The GALAS, Ireland’s annual awards honouring the LGBTQ+ community, have just unveiled the shortlists for 2026. The award ceremony is set to take place in the Dublin Royal Convention Centre at the Radisson Blu Hotel on Saturday, October 3, and tickets for the night are now on sale! What’s more, this year, two of the categories will be open for public vote, so our audience can have their say in choosing the winners.

Organised by the National LGBTQ+ Federation (NXF) and GCN, The GALAS celebrate and acknowledge the contributions of individuals, companies and organisations making Ireland and the world a better place for queer people everywhere.

On October 3 this year, the awards ceremony will be held once again at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre in the Radisson Blu Hotel, where the very first GALAS were held in 2009. The GALAS are the biggest fundraising event of the year for the NXF and GCN, both working for the LGBTQ+ community in Ireland and beyond.

The annual ceremony takes audiences through 15 categories, encompassing activism, arts, allyship, events, sports and more, recognising the efforts made by those who work tirelessly towards a better future for LGBTQ+ people.

Each shortlisted individual or organisation has been nominated by the public, which formed an initial longlist. These longlists are then distributed to LGBTQ+ organisations throughout Ireland, which select four nominees for the shortlist. Shortlisted nominees are selected using the public’s reasons for nominating, as well as against clear criteria provided by the NXF.

This year, two of the categories will be open to public vote. By following this link, you can cast your vote for the 2026 Person of the Year and the Arts & Entertainment Award.

Tickets for the 2026 edition of The GALAS are on sale here, and with just over a month to go until the highly anticipated event, the NXF and GCN are excited to announce the shortlists for each category as follows:

Community Organisation (Paid Staff)
Belong To
Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre
TENI (Transgender Equality Network Ireland)
The Rainbow Project (NI)

Community Organisation (Volunteer Staff)
GOLD Café (Cork)
Intersex Ireland
LGBT+ Restorative Justice Campaign
Trans Limerick Community

Volunteer of the Year
Áine Reynolds
David Rinehart
Kieran Rose
Lorelei Fox-Roberts

Event of the Year
Béar Féile 2026
Dublin Dyke March 2026
LGBT Ireland’s 5th Annual Pride Healthcare Conference
The Lynch Cup 2025

Joe Drennan LGBTQ+ Young Trailblazer
Beth Clancy
Ciara Kelly
Matthew Colgan
Seán Flood

Sports
Blake Coe
Fionn Collins
Na Gaeil Aeracha
Shamrock Sióga

Arts & Entertainment – Open to public vote
Aoife Doolan – Síle na Gig Float Project
Cara Holmes – Lesbian Lines
Dakota Mode
Joe Caslin

Pride of Ireland
Cork Community Pride
Heartlands Pride
Navan Pride
Thomastown Pride
Trans Pride Limerick

Noel Walsh HIV Activism
Ciaran Hanniffy
Heartlands Pride HIV Panel Discussion
Plus Friends
Rebecca Tallon de Havilland

LGBTQ+ Ally
Eve Kerton
Fiona Finn
Michelle Jinks
National Museum of Ireland

Outstanding Company (50+ Employees)
A&L Goodbody LLP
Just Eat Ireland
Mason Hayes & Curran LLP
Women’s Aid

Outstanding Small Business (<50 Employees)
Bella Vision Ltd
Certified Proud
Gender Plus
Insight Matters

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

Emerging Journalist
Azmia Riaz
Jade Wilson
Mia Poland
Zainab Boladale

Person of the Year – Open to public vote
Christine O’Mahoney
Dr El Reid-Buckley
Kate Moynihan
Moninne Griffith

International Activist
Mira Ben Salah
Yıldız Tar

Tickets for the 2026 edition of The GALAS are on sale now. This is always a sell-out event, so make sure you get yours before it’s too late!