Hosted by UNAIDS on 13 November in Bangkok, the milestone celebration will honour community leaders and allies driving change across the region under the theme “TENAC10US”
Standing for HIV, Equality and Rights, the HERO Awards is APCOM Foundation’s flagship annual recognition event, acknowledging outstanding service to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) communities and the HIV response across Asia and the Pacific.
For the past decade, the HERO Awards has recognised individuals, organisations, businesses, and allies demonstrating leadership, courage, innovation, and commitment to advancing human rights, health equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice across the region.
In 2026, APCOM proudly marks the 10th Anniversary of the HERO Awards, celebrating a decade of extraordinary leadership and community impact. The 10th HERO Awards 2026 will take place on 13 November 2026 at Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit, with UNAIDS as the official host.
The 10th anniversary theme, TENAC10US, celebrates the courage, persistence, resilience, and determination of communities and allies who continue to advance HIV, equality, and human rights across the region, despite increasingly challenging environments.
Ten years of HERO Awards is more than a celebration of an awards programme; it is a celebration of the people and communities who have continued to stand up, speak out, and create change across our region. The TENAC10US theme reflects what we have witnessed throughout this journey: courage that does not give up, communities that continue to lead, and allies who continue to show up when their support matters most.
“As we mark this milestone, we also recognise that the work is far from finished. The challenges facing HIV responses, equality, human rights, and community-led organisations are evolving, and so must our collective action. The 10th HERO Awards is an opportunity to honour those who have brought us this far and to inspire the next generation to carry the movement forward,”
Midnight Poonkasetwattana,
Executive Director – APCOM Foundation
Returning to a Familiar Home for HERO
The 10th HERO Awards press conference returned to the Australian Embassy in Thailand, a familiar home for the HERO Awards. The Embassy previously hosted the 6th HERO Awards in 2022, when APCOM celebrated 15 years of advancing HIV, equality, and human rights across the region.
Returning to the Embassy for the 10th anniversary is a meaningful continuation of the long-standing partnership between Australia and APCOM. Australia has supported APCOM’s work since its early days nearly two decades ago, including through its engagement with the HERO Awards and broader efforts to advance LGBTQIA+ rights and inclusion through Australia’s Equality Collaboration Fund. At the Sydney WorldPride Human Rights Conference 2023 opening, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs mentioned APCOM by name at the opening “Leaders like APCOM who alongside their work on health, work with thirty-five countries in Asia and the Pacific to strengthen human and legal rights, reducing stigma and building inclusion.”
The Embassy provided an important platform for representatives from communities, governments, diplomatic missions, civil society, businesses, media, and other stakeholders to come together ahead of the 10th HERO Awards and strengthen collective action for HIV, Equality and Rights.
“The 10th anniversary of the APCOM HERO Awards is an opportunity to recognise the incredible individuals and organisations across the Indo-Pacific who champion equality, inclusion, and dignity for LGBTQIA+ communities. For the past decade, the APCOM HEROes have inspired us all with their courage, dedication, and leadership, and helped build a region where diversity is celebrated and human rights are protected. Australia is proud to champion LGBTQIA+ rights both at home and abroad, promoting equality and standing up against discrimination, including through our support of APCOM’s crucial work in the region.”
H.E. Pablo Kang,
Australian Ambassador to Thailand
The press conference opened with a special performance, “Your HEROes,” by the Thai Music and Dance Club of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, followed by welcoming remarks from Joe Chonlawit Wongsriwor, APCOM Community Ambassador.
Opening remarks were delivered by H.E. Pablo Kang, Australian Ambassador to Thailand, and Eamonn Murphy, Regional Director, UNAIDS Asia Pacific, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, before the premiere of the Road to the 10th HERO Awards video, highlighting the journey and impact of the HERO Awards over the past decade.
The announcement session brought together diverse perspectives from across the regional HIV, LGBTQI, youth, business, and community sectors, featuring:
- Midnight Poonkasetwattana, Executive Director, APCOM
- Henry Koh, Executive Director, ILGA Asia
- Harry Prabowo, Programme Manager, APN+
- Jeremy Tan, Regional Coordinator, Youth LEAD and 2022 Young Achiever Award Recipient
- Koko Tiemsai, Co-President, InterPride and 2022 Business Ally Award Recipient
The discussion explored the significance of the 10th HERO Awards, the role of community leadership, the continuing HIV response, youth leadership, and the importance of engaging businesses and allies in advancing equality and human rights across the region.
