LAS VEGAS—Growing up watching the films of Francois Sagat, Sir Peter never envisioned the path his life would follow. But in the past two years, he has not only worked with the gay porn icon, but followed in his footsteps. In 2007, Sagat became the first man outside of North America to ever win GayVN Performer of the Year. Last night, Sir Peter became just the fourth—and the first man from Portugal to ever do it. (photo galleries)
“It’s unbelievable,” he said backstage, still processing the win. “I was jerking off to him when I was younger, then working with him, and having this moment now…it’s insane. I never thought this could happen.”
As he took the stage at the industry’s most prestigious event to accept the statue in The Theater at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Peter was in a fever dream. Words came slowly, carefully and from the heart. The reality began to sink in backstage—especially when he discovered that the last European to win the award was Wilfried Knight in 2010.
“Wow, I didn’t realize that,” he said, eyes widening. “I knew that if I ever won this, I would be the first Portuguese, and it would send a strong message to my country and my colleagues that work in the industry. Being only the fourth (European) is a tremendous honor—and a responsibility as well, to pass along and guide people. This is a moment I will never forget. Honestly, I thought I would cry if I won. I’m not doing it yet, but I’m close. Inside I am crying. I am very thankful to GayVN, and to all the fans.”
Peter began his career in 2020, working with European studios like Kristen Bjorn, MenAtPlay and Fuckermate. He was nominated for Best Newcomer the next year, and has been nominated for Performer of the Year ever since. He got his start at Timtales after another gay porn legend, Tim Kruger, reached out to him. That memory held added significance last night, as Kruger was honored in the ceremony’s In Memoriam opening following his unexpected death last March.
“The first moment that I met and saw him, he was very chill. He had a quiet confidence. He always had this beautiful smile and this way of showing calmness that I always aspired to. When I got into the business, I always wanted to be like him and have a path of growth like him. It was tremendous sadness a year ago. The world lost a great performer, a true porn star, and a great man. I will always be thankful for the part he played in my career.”
The tears started to well up in Peter’s eyes as he thought of his family, including his mother—who passed away 13 years ago.
“I hope my mother is up there watching over me, that she feels proud of the man I became,” he says, rubbing his eyes. “And I hope my twin brother will be happy, and my family back in Portugal, to see that I wasn’t actually a black sheep in the family.”
Peter became a Falcon | NakedSword exclusive two years ago, which helped expand his popularity to an even bigger audience. He picked up his first two GayVN trophies last year.
“I am grateful, because without Falcon | NakedSword, I would not be here. I would not be having this projection into the world and the American market. And I get to work with people that I have admired my whole life, and can call them friends for life. I just adore them.”
That includes director Ben Rush, Co-Chief Content Officer and Chief Creative Marketing Officer. The two have worked together frequently, and developed a close friendship.
“For me, he’s the performer of a lifetime,” Rush said backstage. “He’s one of the best people to work with and to have on set. It’s not just a performance, it’s a commitment. He even takes the job of the crew sometimes, like cleaning a table because he sees shine that might reflect in the camera. Having that kind of support on set form a performer is sort of unparalleled, and I would have him in every single movie if I could. But even more importantly, he’s a genuine and caring person.”
It was also a huge night for Rush, who added three trophies to his already-large collection. He won Best Director (All Sex) with Alter Sin for Spain in the Ass from NakedSword Originals, which also won Best All Sex Movie.
“It was a labor of love,” Rush said. “I love working with Alter Sin. When he and I are together, it really is a magical experience. We love working with each other on set, and we enjoy each other on a personal level. We strive to create an atmosphere for the cast that makes them want to be there, and that shows in the work. We want them to come back, and it becomes like a family.”
Rush would add two more statues later in the night: Best Director (Feature) with Jessica Jasmin, and Best Screenplay—both for the NakedSword X Disruptive Films collab Wild Game, which won Best Feature. It’s the third year in a row Rush has won Best Director (Feature), and his second consecutive Screenplay win.
“It’s probably the movie that I am most proud of doing, and I’m so happy that Falcon | NakedSword and Disruptive were willing to take a chance on it—because it was a big move with a big budget. It involved locations that weren’t our typical studio or house, so finding our way to the redwoods of Northen California and getting to all bond together, it was basically summer camp,” Rush says.
