The GALAS, Ireland’s annual awards ceremony celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, hosted its 2026 edition on Saturday, October 3. Organised by the National LGBTQ+ Federation (NXF) and Gay Community News (GCN), the event boasted 16 categories recognising outstanding accomplishments in areas including activism, arts and entertainment, allyship, sports, journalism, business and more.

The Dublin Royal Convention Centre at the Radisson Blu Hotel once again housed the ceremony, as proceedings were led by the dynamic hosts, broadcaster and columnist Louise McSharry and comedian and actor Michael Fry. Together, they expertly guided the audience through the night, presenting each award recipient with their trophy to rapturous applause.

If that wasn’t enough, there was additional entertainment from various special guests during the 2026 GALAS ceremony. Dublin Gay Men’s Chorus kicked things off with a beautiful performance, while Glória LGBT+ Choir returned to The GALAS stage once again just before the interval. After the break, the room was treated to a selection of songs from indie folk musician Ailbhe Reddy, while DJ Glamo commanded the decks for the after-party.

As usual, the LGBTQ+ community showed up in style, serving statement looks and eye-catching glamour. From stiletto boots to power suits, attendees certainly rose to the occasion, leaving little to be desired.

Perhaps the biggest honour of the night, Person of the Year, was awarded to Kate Moynihan. The Corkonian stepped down as CEO of LINQ Ireland earlier this year, after 13 years of service. Under her leadership, the organisation provided a vital space for lesbian, bi and queer women, as well as trans and non-binary people, and continues to thrive as she handed over the reins. For 2026, the Person of the Year category was decided by public vote, as was the Arts & Entertainment award.

There was a brand-new category introduced this year, the Pride of Ireland award. It was devised in response to the growing number of nominations for Pride organisations and events, as a way to appropriately celebrate the incredible work they do. Navan Pride was the inaugural recipient, recognised for its fabulous 2026 festival.

Two special recognitions were also presented during the night, the first being the Honorary Legislative Achievement Award. This went to Labour TD Ged Nash for his contribution to securing disregard legislation for men who were affected by Ireland’s historic laws criminalising homosexuality.

The second was a special Lifetime Achievement recognition. This was awarded posthumously to Dominic McGreal, a lifelong activist, community leader, artist, and historian. Dominic passed away in May, leaving behind a legacy of advocating for people who are deaf and hard-of-hearing, fostering a stronger sense of community, visibility and belonging.

Reflecting on the ceremony, The NXF Chair, Matt Dunne, said: “The record number of nominations we received this year is a powerful reflection of the extraordinary work taking place across Ireland’s LGBTQ+ community. The GALAS give us an opportunity to celebrate that contribution, from campaigners and volunteers to artists, organisations and allies, and to recognise the people who are helping to build a more inclusive Ireland. As Chair of NXF, I am enormously proud that we can bring our community together to celebrate their achievements.”

GCN’s Managing Editor Stefano Pappalardo added: “The GALAS are a rare chance for all of us to really pause and take a moment to acknowledge the people, organisations, clubs, groups, companies and allies that make Ireland such a vibrant and inclusive place for the LGBTQ+ community and for all. They are a wonderful reminder of our strength, of our resilience and that there is huge power in unity and solidarity.

“A big thank you to our sponsors, supporters, our event partner Catapult, the shortlisting organisations, our wonderful hosts Louise and Michael and everyone who made it all possible. We are especially grateful as The GALAS play a huge part in supporting GCN’s mission, helping ensure we remain a free, trusted, and independent resource for the community. Big congrats to all the winners and those shortlisted, we hope you all had a fantastic night.”

The full list of nominees and award recipients for The GALAS 2026 is as follows:

Community Organisation (Paid Staff)
Sponsored by Grant Thornton
Belong To
Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre
TENI (Transgender Equality Network Ireland)
The Rainbow Project (Award recipient)

Community Organisation (Volunteer Staff)
Sponsored by Dublin City Council
Intersex Ireland
LGBT+ Restorative Justice Campaign (Award recipient)
Trans Limerick Community

Volunteer of the Year
Sponsored by Accenture
Áine Reynolds
David Rinehart
Kieran Rose
Lorelei Fox-Roberts (Award recipient)

Event of the Year
Sponsored by Catapult
Béar Féile 2026
Dublin Dyke March 2026 (Award recipient)
LGBT Ireland’s 5th Annual Pride Healthcare Conference
The Lynch Cup 2025

Joe Drennan LGBTQ+ Young Trailblazer
Sponsored by Community Foundation Ireland
Beth Clancy (Award recipient)
Ciara Kelly
Matthew Colgan
Seán Flood

Sports
Sponsored by Sky
Blake Coe
Fionn Collins
Na Gaeil Aeracha (Award recipient)
Shamrock Sióga

Arts & Entertainment (Public vote)
Sponsored by Mason Hayes & Curran
Aoife Doolan – Síle na Gig Float Project (Award recipient)
Cara Holmes – Lesbian Lines
Dakota Mode
Joe Caslin

Pride of Ireland
Sponsored by Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre
Cork Community Pride
Heartlands Pride
Navan Pride (Award recipient)
Thomastown Pride
Trans Pride Limerick

Noel Walsh HIV Activism
Sponsored by Mother
Ciaran Hanniffy
Heartlands Pride HIV Panel Discussion
Plus Friends
Rebecca Tallon de Havilland (Award recipient)

LGBTQ+ Ally
Sponsored by Broadlake
Eve Kerton
Fiona Finn (Award recipient)
Michelle Jinks
National Museum of Ireland

Outstanding Company (50+ employees)
Sponsored by KPMG
A&L Goodbody LLP (Award recipient)
Just Eat Ireland
Mason Hayes & Curran LLP
Women’s Aid

Outstanding Small Business (<50 employees)
Sponsored by An Post
Bella Vision Ltd
Certified Proud (Award recipient)
Gender Plus
Insight Matters

LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group
Sponsored by Dublin Bus
Dublin City Council LGBTQ+ Committee (Award recipient)
EY Unity Network
Proud to Work for Ireland Network (PWIN)
Sky Ireland LGBTQ+ Network

Emerging Journalist
Sponsored by Coimisiún na Meán​
Azmia Riaz
Jade Wilson
Mia Poland (Award recipient)
Zainab Boladale

​Person of the Year (Public vote)
Sponsored by EY
Christine O’Mahony
Dr El Reid-Buckley
Kate Moynihan (Award recipient)
Moninne Griffith

Honorary Legislative Achievement
Ged Nash

Lifetime Achievement
Dominic McGreal

Set up in 2009, The GALAS is organised by the NXF and GCN. It serves as GCN’s largest fundraising event, allowing it to continue its legacy as Ireland’s free, independent LGBTQ+ media.

The GALAS 2026 would not have been possible without the support of all organisers, contributors, attendees and sponsors. A special thank you goes to our platinum sponsors Catapult, Dublin Bus, Dublin City Council, Grant Thornton and Sky; our sponsors Accenture, An Post, Broadlake, Coimisiún na Meán, Community Foundation Ireland, EY, KPMG, Mason Hayes & Curran, Mother and Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre; and our supporters Amnesty International, Belong To LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland, Creative Technology, Dublin LGBTQ+ Pride, Front Line Defenders, Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Nassau Clinic, the National LGBTQ+ Federation, Protocol, Queer Hawk and The Adult Autism & ADHD Practice.