The 14th Annual Queerties Awards 2026 will honor three legendary comedians this March in Los Angeles. Margaret Cho, Megan Stalter, and Mae Martin are set to receive special recognition at this year’s ceremony.
These three honorees span the evolution of LGBTQ+ comedy excellence. Margaret Cho broke barriers in the ‘90s, pioneering queer visibility in mainstream entertainment. Megan Stalter captivates today’s audiences with her magnetic, scene-stealing presence. Mae Martin pushes creative boundaries across film, television, and stand-up with fearless, genre-defying work. Together, they’ve shaped LGBTQ+ culture for generations past, present, and future.
“The Queerties has always been about celebrating the voices that inspire us, challenge us, and make us proud,” said Scott Gatz, CEO of Q.Digital, Queerty’s parent company. “Margaret, Megan, and Mae embody the spirit of this event. They are fearless performers who use comedy not just to entertain, but to create space for queer joy, authenticity, and connection. We’re honored to celebrate their incredible contributions to our community.”
Margaret Cho is receiving the Icon Award in celebration of a lifelong career as a comedian, actor, and activist who has left an indelible mark on our community. A true pioneer, Margaret broke barriers with her groundbreaking ABC sitcom All-American Girl in 1994, becoming one of the first Asian American women to star in a primetime network sitcom. Though the experience was challenging, Margaret transformed it into fuel for her art, becoming a “Patron Saint of Outsiders” and using her platform to speak for those who couldn’t speak for themselves.
Beyond entertainment, Margaret is a tireless activist for anti-racism, anti-bullying, and gay rights. She remains actively touring with her Choligarchy stand-up comedy show, bringing laughter and advocacy to audiences worldwide.
Megan Stalter is receiving the Vanguard Award for being a leader in comedy, acting, and writing (and living with empathy). Having recently starred as the lead in Netflix’s romantic comedy Too Much, created by Lena Dunham and hailed by The New Yorker as “one of the best shows of the year,” Megan has quickly established herself as a force in both television and stand-up comedy.
As a stand-up comedian, Megan is acclaimed for her inventive character work and sketch comedy, selling out tours across the country. Her fresh, fearless approach to comedy has resonated with audiences and critics alike, marking her as one of the most promising talents of her generation.
Mae Martin is receiving the Groundbreaker Award for telling new, authentic, and personal stories as a writer, comedian, musician, and actor. Most recently, Mae created, co-showran, starred in, wrote for, and executive produced the limited series Wayward, which launched on Netflix in September 2025 following its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The series debuted as Netflix’s most-watched TV series globally with 8.2 million views in its first week. Mae presently co-hosts the hit comedy podcast HANDSOME and globally released a debut album of original music through Universal Music Canada last year.
Winners will be announced at the 14th Annual Queerties Awards on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at The Avalon Hollywood in Los Angeles, where Margaret Cho, Megan Stalter, and Mae Martin will receive their honors. The ceremony will be hosted by Trixie Mattel and will stream exclusively on WOW Presents Plus, World of Wonder’s owned and operated streaming service, beginning March 19.
For the first time ever, Queerty will sell tickets to the live event, giving fans the chance to attend the celebration in person. Tickets go on sale today queerty.com/queerties/tickets.
For more information about The Queerties, visit www.queerty.com/queerties.
ABOUT THE QUEERTIES
Since its inception in 2012, The Queerties has honored excellence in LGBTQ+ media and culture, celebrating those who often go unrecognized at other award shows. The annual event is designed to uplift and spotlight LGBTQ+ creators, tastemakers, and storytellers, giving voice to the community through a democratic voting process where queer audiences choose their favorites. The Queerties has grown from an online celebration to a full-scale awards ceremony that brings together the biggest names in LGBTQ+ entertainment, with past attendees ranging from drag superstars and Grammy-winning musicians to Emmy-winning actors and groundbreaking activists.
ABOUT QUEERTY
Queerty is a leading LGBTQ+ entertainment news site, providing up-to-the-minute coverage of queer culture, politics, and lifestyle. Founded in 2005 and owned by Q.Digital, Inc., Queerty reaches millions of monthly unique visitors, making it one of the most influential voices in LGBTQ+ media. Queerty is part of Q.Digital’s portfolio, which includes INTO, LGBTQ Nation, GayCities, and Outsports. For more information about The Queerties, to vote for your favorite nominees, and for updates on the ceremony, visit www.queerty.com/queerties and follow @Queerty on social media.