A Longstanding Partnership with UNAIDS
UNAIDS has been a longstanding partner of APCOM since the early days of the organisation. The partnership dates back to the Risks and Responsibilities Conference in 2006, which contributed to the formation of APCOM in 2007. Since then, UNAIDS has continued to support APCOM initiatives and community-led responses to HIV across Asia and the Pacific.
“UNAIDS is proud to host the 10th HERO Awards, celebrating community leaders who stand up and act every day for health, rights and dignity. Their courage drives change where it is needed most, challenges discrimination and reaches people too often left behind. Communities are at the heart of ending AIDS,”
Eamonn Murphy,
Regional Director, UNAIDS Asia Pacific, Eastern Europe and Central Asia
Connecting Asia 2.0: Advancing Community-Led Innovation
The press conference also introduced the APCOM Community Summit 2026: CONNECTING ASIA 2.0, taking place from 11–13 November 2026 at Mövenpick Hotel Sukhumvit 15 Bangkok, ahead of the HERO Awards.
Supported by UNAIDS, Gilead, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Robert Carr civil society Networks Fund, and MPact, the summit will explore how AI, digital innovation, and emerging technologies can strengthen community-led programming, support HIV prevention, expand access to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and advance health and human rights.
The summit will also examine how innovation can be used responsibly while protecting human rights, dignity, and community leadership, contributing to APCOM’s RELENTLESS Strategic Plan 2025–2030.
Strengthening Regional Community Partnerships
The 10th HERO Awards continues to be strengthened by partnerships with regional community networks, including APN+ and ILGA Asia, alongside Youth LEAD, which joins as a Regional Community Partner supporting the selection of the Young Achiever Award.
The HERO Awards will recognise outstanding contributions across eleven categories, including HIV HERO, Community HERO, Young Achiever, and Business Ally, celebrating people and organisations making meaningful contributions to HIV, equality, rights, and inclusion.
A Decade of HEROes: A Night of Celebration and Action
The 10th HERO Awards 2026 will take place on 13 November 2026 at Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit, officially hosted by UNAIDS. The evening will bring together community leaders, advocates, allies, businesses, diplomatic representatives, and supporters from across the region for a night celebrating a decade of HIV, equality, and human rights leadership.
The programme will feature the HERO Awards ceremony, a community-led fashion show showcasing creativity and expression from LGBTQI+ communities, and a series of live performances celebrating diversity, resilience, and community. The evening will also include opportunities for guests to support APCOM’s fundraising efforts and the communities it serves.
A special charity auction will feature “Music Man” by Romero Britto, a rare and vibrant pop-art portrait of Elton John. Personally signed by both Romero Britto and Elton John, the original artwork will be officially auctioned during the 10th HERO Awards 2026, with proceeds supporting APCOM’s work..
Following the awards ceremony, HERO Party BKK 2026 will bring communities and supporters together from 9:30 pm to midnight for an evening of music, dance, drag, and celebration. Since its launch in 2020, HERO Party BKK has provided a public platform to raise funds while celebrating the communities and allies who continue to drive change.
The 10th HERO Awards is more than a celebration of the past decade. It is an opportunity to recognise those who have led the way, strengthen solidarity across the region, and inspire continued action for HIV, Equality and Rights.
Tickets and Supporting Communities
Tickets for the 10th HERO Awards 2026 and HERO Party BKK 2026 are now available. By joining this milestone celebration, guests will not only be part of a decade of HEROes, but will also help support communities facing urgent needs across the region.
Proceeds from ticket sales and fundraising activities will support the #APCOM Passion Emergency Fund, APCOM’s emergency support initiative providing assistance to LGBTQI+ communities and community-led organisations facing urgent challenges and reduced access to funding.
More Information and purchase tickets: https://www.apcom.org/hero-awards/
For sponsorship opportunities or further information, please contact: [email protected] and https://www.apcom.org/hero-awards/
