The annual South Australian Pride Awards are now accepting public votes to help determine which nominees move forward to the finalist stage. Organised by Pride Adelaide, the awards acknowledge individuals, groups, events and employers who make sustained contributions to the wellbeing, visibility and inclusion of LGBTQIA+ communities across South Australia. The public voting phase is one step in a two-stage selection: community input followed by an independent panel review to confirm the finalists and, ultimately, the winners.
Voting timelines and specific entry rules are available on the official Pride Adelaide website, and several organisations nominated in multiple categories are encouraging their supporters to take part. The process highlights the role of grassroots activism, volunteer leadership and professional services that together build safer, more welcoming spaces. Individuals and community groups are invited to cast ballots during the public window so the independent panel can assess a refined set of finalists before naming category winners.
How public voting and panel assessment work
The awards use a hybrid selection model: community members vote first to indicate popular support, and an independent panel then reviews the highest-ranked nominees to select formal finalists and winners. The public vote gives voice to lived experience, while the panel brings a consistent standard for impact evaluation. Ballots are used to shortlist nominees across multiple categories such as Community Group of the Year, Employer of the Year, and Event of the Year. For clarity, a finalist in this context is a nominee that advances from public polling to the panel’s consideration.
Pride Adelaide has emphasised that some categories will be handled differently if nomination procedures were incomplete. For instance, the First Nations Person of the Year category received partial submissions, so it will proceed directly to the independent panel rather than public voting. This ensures fair assessment while respecting the wishes of nominees who did not complete the public nomination steps. For most categories, public votes between the announced dates will determine who is considered by the panel.
Who is on the 2026 nomination lists
Community group and volunteer nominees
The field for Community Group of the Year includes a wide range of organisations active across the state, from social clubs to advocacy groups. Nominated groups are: Adelaide Queer Birders, Adelaide Qwire, Bear Men Of Adelaide, Catalyst Foundation, Feast Queer Youth Drop In, Hike Society Adelaide Inc., Pink Parents, Pride Of The South, Rainbow Crows, Rainbow Hollow, Rainbow Hub SA, SA Rainbow Advocacy Alliance, Samesh and Transmasc SA. The Volunteer of the Year shortlist features Brett Mcaloney, Cherie Lee, Kelsey Guthridge, Penny Mcauley, Sam Loughlin, Shayne Glasgow and Zac Cannell—individuals recognised for long-term dedication and hands-on support.
Impact, workplace and event nominations
Nominees for the Community Impact Award include Charlotte Coulthard-Dare, Damon Sawtell, Deliciously Divergent, Diverse-City, Feast Festival, Feast Queer Youth Drop In, Marys Poppin, Murder City Roller Derby, Pride Of The South, Rainbow Council Project – Saraa, Saxon Drury-Godden, Sonders Headspace Centres and Together In Pride Port Augusta Inc. Employers and events in the running are varied: Employer Of The Year nominees include Adult Bliss, Department Of Human Services, Diverse-City, Shine SA, Sonder and Uniting Country SA. The Event Of The Year slate features entries such as Big Five 0 – By Thorne Harbour Health, Drag High Tea, Gender Reveal, Kane Enable, Karney Productions, Laya & Fifi’s Drag Bingo & Trivia Events, Picnic In The Park, Pink Parents Adelaide, Poppin Out, Pride Of The Barossa, Southern Pride March And Family Fun Day, Together In Pride Port Augusta Inc and contributions from Adelaide University Sport And Fitness and Catalyst Foundation.
Arts, sport, health awards and Gala plans
Arts and performance categories showcase local creative talent. The Music And Live Performance Award nominees include Brooke Seto, Devious Adelaide, Emerauld and Glitzy Von Jagger, while Performer Of The Year contenders are Dorian Courtisan, Emerauld, Eve Elle, Glitzy Von Jagger, Heidi Gun, Kleo Fox and Princess Laya. Sporting and recreation nominations cover clubs such as Adelaide 36Ers, Adelaide Frontunners, Adelaide Queer Birders, Adelaide Spectres Basketball Club, Adelaide Spikers Volleyball Club, Adelaide University Sharks Rugby Club, Hike Society Adelaide Inc., Rainbow Crows and Rainbow Racquets Adelaide (Squash SA).
Health and wellbeing leadership is recognised through nominees like Affirm & Thrive, Hike Society Adelaide Inc., Shine SA and Thorne Harbour Health. Supporters are invited to cast votes during the public window (check Pride Adelaide for exact dates) to help determine which groups and individuals become finalists. Rainbow Hub SA has highlighted its nomination for Community Group of the Year for the second consecutive year and requested votes between 16 March and 12 April; the organisation also celebrates Foundation board member Pam Price being named for induction to the South Australian Pride Hall of Fame.
Gala night and Hall of Fame induction
Winners will be revealed at the South Australian Pride Gala on Saturday, 6 June 2026 at the SkyCity Adelaide Ballroom, an evening that will also induct two long-serving community figures into the 2026 South Australian Pride Hall of Fame. The late Eric Kuhlmann and Pam Price will be honoured for their leadership and lifetime contribution to community building and advocacy. The Hall of Fame preserves recognition for individuals whose work established structures for visibility, advocacy and connection across decades.
Tickets for the Gala are available via the Pride Adelaide channels. Community members who want to influence which nominees reach the panel review should vote during the public phase, visit the official site for details and consider attending the Gala to celebrate South Australia’s vibrant and resilient community network.