The 2026 Out100 gala brought LGBTQ+ changemakers together in Los Angeles for a night of awards, tributes and performances. Andrew Scott was named Icon of the Year, while Dolly Parton received Advocate of the Year, with her sister Stella accepting the honour. The evening celebrated queer visibility, creative work and the people helping preserve LGBTQ+ stories.

Essential Takeaways

  • Andrew Scott’s honour: Lisa Kudrow introduced Scott as Out100 Icon of the Year, with a playful nod to her character Valerie Cherish.
  • A tribute to Ian Charleson: Scott reflected on the late actor he portrays in Elsinore and the film’s themes of joy and fear.
  • Dolly Parton’s recognition: Stella Parton accepted the Advocate of the Year award on her sister’s behalf, with Lily Tomlin paying tribute.
  • Stories matter: Eugene Daniels spoke about The Advocate Journalism Project, a nonprofit fundraising initiative for LGBTQ+ reporting and archives.

Andrew Scott’s Out100 moment brought laughter and feeling

The 2026 Out100 gala had a suitably theatrical start when Lisa Kudrow introduced Andrew Scott with a joke at his expense. Drawing on her The Comeback character Valerie Cherish, she congratulated “Adam Scott” instead, before praising the actor she was there to honour. The gag brought a light touch to a presentation with a more heartfelt centre. According to Out, the Los Angeles event gathered LGBTQ+ changemakers featured in the magazine’s November/December issue.

Kudrow praised Scott’s performance as Ian Charleson in Elsinore, linking his work to the courage and pride it can offer younger generations. Scott, accepting the Icon of the Year award, remembered Charleson as charming, resilient and vividly alive. He described the story as one about finding joy in the face of fear, and spoke of the importance of his connection with the queer community. Out also reported that Scott reflected on how receiving the award among LGBTQ+ people felt especially meaningful. (Out)

Dolly Parton’s award came with a family tribute

Dolly Parton was named Advocate of the Year, with her sister Stella accepting the award. Lily Tomlin, who introduced the tribute, celebrated Parton’s authenticity and her ability to connect with people from different backgrounds. Her words gave the moment an intimate feel: this wasn’t only a public accolade, but also a family’s expression of love and pride. (Out; The Advocate)

Stella spoke of her sister’s affection for LGBTQ+ people and urged the audience to remember Dolly with optimism and hope. In its report, The Advocate focused on Stella’s personal tribute and the sense of warmth surrounding the presentation. The magazine’s wider feature on Parton describes why queer audiences have embraced her, pointing to her inclusive outlook, humanitarian work and songs that make room for LGBTQ+ lives. (Out; The Advocate)

The night celebrated more than its headline awards

The gala programme included performances and appearances from hosts Ginger Minj and Miss Bouvèé, as well as violinist Marcos Aycox. Eugene Daniels also took the stage to promote The Advocate Journalism Project, a nonprofit fundraising initiative intended to support LGBTQ+ journalism and safeguard the publication’s historical record. The Advocate says the project aims to help document queer history as it unfolds and preserve it for future readers. (Out; The Advocate)

That message gave the celebration a practical note beneath the applause. Awards recognise people and achievements in the present; journalism can also help keep a record of them for the future. Daniels’s appearance connected the evening’s celebration of queer figures with the work of telling and preserving their stories. (The Advocate)

Why the Out100 still feels like a community gathering

The gala brought together artists, performers, journalists and public figures, including Kandi Burruss, Hayley Kiyoko, Raven-Symoné and Manila Luzon, according to Out. That range of guests reflected the event’s focus on LGBTQ+ changemakers and allies across creative and public life, rather than on a single corner of the entertainment world.

The evening’s two major honours also offered different, complementary forms of recognition. Scott’s award centred on acting, identity and community, while Parton’s celebrated an ally whose influence has reached LGBTQ+ audiences. Put together, the tributes made for a night that was both a party and a reminder of how visibility can be built through art, advocacy and keeping stories alive. (Out; The Advocate)

Closing Line

It was a night of applause, affection and a clear message: queer stories deserve to be seen and remembered.

Source Reference Map

Story idea inspired by: [1]

Sources by paragraph: