LOS ANGELES — The industry’s trans adult performers, creators and creatives came together Sunday night at the historic Avalon nightclub in Hollywood for an evening of well-deserved celebration: the 2026 Trans Erotica Awards.
As the crowd filed in from Vine Street and pre-party host Banskie interviewed attendees against a media wall, XBIZ chatted with newcomers like Pixie Pond, who said she was eager to make industry connections at the TEAs, as well as past TEAs winners like Ria Bentley, who was named the Clips4Sale Trans Creator of the Year award at last year’s TEAs ceremony.
Bentley highlighted the show’s importance for the industry’s trans community.
“We deserve as much recognition and spotlight as your standard straight performers,” Bentley said. “This is our night to shine. When I won, it felt so validating knowing that people recognized the hard work I put in. I just love the vibe here, and the idea that so many of the up-and-comers here will eventually be on that stage one day.”
Performer Aubrey Kate told XBIZ that she’s been attending the show since before it was held at the Avalon.
“It was at a tiny little theater in Burbank,” Kate recalls. “I remember that the very first year that I went, Jenna Jameson was there, and I thought it was so fucking cool because she was my icon and my idol. I think it’s an amazing event.”
Ariel Demure said she was grateful to be nominated — but also happy simply to be meeting new people with whom she can work in the future.
“By just being here, I pick up some of the best fucking content trades that I get all year,” she confided. “So I’m a little bit of a sniper, if you can imagine.”
Blake Lovely, who was up for six awards, told XBIZ that the importance of the TEAs goes “beyond porn.”
“I know we’re all here for that, and we love that,” she said. “But it’s also an event where trans people who aren’t even in porn can come together in one space. It’s really special and I’m just happy to be part of it.”
Carter James attended this year’s TEAs ceremony to support her husband, Tyler James, who was nominated in two categories.
“To me, the TEAs represent a sense of love,” attested James. “Everyone is here to support each other and it’s the trans community’s moment to shine. Trans performers have been kept under a blanket for so long, but the TEAs are where they get to own it.”
Jim Powers of Gender X Films told XBIZ that the TEAs are the only awards show he attends every year.
“I’ve been shooting trans movies for Gender X for a while, and one of the first things we did was start sponsoring the TEAs and having a table here. It’s just a very fun, entertaining night for the trans community, which should have its own show, because they represent a big chunk of the industry.”
As the TEAs show got underway, adult performer and musician King Noire kicked things off by treating the crowd to some juicy jams, paving the way for the evening’s mistress of ceremonies: Domino Presley.
Blonde and statuesque, Presley gave a shoutout at the very top of the show to Grooby, noting that 2026 marks both the company’s 30th anniversary and its 18th year hosting the TEAs.
“They were the first to embrace trans porn, so thanks for giving us this platform to show our dicks and our tits,” said Presley.
Austin King and newcomer Cassidy Cauley then took the stage to present the first award of the night: Best DVD, sponsored by Adult Empire.
King noted that Cauley had shot her first studio scene just one month earlier. In turn, Cauley vowed to make her mark on the industry, promising that her gig as a presenter wouldn’t be the last time the crowd would see her onstage at the Avalon.
The Best DVD award was a tie, shared between Jim Powers’ Gender X Films feature “Transpirella” and Blake Lovely’s “Once Upon a TS Summer.”
Powers recalled coming up with the idea for “Transpirella” and calling upon Ariel Demure to play the title character.
“I told her, I have a movie you were made for,” Powers recalled as both stood onstage collecting their kudos.
Meanwhile, Lovely beamed with pride after winning her first TEAs trophy.
“We made something fucking special,” she said of her cast and crew.
Sage Roux and Eva Maxim next took the stage, to present the award for Best Scene Producer, which went to Aubrey Kate.
Kate beamed, “I love producing and I love creating, so thank you for this recognition. I love you guys, and I can’t wait to film you. Thank you for trusting me.”
Remaining onstage, Kate was then joined by Kristel Penn, who has been with Grooby for the past 15 years. As one of the driving forces behind the TEAs, Penn received a standing ovation from many in the room.
Penn and Kate presented the award for Best Industry Professional to Jessica Drake, whom Penn hailed as “an ally who shows up when she doesn’t have to and without asking for credit.”
“She’s someone I really admire and aspire to live up to,” Penn said.
Kate echoed the sentiment.
“She was one of the first people who didn’t treat me like a piece of meat,” Kate said. “She treated me like a human being and made me feel special.”
Drake thanked her partner, Steve, for his support, as well as the Grooby team for their hard work in putting on the TEAs each year, and pledged to continue supporting the trans community.
“I accept this award with honor, gratitude and responsibility,” she told the crowd. “I will never stop fighting for you. We can all be exactly whoever we are.”
Steven Grooby appeared next, good-naturedly grumbling about how he hates to be onstage and reminding the raucous crowd that it takes “a lot of fucking work” to look as good as he does after 30 years in the industry.
Grooby bestowed the Industry Recognition Award — a new honor — to Alexander Grooby, the company’s very own webmaster of 28 years.
Alexander gave a brief and humble acceptance speech, saying, “Seeing your smiles tonight makes it all worth it.”
Next, the ever-sassy Nicole Paige Brooks took the stage to present the award for Best Cam Performer alongside Christophe of Streamate, which sponsored the award.
When Christophe joked that he felt “incredibly small” next to Brooks, she quickly asserted dominance by retorting, “It’s not a feeling!”
“I am a crossdressing sissy faggot, and I hosted this awards ceremony years ago when it was in a tiny bar the size of this stage,” Brooks said. “So I’m honored and proud to see this community thrive and take up this space here at the Avalon tonight.”
Best Cam Performer winner Angela Longcock was unable to attend in person as her mother is battling a serious health issue, but she shared a video message.
“I stand with you, I am one of you,” said Longcock. “I know the world can be cold and cruel, but I love and support all of you. I can’t express my gratitude enough.”
To present the award for Black TGirls Model of the Year, Ana Foxxx took the stage alongside Tyler James, who wore a custom belt buckle made for the event.
The award went to Ana Andrews, who shared that she was using her PTO days to take time off from work in order to attend the TEAs.
“Black trans girls have a hard fight in the industry and there are a lot of girls who deserve this award just as much as I do,” Andrews attested. “Y’all are my inspiration.”
Andrews added that it was the trans women who came before her who inspired her to pursue a career in the industry.
Next, Kelly Quell and Goddess Tangent handed out the award for Best Internet Personality, which went to Jade Nyxxx.
The crimson-clad Nyxxx’s hand shot to her mouth when she heard her name called.
“I wasn’t expecting this — I wasn’t even aware that I had a personality,” she joked. “I know things are tough right now, but we’ve just got to stay visible and keep fighting, because we’re not going anywhere. They only fear us because they want to fuck us. Thank you all so much, this means the world to me.”
Husband-and-wife duo Michael Vegas and Siouxsie Q then bestowed the Transfixed Best Acting Award upon Zariah Aura, attired in a smart brown outfit.
“Let’s keep making amazing fucking porn!” exclaimed Aura.
When Leilani Li and curvy beauty Bea York next presented the award for Best Content Creator to Kaela Luna, Luna seemed genuinely surprised by her win and the loud applause.
Clutching the trophy in one hand, she joked, “The real rewards are the dicks you suck along the way.”
Luna then gave shoutouts to Mr. Red of Red Bottom Productions and Blake Lovely, whom she called “an inspiration.”
“We’ve got enough enemies out there, so let’s keep being there for each other,” implored Luna.
Next, Sarina Havok and Robin Coffins presented the award for Best VR Scene to GroobyVR’s “Amanda Riley Rode My Cock.”
Accepting the trophy, Riley took the stage in a cozy sky-blue number that looked like cotton candy.
“Yeah, I rode that cock,” said Riley. “And I hope to ride some of your cocks, too!”
Powers then returned to the stage to present the Gender X Films Model of the Year award to Avery Lust, who confided that she had left her underwear at home and was freeballing it.
“Love each other and be hot,” Lust said with a laugh. “That’s all that matters.”
Presley next welcomed Jamie Jameson and Autumn Rain to the stage. Decked out in a sharp white suit, Rain copped to having left the TEAs early last year — but said she was hanging around this time to present “the biggest lesbian award in trans porn,” namely Best Girl/Girl Scene, sponsored by TGirl Nights.
Cailee Katts and Nyxi Leon won for Tgirls.porn’s “Pussy Love.”
Next, Buddy Wood and performer Steve Rickz presented the Producer’s Choice Award to Nikki North, whose sweetly nervous demeanor made for a charming moment onstage.
Industry luminary Stacy Lynn and Amy Nosferatu then presented the award for Best Transmasc Scene, which Zariah Aura accepted on behalf of Aiden Dean and Mark Lax, her co-stars in “Pansexual DP Massage” from Men.com/WhyNotBi.
Lynn and Nosferatu agreed that transmasc performers “never get as much credit as they deserve,” and the crowd burst into a spontaneous chant of “Boy pussy!” that took a minute or so to die down.
