Written by Michael Thervil

[2026 AVN Awards] While many industries like mainstream film and independent film industries have awards shows, there seems to be one awards show that tends to get overlooked decade after decade – and that’s the Adult Video Awards show. The Adult Video News Awards show, or AVN for short, was started 43 years ago in 1984 to highlight the achievements of professionals within the adult film industry. This year's AVN Awards show featured over 48 categories that ranged from Best Actor and Actress to Best Film, Best Gay Video, Best Director, Best Girl-Girl Scene, to Best Sex Comedy amongst other categories. The AVN Awards show is also accompanied by their weeklong adult industry show which featured everything related to the adult entertainment industry which includes a pleasure product expo, a section for fan experiences, a business expo, as well as a section for the LGTB community as well.

While many of the AVN detractors argue that the celebration of AVN’s expos and awards shows equated to the celebration of the objectification of women and the exploitation of the underage, proponents of the AVN expo and award show have taken the position that both the expo and the awards show allows the actors, actress, and consumers of pornography to highlight and celebrate sexual freedom and expression. Currently the adult entertainment industry is worth an estimated $58 to $60 billion and is predicted to be worth well over $95 billion by 2030.

Some of this year's winners at the AVN Awards are as follows:

BEST ACTOR – FEATURETTE

• Parker Ambrose, “Wouldn’t Hurt a Fly” | Seductions V2, Deeper/Pulse

• Dante Colle, “The Pitch” | Bellesa Films/BellesaPlus+

• Charles Dera, “Not Again” | Pure Taboo/Adult Time

• Ryan Driller, “Homeowners Association” | MissaX

• Seth Gamble, “The Party's Over” | Pure Taboo/Adult Time/Pulse

• Derek Kage, “Tune Up” | ForPlay Films

• Ryan Mclane, “The Illusion” | Bellesa Films/BellesaPlus+

• Tommy Pistol, “Mr. Sicko and the Little Lady” | Sex and Submission/Kink

• Michael Vegas, “Foot in the Door” | Pure Taboo/Adult Time

• Chad White, “Made for Sex” | MissaX

BEST ACTRESS – FEATURETTE

• Reagan Foxx, “Let Me in Too” | Pure Taboo//Adult Time/Pulse

• Ivy Ireland, “Swamped” | Digital Playground

• Nicole Kitt, “Tune Up” | ForPlay Films

• Ashley Lane, “Manhood” | Under the Bed/Pure Taboo/Adult Time

• Sophia Locke, “Mr. Sicko and the Little Lady” | Sex and Submission/Kink

• Hazel Moore, “The Party's Over” | Pure Taboo/Adult Time/Pulse

• Valentina Nappi, “Shamanologist” | Hentaied.pro

• Freya Parker, “Wouldn’t Hurt a Fly” | Seductions V2, Deeper/Pulse

• Alison Rey, “Foot in the Door” | Pure Taboo/Adult Time

• Shay Sights, “Let Me in Too” | Pure Taboo/Adult Time/Pulse

Again, there is a large plethora of categories for which awards were given out for the full list of awardees, click here. Although the date for next year's AVN Awards has yet to be provided, we predict that it will occur roughly around the same time and in the same location. We at VEDA World News are congratulating all winners of the 2026 AVN Awards.