Wild Game became the fourth film in a row from the Falcon | NakedSword family to win Best Feature, following Ride or Die, Overdrive and Heart On, and was the first for the ASGmax family of brands.
“Having the opportunity to work with Jessica was a gift, because now I have a lifelong friend,” Rush added. “To me, the friendships and the relationships are the most important thing. I almost see the work as secondary, because it is like a family in the industry, and I love the idea that we can do something together and it’s not competitive. We’re in it together.”
The two met two years ago at GayVNs, putting the wheels in motion for the project.
“We clicked right away. We were a fan of each other’s work, so we said ‘Let’s do something together.’ Right from the get-go, we had that creativity going back and forth,” Jasmin said. “It’s an experience I will never forget. I wrote that as a comment on Instagram, and it’s true. Not only was it lots of hard work, but like Ben said, it felt like it was a summer camp. In between takes, we were in front of the fire, Derek Kage was making smores. It was a lot of fun, and a lot of emotions and tears—good ones.”
Jasmin made her own history with the win, becoming the first woman to ever win a GayVN Award for Best Feature Directing. She is just the second woman to ever win a directing trophy at the awards, following mr. Pam’s win for Best Directing (Non-Feature) in 2018.
“Are you for real? Oh my God,” she said in shock at the realization. “I have no words. It’s a dream come true, honestly. I don’t even know what to say. I’ve been dreaming of it. I was always like, ‘I can retire if I have a GayVN.’ (But I’m not.).”
Entertainer Alec Mapa returned as GayVN Awards host for the 10th time, this year joined by performers Drake Von and Tony Genius. The night’s first award went to Dom King for Best Supporting Actor in Men.com’s Dawn of the Gladiators. He was backstage again soon to collect another for Best Fourgy from the same film, an honor he shared with MrDeepVoice, Malik Delagty and Filou Fitt.
“This is pretty nerve-racking, to be honest,” smiled MrDeepVoice. “I’m shaking. It’s my first time in Las Vegas, so I had no idea what to expect. The project was so much fun. I absolutely love Alter Sin; he’s one of the first directors I ever had working in porn. He’s so welcoming, and honestly one of my good friends. I love working with him; he’s amazing.”
It was the first GayVN Award for the Welsh performer, who was smiling from ear to ear.
“I got to play Julius Caesar. I worked hard for this one—I had a lot of lines, and I took a lot of dick,” he laughed. “It was a great group to work with.”
King would add two more trophies before the night was over—fan-voted wins for Favorite Top and Hottest All-Male Creator Collab.
“It’s exciting. I put in the work, and the rewards come,” said the performer, who struggled to balance the four trophies under his arms as he excited the theater. “This was also my first time getting an award that wasn’t fan voted, so that’s cool. It was a great experience. Acting is what I really love, so I’m happy I got recognition for it. Anything that shows off my personality, that’s what I’m really into. And I love the Men.com family.”
King shared the Collab award with Parker Nolan, who also won the Favorite Versatile trophy. His 2025 studio comeback story was one of the most memorable moments of the year.
“I started porn when I was 18. Didn’t love it, took a break, and then got into OnlyFans in 2021. Then I was gonna quit, but I said, ‘I’ll give it a year to try.’ So this past year was my year trying. So it means a lot to me to be recognized, and two wins is incredible. I’m just happy to be here and to be nominated, so to win kind of blows my mind. It means everything to me. I just do this because I like to show off. I didn’t think people were watching and actually paying attention, so the fact that I have fans that voted for me, I owe everything to them,” he said.
“I’ve only ever done collab trips, and I’ve never been to the GayVN Awards. Sometimes I feel like we’re all competing against each other, so it’s great to see everyone come together—there’s a lot of love in this group, and excitement.”
Nolan’s weekend of love was to continue on Friday with plans to marry his boyfriend. “I mean, we’re in Vegas. What better time and place to do it?” he smiled.