Next, Natassia Dreams presented the Transcendence Award alongside its blue-haired sponsor, Dr. Alexander Sinclair. The trophy went to Lucy Hart, who was unable to attend the ceremony but appeared via an acceptance video.
In the video, Hart told those assembled that receiving the award warmed her heart. Recalling her own early struggles when she started out in the industry, Hart urged her peers, “Be safe tonight, and look out for someone who might need a hug, because sometimes these awards can be tough.”
Chaturbate’s senior manager of community strategy, Katie Carter, was next onstage, presenting the Chaturbate Trans Broadcaster of the Year award to Nicole Mancini.
Mancini thanked the platform for “continuing to provide a home for trans women to make money and have full creative control over their own image.”
Megan Mistakes then made a valiant attempt to present the award for Best Boy/Girl Scene, but since she had lost her voice before the show, co-presenter Carlisha Giselle picked up the slack.
Towering over Mistakes’ petite frame, Giselle revealed that the category was another tie: Kasey Kei and Robby Apples won for Scene 2 from “TS Cheaters 7,” while Avery Lust, Summer Col and Pierce Paris won for the TransAngels release “Overworked and Underfucked.”
Kei thanked director Ricky Greenwood for capturing all of her best angles. Directors Michael Vegas and Siouxsie Q accepted on behalf of the TransAngels performers.
One of the night’s liveliest moments came when Ariel Demure and a gaggle of co-stars from Adult Time’s “Accidental Gangbang — Too Many Tops!” took the stage to accept the award for Best Threesome/Moresome Scene.
Demure singled out her publicist, Erika Icon, for special thanks.
“We appreciate you to the end of our days, because this award would not have happened without your savvy campaigning,” Demure said.
Presley then brought presenters Nikki Zeal and Michelle Masque to the stage to present the Ms. Unique award.
Masque wore a stylish blue dress that showed off her intricate mosaic of tattoos, while Zeal took one look at the crowd and said, “Our girl dicks and our boy pussies are quivering with anticipation, right?”
Blonde-haired Spite won the award, and delivered a passionate speech from the heart.
“I’m trans, and I think that in and of itself is a unique experience,” Spite said. “No matter how profane or obscene, the trans experience is inherently fucking beautiful. History is not written by the popes or princes or presidents; it’s written by the people. The people are all we have, and we are they.”
Steven Grooby then returned to the stage to present the Recognition of Inclusion Award, which recognizes productions that are a little outside the box.
The 2026 award went to Adult Time’s “The Bottom Floor: Second Coming.” Directors Michael Vegas and Siouxsie Q were joined onstage by performer Zariah Aura.
Said Aura, “I’m so proud and honored to be here with you tonight, because we’re trying to show the world that trans porn and queer porn sell.”
Siouxsie Q thanked Adult Time’s Bree Mills for believing in the project early on.
“This movie is an invitation,” said Siouxsie Q. “It’s a revolution. Thank you to Grooby for recognizing the labor of love that this film is.”
Next up was a short break from the competitive categories, to hand out a trio of Lifetime Achievement awards.
The Behind the Camera winner was director Ricky Greenwood, whom Aura described as “a director who is so amazing to all of us, treats us well and makes amazing fucking porn.”
Taking the stage, the French-Canadian filmmaker told the crowd, “When I started in this business almost 10 years ago, they asked me what I wanted to direct after I did my first girl-girl movie, and if I’d be interested in directing trans porn. It’s been an amazing journey, and a lot of the performers became my friends. Some of my most enjoyable shoots have been doing trans porn.
“In 10 years, the industry has changed a lot,” Greenwood reflected. “When I started, it was hard for me to find trans people behind the camera, it was hard to find cis women to shoot with trans womenand it was even hard to find cis males, because it was always the same five or six guys.
“Where we are right now, it’s clear we’ve evolved — but we still have work to do,” Greenwood said. “I don’t see enough trans men in front of the camera, and I think we should invest in showcasing that community. That’s the next step. I just hope we continue to advance and grow the industry.”
Radius Dark then joined Aura on stage to honor the In Front of the Camera winner: Shiri Allwood. Dark hailed Allwood as “a really amazing model.”
Accepting the award, Allwood said, “I want to thank my husband, who has been with me through this whole journey. I’m so appreciative of this industry and everyone in it, and everyone who has collaborated with me and worked with me on studio shoots and my own content these past 10 years.”
Allwood also thanked Steven Grooby, joking, “But he can’t get rid of me that easily.”
The third honoree was 2020 Lifetime Achievement winner Chelsea Marie, who won the honor in a year when the ceremony was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dark called Mrie a performer who “does everything the right way.”
