding Broadway Production
Liberation, by Bess Wohl

Outstanding Video Game
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage (Don’t Nod)

Outstanding Comic Book
Avengers Academy: Marvel’s Voices, by Anthony Oliveira, Elsa Sjunneson, Carola Borelli, Bailie Rosenlund, Pablo Collar, Charles Stewart III, Alti Firmansyah, Minkyu Jung, KJ Díaz, Ruth Redmond, Dono Sánchez-Almara, Ariana Maher, Joe Caramagna (Marvel Infinity Comics)

Outstanding Original Graphic Novel/Anthology
Gaysians, by Mike Curato (Algonquin Books)

Outstanding Children’s Programming
Firebuds (Disney Jr.)

Outstanding Kids & Family Programming – Live Action
XO, Kitty (Netflix)

Outstanding Kids & Family Programming – Animated
Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake (HBO Max)

Outstanding Variety or Talk Show Episode
“Guest Host Alan Cumming on Attacks Against the Trans Community & Bringing Kindness Back in America” Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC)

Outstanding Magazine Overall Coverage
People

Outstanding TV Journalism – Long-Form
“A Transgender Marine Speaks Out” (NBC 7 San Diego)

Outstanding Online or Print Journalism Article
“As the first out trans person in Congress, Sarah McBride is ready to fight for us” by Christopher Wiggins (Advocate)

Outstanding Online Journalism – Video or Multimedia
“A Mother and Her Trans Teen Decide to Leave the U.S.” Text and Visuals by Sam Wolson, Illustrations by Lilli Carré (NewYorker.com)

Outstanding Independent Journalism
Under The Desk News with V Spehar

Barbara Gittings Award for Excellence in LGBTQ Media
Them

Special Recognition
The Drowsy Chaperone in Concert (Breaking the Binary Theatre)
Gaydar with Anania

Outstanding Scripted Television Series (Serie de Televisión con Guión Sobresaliente)
Mariliendre (Atresplayer)

Outstanding TV Journalism (Periodismo Televisivo Sobresaliente)
(TIE)
“Ni hombre, ni mujer: Intersexual” Noticias Telemundo (Telemundo)
“Orgullo 2025 Avances, Desafíos y Caminos” Spectrum Noticias (Spectrum)

Outstanding Online Journalism Article (Artículo sobresaliente de periodismo digital)
“My Coming Out Story” Quién [serie] (Quien.com)

Outstanding Online Journalism – Video or Multimedia (Periodismo digital sobresaliente: vídeo o multimedia)
“¿Tienes HIV, Mijo? A Mother’s Journey” Living y Ready (LatiNation)

Reconocimiento Especial
Andry José Hernández Romero
Before We Forget (Twenty Nine Palms Ent.)

Amber Glenn