Adam Snow and his colleagues were also big winners. Early in the evening, he won Best Three-Way Sex Scene with Cole Blue and Noah White for the CarnalPlus/BarebackPlus project Deeper Deep Throat, directed by Legrand Wolf and Foxtrot. It was the second time that exact trio won the category, having hoisted the hardware in 2024 for their scene from The Professor series.
“There’s great chemistry with us,” Snow said. “We’re all friends at Carnal, we hang out a lot. It’s amazing to share it with all of them. We’re like chosen family, but also fuck each other.”
All three men soon won again for Best Oral Scene from the same project—the opening oral gang bang that served as the film’s signature.
“I love to suck dick, and I do not have a gag reflex at all,” Snow laughed. “On set, I always have a dick in my mouth. So we got to talking and they’re like, ‘Why don’t we re-do the 1970s straight porn Deep Throat?’ So we kind of put our own spin on it, and it was a lot of fun.”
Also picking up a trophy for the scene were Apolo Adrii, Lane Colten, Milo Miles, Eddie Patrick, Taylor Reign, Reece Scott, Guy Spencer, Jay Stryker and Dylan Tides.
“It’s really quite astonishing, I never expected it,” smiled Scott. “We had a great time making this movie. It’s so surreal, and when they called the winner, I kind of freaked out, because I don’t do well in front of crowds. I’m a stay-on-the-side kinda guy. But I was very happy, and very humbled. The camaraderie with us is just amazing; you can’t ask for a more wonderful group of guys at Carnal; everyone just wants the best for everybody. That’s my motto, too. I want everyone to do well.”
Snow won yet another trophy later, and it was arguably his favorite. For years, he has wanted to win Favorite Cock. Mission accomplished.
“It’s the one award that I’ve always wanted to win, and I finally did it. I’m ecstatic about it, because now I can say I have an award-winning dick! Three awards at GayVNs—it’s been a fantastic night. I love it.”
2024 and 2025 GayVN Performer of the Year Rhyheim Shabazz added yet another win to his impressive collection. He repeated his Best Duo Sex Scene win—which he shared last year with Sir Peter, and also won in 2021 with Sean Zevran. This year, he won for his Voyr flip scene with studio newcomer Mr Rodger—a South American content creator with more than 800K followers on X.
“This was amazing. For me, it’s an honor to receive it, but I’m more happy for the people that I worked with in this scene—my videographer, Alternativa, and Mr Roger. He’s an amazing performer. He’s a beast, and he can do it all. And he’s just overall a genuinely nice guy. He’s a beautiful person. And it’s great recognition for the work we do at Voyr, especially coming from GayVN, which most people consider the Oscars of porn. It’s the awards show that I most look forward to each year, and it’s an honor.”
Another former GayVN Performer of the Year, Cade Maddox, also added more hardware. He picked up fan awards for Favorite Porn Star Creator and Favorite Body. That brings his career GayVN Fan Award total to 12 statues.
“I’m definitely going to need a bigger trophy case,” he laughed. “Honestly, I’ve been in this eight years, so to still get nominated and to win is unbelievable to me. I was not expecting this, When I got up on stage tonight, I just lost all train of thought. I had nothing planned, but it was really cool. Thank you to all the fans.”
Maddox shared that years ago, he started feeling a little burnt out with the production side of things, “so I started trying to do things that excite me personally, and just leave the camera there while I do it. And it’s amazing to still be recognized. I love coming to GayVNs. It’s very nice to just know that you’re not alone in what you’re doing. Sometimes you question, ‘Did I do the right thing by getting into this industry?’ And then nights like this, events like this, it just reassures me that yes, I did make the right decision. And I’m surrounded by so many people that do the same thing, feel the same way. It’s nice to have the support system.”
Cole Connor picked up his fourth GayVN Award in five years, starting with his Best Newcomer trophy in 2022. Last night, he won Best Fetish Scene with Carter Woods for “Breaking Free” from Disruptive Films/ASGmax.
“I wrote an acceptance speech as if I was going to win Best Supporting Actor, but I won Best Fetish Scene, so I had to rearrange some things,” he laughed. “I don’t actually feel like I’m that successful, but we’re all hard on ourselves, and we need to be kinder to ourselves. But yeah, I’ve accomplished a lot in five years, and I can be proud of that. I should give myself credit for that, and also working with great people.”
