AceShowbiz - The 37th annual GLAAD Media Awards took place on Thursday in Los Angeles, celebrating outstanding LGBTQ representation in television. This year’s ceremony recognized nearly 300 nominees across more than 30 categories, emphasizing fair and inclusive storytelling.

Among the top winners was the HBO Max series Heated Rivalry, a groundbreaking gay hockey drama that secured the award for Outstanding New TV Series. The show’s win continues its impressive momentum within the industry, marking a significant milestone for LGBTQ narratives in sports-themed programming.

Netflix’s acclaimed sci-fi series Stranger Things was honored with the Outstanding Drama Series award, further solidifying its status as a cultural phenomenon. Meanwhile, Apple TV’s recently cancelled comedy Palm Royale took home the award for Outstanding Comedy Series, highlighting its critical acclaim despite its short run.

In the reality TV categories, Peacock’s strategic competition show The Traitors earned the Outstanding Reality Competition Program award. Bravo’s Southern Hospitality won Outstanding Reality Program, showcasing the network’s continued strength in this genre.

The ceremony was hosted by Jonathan Bennett, known for his role in Mean Girls, who guided the evening with charm and wit. Notable honors included the Vanguard Award presented to Quinta Brunson, star of the hit series Abbott Elementary. The Stephen F. Kolzak Award was bestowed upon podcasters Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers for their impactful contributions to LGBTQ visibility.

Adding to the festivities, pop superstar Demi Lovato opened the show with a powerful performance of their hit song “Kiss,” setting an energetic tone for the event. The awards ceremony will be available for streaming exclusively on Hulu starting Saturday, March 21.

Below is a detailed overview of the television winners at the 2026 GLAAD Media Awards:

Outstanding Drama Series nominees included NBC’s Brilliant Minds, Apple TV’s The Buccaneers and Severance, Disney+’s Doctor Who, HBO’s The Gilded Age and The Last of Us, Starz’s Power Book III: Raising Kanan, Netflix’s The Sandman, Showtime’s Yellowjackets, and the winner, Netflix’s Stranger Things.

For Outstanding Comedy Series, contenders ranged from ABC’s Abbott Elementary, Hulu’s Big Boys, CBS’s Ghosts, HBO’s Hacks and The Righteous Gemstones, Prime Video’s Hazbin Hotel and Overcompensating, Apple TV’s Loot and the winner Palm Royale, to Netflix’s Survival of the Thickest and The Upshaws.

The Outstanding New TV Series category featured competitive titles such as Netflix’s Boots, Hulu’s Chad Powers and Mid-Century Modern, Prime Video’s Clean Slate and Overcompensating, Apple TV’s Pluribus, and HBO’s I Love LA. The winner was HBO Max’s Heated Rivalry, which stood out for its fresh perspective and authentic storytelling.

In Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, the winner was Netflix’s Wayward, chosen from a strong field including Netflix’s The Beast in Me, Apple TV’s Chief of War and Prime Target, Peacock’s Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy, Mubi’s Hal & Harper, and Britbox’s Lost Boys and Fairies and Mr Loverman.

The Outstanding Film – Streaming or TV award went to Netflix’s Queen of Coal, competing against diverse titles such as Netflix’s 10Dance, Apple TV’s Echo Valley, Amazon MGM Studios’ Hedda, Hallmark Channel’s The Christmas Baby and A Keller Christmas Vacation, Paramount+’s Noah’s Arc: The Movie, Prime Video’s Oh. What. Fun., Netflix’s The Old Guard 2, and HBO Max’s The Parenting.

Reality television also saw notable winners. Peacock’s The Traitors won Outstanding Reality Competition Program, beating out popular shows like NBC’s American Ninja Warrior, ABC’s Dancing With the Stars, Hulu’s I Kissed a Boy and I Kissed a Girl, MTV’s RuPaul’s Drag Race, and others.

Bravo’s Southern Hospitality took Outstanding Reality Program, selected from a competitive pool that included Magnolia Network’s Back to the Frontier, BET+’s House on Fire, TLC’s Jay & Pamela, Prime Video’s June Farms, Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum and Selling Sunset, Bravo’s Southern Charm, and Netflix’s The Ultimatum: Queer Love.

In children’s programming, Disney Jr.’s Firebuds won Outstanding Children’s Programming. The Outstanding Kids & Family Programming – Live Action category was won by Netflix’s XO, Kitty, while HBO Max’s Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake earned Outstanding Kids & Family Programming – Animated.

The award for Outstanding Variety or Talk Show Episode went to ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! for a guest host segment by Alan Cumming addressing attacks on the trans community and promoting kindness.

Finally, the Outstanding Documentary award was given to Apple TV’s Come See Me in the Good Light, chosen from a diverse selection including Netflix’s Amy Bradley Is Missing and I’m Your Venus, HBO’s Enigma, and others.

The GLAAD Media Awards continue to spotlight the importance of authentic LGBTQ representation across all media forms. With a broad range of winners spanning scripted drama and comedy, reality TV, children’s programming, and documentaries, this year’s event reaffirmed the commitment to diversity and inclusion in entertainment.

Fans and industry insiders can look forward to streaming the full ceremony on Hulu starting March 21, providing an opportunity to celebrate the stories and creators that are shaping a more inclusive media landscape.