An emotional Marie thanked her fiancee, Kayleigh Coxx, and told the crowd, “You all look stunning tonight. This room is filled with love. That’s why I’m here, and what I love the most: We fight for this industry, and we love each other. We also push each other to do better. I see a lot of new faces here tonight, and you guys rock.”
Next, Vee Soho and Moe Scoville came out to crown the Grooby Girl of the Year for 2026. Scoville called attention to how hard performers work, and how often they go above and beyond.
“We know the work you put in before the camera even rolls,” they said.
Soho and Scoville then handed the crystal trophy to Cailey Katts, who after the show told XBIZ that she was already “shocked and thrilled” by her Best Girl/Girl Scene win — but that she was truly blindsided by winning in a second category.
Up next, Natassia Dreams and Amanda Riley returned to the stage to give out the award for Pornhub Model of the Year.
The trophy went to Vanniall, who created 47 new videos in 2025, drawing 24.4 million views and more than 70,000 subscribers. The presenters noted her “deep connection to fans and commitment to making high-quality content.”
Reflecting on her journey in the industry, Vanniall remembered being diagnosed with HIV in 2021, a subject she has written about publicly.
“Around five years ago, I got a diagnosis that would change my life and career,” Vanniall recalled. I stand in front of you now feeling very changed — but in a very good way.”
By this point, the clock had pushed well past midnight, but the night owls in the room kept the venue buzzing with energy as Bobbi Rose and Olivia Would presented the award for Best Non-TS Female Performer, which went to Little Puck.
Said Puck, “I’ve always felt connected to this community. My first fuck ever was trans. My wife was trans. I consider you family more than my own birth family, because this is chosen, and it really does mean a lot to be up here. Thank you.”
Next, Gigi Ravine and Eros Jolie — “stripped sisters from the South,” as they called themselves — took the stage to present the award for Best Non-TS Male Performer to Derek Kage.
Said Kage, “This award means a lot to me. Thank you for accepting me into this industry and into the trans community. It means so much to me, because we live in a world where being yourself is dangerous, and there are people who judge you. I love every single one of you for giving them the finger, so thank you very much.”
Mirage Desire sent a proxy to accept her award for Best Non-US Performer, while Clips4Sale Trans Creator of the Year winner Gray Perrier bent down to exchange hugs with Salima and Christy of Clips4Sale — before confessing that she really had to pee.
“Oh fuck, I’m not good at these!” said Perrier. “I wasn’t expecting to be onstage right now holding this butt plug. I wish it were a little thicker! Seriously, though, I’m so proud and grateful to be here. It’s a dream come true.”
Next, King Noire returned to the stage, joined by Yasmin Lee, his dressed-to-kill co-presenter of the Fan Choice Award.
In venerable awards show tradition, winner Bella Joie was in the bathroom when her name was announced, but the crowd waited patiently as she dashed to the stage in a shimmering silver dress.
“Thank you to all my sisters and all my girls who continue to give me the best advice,” gushed Joie.
Nikki Sequoia and BigBig Cherry then bestowed the Best Transmasc Performer award upon Nicky Zeal, who really pumped up the crowd with his lively acceptance speech.
“Thank you to the members of my community who are putting their boy pussies on the line, day in and day out,” Zeal said. “When I started, we didn’t even have a trans male community. I was able to build this community with my brothers and my sisters. Men.com is showing boy pussy now because we are men.”
The crowd roared with approval. Keeping the show moving, Presley noted that way back in 2010, she herself had won in the next category: Best New Face.
Past winners Eros Orisha and Avery Lust teamed up to present this year’s trophy to Chancel Chance, who glided to the stage in a lavender dress.
“I’m really proud of what I did this past year, so thank you so much,” she said.
The penultimate award, for Best Solo Model, was presented by Foxxy and podcast host James Bartholet, who were somehow still vibrating with energy even after 1 a.m.
Victoria Grant took the title, making sure to thank her directors, co-stars and studios. Persistence, she told the crowd, pays off.
“If someone tells you that you can’t do something, trust me, you can,” Grant said.
The final award of the night was Best Hardcore Performer, presented by Khloe Kay and Chris Epic.
The winner, Kasey Kei, took the stage wearing a stylish pair of Louboutins. Given the late hour, she kept her speech short and sweet.
“This is for all the trans women and men who came before us,” said Kei. “They paved the way.”
With that, the lights came up and guests spilled out into the lobby, congratulating friends before swarming into a fleet of 2 a.m. Ubers as the festivities finally began to die down. With another TEAs ceremony on the books, some went home to celebrate, while others left inspired to return next year — in hopes of winning trophies of their own.
