Diversity Media Awards

An award that measures how media portrays diversity

The Diversity Media Awards are the leading Italian recognition dedicated to the representation of diversity in communication media. Established in 2016, inspired by the US GLAAD Media Awards, they are promoted by the Diversity Foundation ETS, the organization founded by Francesca Vecchioni, which has worked for years against discrimination and for more equitable storytelling in the media. In the Italian press, they are now widely known as the «Oscars of inclusion».

In 2026, the ceremony arrives in the Capital for the first time: after ten editions hosted elsewhere, the 11th edition will be held in Rome, in the Municipality of Rome (Metropolitan City of Rome, Lazio), in September 2026. The event is supported by the Department for Major Events, Sport, Tourism and Fashion of Roma Capitale and features the artistic direction of screenwriter and director Ivan Cotroneo.

How the awards are born: the Diversity Media Report

The unique aspect of the Diversity Media Awards is that nominations are not the result of simple editorial selection, but of an annual research project: the Diversity Media Report, conducted by the Diversity Foundation in collaboration with the Osservatorio di Pavia and with the contribution of various Italian universities. The report analyzes both news and entertainment, measuring how six areas of diversity are represented: gender, ethnicity, disability, age, LGBTQ+ community, and physical appearance.

The 2026 edition of the Report examined nearly 44,000 news reports from major national television networks and approximately 140 entertainment productions. The data presented in June 2026 reveals a two-speed picture: diversity is increasingly present in Italian media, but the quality of its portrayal has declined compared to the previous year, especially regarding gender issues, which are still too often linked to crime news.

Competition categories

Based on the Report's scores, the public is invited to vote online for winners in the entertainment categories. The main ones include:

• Best Film
• Best Italian TV Series and Best Foreign TV Series
• Best Podcast and Best Radio Program
• Best Kids & Teens Series
• Best Digital Product and Best Creator
• Person of the Year

Alongside these, the Press Awards are presented during the evening, awarded directly by the Foundation: best news report, best magazine article, best newspaper article, and best web article. This section has over the years honored investigations into topics such as access to abortion or violence against women with disabilities.

An evening of entertainment, not just awards

The Diversity Media Awards ceremony has always combined institutional moments with a television show dimension: hosting duties are entrusted to well-known TV and web personalities, featuring musical guests, monologues, and speeches by the award recipients. Recent editions have seen names like Aurora Ramazzotti, Guglielmo Scilla, and Pierluca Mariti on stage, honoring highly discussed titles from the Italian and international landscape.

Why follow it in Rome

The arrival in the Capital is more than just a change of venue. Rome is the heart of the Italian audiovisual industry, with its production houses, national newsrooms, and Cinecittà: bringing the «Oscars of inclusion» here means bringing the award closer to those who create the narratives that the Report analyzes every day. For the Roman public and visitors to the city in September, it is an opportunity to participate in an event that addresses civil and cultural issues through the accessible language of cinema, series, radio, and podcasts.

At the time of publication, the exact date and venue for the evening have not yet been announced by the organizers: it is recommended to consult the official Diversity Foundation website for updates.