Global Black Pride names 2026 honorees for Paris gala

Global Black Pride will honor Hosh Ibrahim, Niecy Nash-Betts, Lady Phyll, Durand Bernarr, YouTube, ViiV Healthcare, the Republic of South Africa and others at its Black Excellence Gala & Awards on Sept. 11 in Paris. The event is part of a five-day Global Black Pride gathering focused on culture, advocacy and collective action across Black LGBTQ+ communities.

Why it matters: - Global Black Pride is using its 2026 awards to spotlight leaders, artists, institutions and community groups shaping Black LGBTQ+ visibility, health, rights and culture. - The gala puts a humanitarian award, a digital impact award and a HIV innovation award alongside entertainment and legacy honors, showing the breadth of the movement’s priorities. - The awards also elevate organizations working across Africa, the Caribbean, France and the U.K., signaling a global approach to Black LGBTQ+ community building.

What happened: - Global Black Pride announced its 2026 Black Excellence Gala & Awards honorees on Aug. 13, 2026. - The seated dinner gala will take place Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at 6 p.m. at Espace Reuilly in Paris. - Vinii Revlon will host the event. - Honorees include Hosh Ibrahim, Niecy Nash-Betts, Lady Phyll, Durand Bernarr, YouTube, ViiV Healthcare, the Republic of South Africa, Vinii Revlon and leading LGBTQ+ community organizations. - The gala will include celebrity guest appearances and live performances.

The details: - Hosh Ibrahim will receive the inaugural Hosh Ibrahim Humanitarian Award, the evening’s highest honor. - Global Black Pride created the new award to recognize Ibrahim’s humanitarian work across Africa and beyond. - Ibrahim is described as a British-born leader of Sudanese and Egyptian heritage whose career spans philanthropy, governance, health equity and human rights. - Niecy Nash-Betts will receive the Icon Award for her impact in entertainment, culture and advocacy. - Lady Phyll will receive the Legacy Award for leadership in the global Black LGBTQ+ movement. - Durand Bernarr will be named Global Entertainer of the Year. - The Republic of South Africa will receive the Global Equality Leadership Award. - YouTube will receive the Global Digital Impact Award. - ViiV Healthcare will receive the Global Black Pride Vanguard Award for HIV Innovation. - Vinii Revlon will receive the Cultural Impact Award. - Pan Africa ILGA and BI-FWI, also known as Bokantaj Inclusion French West Indies, will receive the Global Community Impact Award. - BI-FWI is a Guadeloupe-based federation that established the territory’s first LGBT+ center and supported organizers of the first Kréyòl Pride. - African Pride Accelerated, Atlanta Black Pride Weekend, Exec Event and UK Black Pride will be recognized as 2026 Community Builders Honorees. - Global Black Pride says those groups help create visibility, connection, celebration and belonging for Black LGBTQ+ communities.

Between the lines: - The honorees reflect a mix of cultural influence, policy, health and grassroots organizing rather than a single-category awards slate. - The inclusion of YouTube and ViiV Healthcare shows Global Black Pride is also recognizing corporate platforms and health institutions that shape access and visibility. - The focus on African, Caribbean and diaspora organizations suggests Global Black Pride is framing Black queer leadership as transnational, not just city- or country-based. - Micheal Ighodaro, Global Black Pride president, said the honors recognize "the full ecosystem that keeps our movement alive" and the people and institutions that have defended human dignity, advanced health and equality, shaped culture and created spaces for community.

What's next: - Global Black Pride Paris 2026 runs Sept. 9-13. - The five-day program will include the Global Black Pride Human Rights Conference, a march through Paris and a large outdoor music festival. - Individual gala tickets start at €150, and table reservations are available. - More information is available through the event listing at Global Black Pride Awards Gala. - Media inquiries go to info@globalblackpride.org.

The bottom line: - Global Black Pride is positioning its Paris gala as a flagship celebration of Black LGBTQ+ leadership, with honors that span activism, culture, health and community power.