Midsumma Festival Takes Home Top Honour At The Melbourne Awards
Image: Image: Library Up Late. Midsumma Festival. Photography by Suzanne Balding/Instagram Composite
Midsumma Festival has won the LGBTIQA+ category at the 2026 Melbourne Awards, recognising the queer arts festival’s contribution to Melbourne’s cultural life and LGBTQIA+ communities.
Announced at the awards on Saturday, November 14, the win follows another fabulous year for the festival, which recorded 334,531 attendances across its 22-day program.
Midsumma was recognised alongside fellow category finalists Lesbirun and The Pinnacle Foundation, whose work supports queer connection through social activity, education and mentoring.
An “Absolute Honour” for Midsumma Festival
For Midsumma, the award adds to a history stretching back to 1988. Across nearly four decades, the festival has provided opportunities for LGBTQIA+ artists to share their work and for audiences to experience queer stories, perspectives and creativity.
Following the win, Karen Bryant, CEO & Creative Director of Midsumma, told The Star Observer how proud and grateful they were to receive the award.
“Receiving a Melbourne Award in the LGBTQIA+ category is a significant recognition of Midsumma’s contribution to Melbourne’s cultural landscape, and of the important role LGBTQIA+ arts and cultural organisations play in shaping both the city’s creative industries and broader social cohesion,” she said.
“Midsumma has spent decades building a platform for LGBTQIA+ artists, creatives and audiences, while championing greater visibility, representation and access to the arts. As the sector continues to evolve, our work remains vital in ensuring diverse LGBTQIA+ stories, perspectives and creative practice are not only represented, but are an integral part of Melbourne’s cultural identity. We are proud to receive this recognition and grateful to the City of Melbourne for its continued support of the arts and of LGBTQIA+ communities.”
The festival’s annual program presents more than 200 events across Melbourne and Victoria, with 40 per cent offered free. Its 2026 results included $29.9 million in direct economic impact, reflecting its role in supporting activity across the city alongside its cultural contribution.
That combination of artistic expression, participation and accessibility has helped make Midsumma a longstanding part of Melbourne’s queer community calendar.
Ahead of the ceremony, Midsumma’s Deputy CEO and Head of Marketing, Communications and Partnerships, Felicity McIntosh, told The Star Observer that being named a finalist was an “absolute honour”.
She spoke of the work of the festival’s “tiny but mighty team” and the importance of creating opportunities for diverse queer communities to connect and celebrate pride in their own ways.
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The other LGBTIQA+ finalists demonstrated the breadth of that community work.
Founded in 2024, Lesbirun provides lesbian, bisexual and queer women with a free weekly run and walk, followed by coffee, offering a sober space for friendship and connection.
The Pinnacle Foundation supports young LGBTQIA+ people through scholarships, mentoring and educational opportunities, including those who have experienced rejection from family, faith or community.
All Women’s Iftar — Trans Sisters United was also recognised as a finalist in the separate Access and Inclusion category.
Established in 2002, the Melbourne Awards celebrate people and organisations contributing to the city’s community life.
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