The LGBTQ+ student whose work and actions focus on challenging establishments and/or fighting for political and systemic change on LGBTQ+ issues.

This category is open to nominations from anyone with a personal or professional connection to the person nominated.

The LGBTQ+ student recognised as an impactful leader of other LGBTQ+ students in their school, college, university and/or local community. They are most likely to currently hold a position of leadership such as a Pride group chair or society president

Anyone with a personal or professional connection to the LGBTQ+ student.. Ideally this will be a member of the group/team they lead and/or an adult who may supervise the group that they lead.

The LGBTQ+ apprentice, graduate or intern who has best demonstrated their ambition and potential to become an impactful future business leader.

Anyone with a personal or professional connection to them can nominate. Ideally this will be their line manager or someone who works alongside them on a regular basis.

The LGBTQ+ professional - working in the private or public sector - who most inspires and supports their colleagues.

Anyone with a professional connection to them can nominate. Ideally this will be their line manager or someone who works alongside them on a regular basis.

The category is also open to nominations recognising LGBTQ+ freelancers and business owners supporting other businesses.

The LGBTQ+ professional - working in the charity sector - who most inspires and supports their colleagues.

Anyone with a professional connection to them can nominate. Ideally this will be their line manager or someone who works alongside them on a regular basis.

The LGBTQ+ professional - working in a school, college or university - who most inspires their colleague and/or students.

Anyone with a personal or professional connection to them can nominate. Ideally this will be their line manager or someone who works alongside them on a regular basis. They could also be nominated by one of their students.

The LGBTQ+ student who most inspires those around them in their school, college, university and/or local community.

This category is open to nominations from anyone with a personal or professional connection to the LGBTQ+ student including their student peers, teachers and lecturers.

The LGBTQ+ student whose tireless work and efforts to support the LGBTQ+ community and/or other students may have gone unnoticed.

This category is open to nominations from anyone with a personal or professional connection to the LGBTQ+ student including their student peers, teachers and lecturers.

The individual whose actions stand in solidarity with, and openly support, the advancement of issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community.

This category is open to nominations from anyone with a personal or professional connection to the person nominated.

The best event, initiative or research project, led by a UK charity, which raises awareness of a specific local/national issue faced by young LGBTQ+ people.

This category is open to nominations from UK charities and/or the young LGBTQ+ people benefitting from the initiative.

The best event, initiative or research project, led by LGBTQ+ students, which raises awareness of a specific local/national issue faced by them.

This category is open to nominations from LGBTQ+ student societies or clubs at UK schools, sixth forms, further education colleges and universities.

The LGBTQ+ inclusive space which helps LGBTQ+ students and/or employees to feel safer and more confident in expressing themselves.

Any LGBTQ+ student societies or clubs. All UK schools, sixth forms, further education colleges, universities and student employers.

The consumer or employer brand* which has best advocated for the LGBTQ+ community.

Brands nominated by students will be invited to attend the QSA2026 final and the winner will be decided by the young LGBTQ+ people on this year’s judging panel.

*LGBTQ+ charity brands are recognised in our ‘Charity Initiative of the Year’ category

The content creator who best educates, engages and mobilises their audience with regards to an issue(s) impacting, or of interest to, the LGBTQ+ community.

This category will only be open to nominations from students and the shortlist these generate will be put to a national student vote.

No judges, only students voting will decide the winner.