Connor used the moment to stress the need for more performer rights.
“It’s become very clear to me that because we don’t have unionization, we don’t have protections for performers. I’m super sensitive with boundaries and consent and stuff, so when I see that not happening, I shut down. And I want to be a disruptor. I don’t go in with energy to cause problems, but I want to be supported.”
Connor also got emotional thanking Ryan Landers, a cam model and content creator who was nominated for two Fan Favorite awards. The two met at GayVNs in 2023 and quickly became best friends.
“I really cherish my friendship with someone who gives me genuine support and love. I want more friendships like that, and it’s hard to find. I’ve had friends come and go in this industry, and I felt close to people—and then felt really far away from them. It’s nice when it feels like it’s solid,” Connor said after the show, with Landers next to him, the two getting teary-eyed before sharing a hug.
“I always tell Cole he’s like A List, and I’m like D List. So he is a positive role model for me in the industry. Sometimes I feel bad about myself or the direction of things, and he gives me sound advice and talks me off the ledge, and I just love him so much.”
CockyBoys took home the trophy for Best Featurette. “Just Say Yes” starred Aiden Ward, Seth Cain and Alex Kof—the latter two performers winning their first-ever GayVN Awards.
“It’s awesome,” Kof said with a wide smile backstage. “When I heard our nominee and that we won, I was like, ‘I don’t understand what happened!’ This is my second year at GayVNs, and my first win. I’m in shock. I’m so excited and very happy.”
Added Cain: “This was the brainchild of Aiden and Jake Jaxson, and they’re just both so amazing to work with. It was such a pleasure to birth this incredible scene. And for me, this industry can be very isolating, because you’re doing things behind closed doors. So it’s nice to congregate at GayVNs in a way that makes it more real. That’s very validating.”
Ward made his writing and directing debut with the scene—taking co-credit with Jaxson on both. He wasn’t in attendance, but was elated when reached afterward for comment.
“When Jake first asked me to collaborate on a project with him, I was both nervous and excited. I had never been responsible for developing an idea that wasn’t solely sexual. It took several drafts and Jake’s assistance to transform the script and storyline into what we see on screen. However, one valuable lesson I learned from him is that not everything needs to be conveyed through words. Sometimes, scripted acting combined with action can effectively advance a storyline. I’m eager to continue working with both Jake and RJ at CockyBoys and see what incredible work we can create together.”
Ward notes that since this was his first time writing, directing and starring in a project, he wanted to select models he had wonderful experiences with in the past.
“Alex and I have been collaborating in New York for quite some time now. I knew his skills, talent, and overall charm would make him an easy and enjoyable collaborator. The same can be said for Seth. After our first CockyBoys performance a few summers ago, I developed a new work crush. His smile and personality always put me in a good mood and filled me with energy. I was confident that the chemistry between us would be electric.”
Another trio won Best DP Scene, with Zach Letoa, Tyler Moore and CJ Parker taking the trophies for Helix Studios’ “Double Packed Zach.”
“In the eight years I’ve been in the industry, I’ve never been DP-ed,” Letoa said. “Funny story: It didn’t start off as a DP scene. It was going to be a regular threesome, and I joked about a DP—and then it kind of led to, ‘Let’s do it!’ It changed from a threesome scene to a DP scene in like 30 seconds. It was crazy. Working with these two, it was awesome.”
Parker was equally excited about being at GayVNs as he was about the win.
“it’s really important for creators in general, not just for winning awards, but just being a part of it all. It brings you closer. You network, you get to meet a lot of new creators who you’ve never seen before. The whole week really puts into perspective what I can do, whether you come from content platforms or studios. The experience has been quite refreshing as a content creator, and I feel more comfortable.”
Veteran director Marc MacNamara—who has directed a Best Feature winner (NakedSword Originals’ A Murdered Heart in 2021), and multiple performers to Best Actor wins—finally won his own trophy. He picked up Best Director (Featurette) for “The Tight Lotus,” which paid homage to the smash HBO series.
“It’s challenging when you tackle something like this, because so many people are fans of it—they know exactly what you’re referencing, so you have to get it right,” he says. “You’re taking someone else’s art and making it your own, so that’s a unique challenge. Obviously we’re not going to go to Thailand to shoot it; we shot it in New York City in my apartment. I love a challenge.”
