The process to select the recipients of the 2026 Winq Awards has begun, with the magazine opening nominations to the public. The annual event honors individuals and groups who have made a notable impact on the visibility and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community in the Netherlands.
The awards ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, 24 September 2026, at the Internationaal Theater Amsterdam. This will mark the eighth edition of the event, which has become a significant occasion for the Dutch queer community.
Recognizing Community Leaders and Allies
The Winq Awards aim to celebrate a wide range of contributions. In previous years, accolades have gone to figures across media, politics, activism, and the arts. Past winners provide a sense of the award's scope, including television host and writer Splinter Chabot, artist Raven van Dorst, Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema, and the cast of the dating show I Kissed a Girl.
Other notable recipients have included activist Naomie Pieter, comedian Jörgen Raymann, politician Sylvana Simons, and the team behind the popular podcast De Lesbische Liga.
How to Nominate
The public is encouraged to submit names of people they believe are deserving of recognition. Winq is looking for individuals whose work has positively influenced the Dutch rainbow community over the past year. Nominations can be submitted through a form on the Winq website.
As an incentive, those who submit a nomination will be entered into a draw to win two free tickets to the awards show. Further details and the official nomination form can be found on the original Winq article.
Tickets for the event are expected to go on sale soon.
