1 March 2026 - Across the world, courageous individuals are working - often against extraordinary odds - to ensure that everyone can live freely and authentically. Today, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and ILGA World announce the second edition of the International Pride Awards, a global celebration of the leaders, advocates and allies advancing equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) people everywhere. This year's award recipients will be announced on 5 August 2026 at a special event during the WorldPride human rights conference in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
First established in 2024, the International Pride Awards shine a spotlight on stories of resilience, solidarity and progress, reminding the global community that inclusion is not only possible-it is actively being cultivated in communities across every region.
Yet significant challenges remain. In 65 countries, governments continue to uphold laws that criminalise consensual same-sex acts between adults in private. Seven of these countries impose the death penalty for such acts, while in five more, there is no full legal certainty. Only 12 countries provide constitutional protection against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, 5 based on gender identity, just 1 on gender expression, and none on the grounds of sex characteristics. (Visit the ILGA World Database