The project stars Seth Peterson and newcomer Ryan Orion—who’s real-life interactions meeting The White Lotus star Patrick Schwarzenegger helped the scene garner mainstream press. That helped the project become one of Men.com’s most successful and talked-about scenes ever. Schwarzenegger even mentioned it on Live with Kelly and Mark last year.
“Chelsea Handler had talked about the scene back in the day, but morning television is a different beast. Never been talked about on morning television before!” says MacNamara, who returned to the studio for the first time in five years. “And they weren’t putting them down; they were like, ‘Oh, that’s exciting!’ It felt really good for me that they got that moment. These boys deserve that recognition. I always say that porn stars don’t get enough flowers, they’re just considered sex symbols. But they’re fucking working hard.”
Also at Men.com, Reese Rideout—who last summer marked 20 years in the industry—won Best Actor (Featurette) for Men.com’s “The Bussycal”—a unique gay porn musical that has the performer not just acting and fucking, but also singing the catchy song “Gay4Pay.”
“It feels amazing. I was trying to get something ready at the table to say up there, as they’re going through all the awards before, just repeating it, repeating it—and I got it. It came out just right. We had so much fun in the studio laying down the tracks. I’ve had a year-and-a-half of singing lessons, but it’s always tough trying to get the right pitch. We have a great studio and a great editor, and it came out fantastic. A couple decades into my career and still getting these awards is great. GayVNs is the best award you can get in the industry.”
Rideout wasn’t the only honoree celebrating 20 years in the business. AVN CEO Tony Rios presented the 2026 GayVN Hall of Fame inductee trophy to Steve Cruz, who started filming in 2006 before eventually transitioning to directing with Falcon | NakedSword. He has won multiple GayVN Awards on both sides of the camera.
“As an aspiring model, I would never have believed you if you had told me I would one day be directing for all these brands. Because back then, these brands were all separate companies. And maybe because there weren’t too many guys who looked like me performing in the 2000s. That’s what’s so great about this moment,” he said.
“If I reflect on my longevity in the business; What thoughts could I impart on a generation that teaches me so much every day? I will try. Lead with your heart. Love what you do. Put your authentic self into all of it. The right people will respond. Energy resonates. People may come for you—let them be wrong about you. If you have an opportunity, it’s likely that someone taught you, nurtured you, maybe even opened the door. When you can—pay that forward. You just never know how that will hit.”
That resonated with Beau Butler, who won his second consecutive fan award for Favorite Cam/Creator Couple with husband Nick.
“My husband is my best friend, and I think he’s the hottest guy in the planet, so this is the most exciting thing I can do. This is my eighth GayVN award—I believe I’ve won two industry ones and six fan ones. This is the best week of the year for me in this industry, and I want to be like Steve Cruz. I want to always be here with these people, so that was really inspiring to hear from him. This event is a great way to remember we’re all a community of people that have known each other a really long time, and all love each other.”
2025 Best Newcomer Matthew Ellis—who repeated his Favorite Bottom fan win from last year—presented this year’s Best Newcomer award to Jake Mathews, who was not in attendance.
“I’m in shock, and my heart is so full right now for all the people in my life who have supported me through it all,” Mathews shared when reached afterward. “To all the hardworking directors, studios and costars I’ve worked with, to my beautiful partners Jack and Callum, to all my friends, and to my fans for all the support, thank you!”
Best Actor went to Paddy O’Brian (also absent), winning for the Falcon X MenAtPlay collab To the Nines.
“Being humble is in my nature. I have won awards, but this one brings tears to my eyes,” shared the legend afterward. “Through the hard years I have had, it shows that hard work and dedication pay off. Thank you to Falcon and MenAtPlay for such an amazing production. I am very proud, and thank you to all my fans. To be honest, I wasn't expecting this one; I’m very overwhelmed. Turning 40 in March—what an amazing present to me. Thank you.”
Also picking up trophies last night were 10 BelAmi stars, who won Best Group Scene for Return to Frisky Summer 3: Dream Come True: Peter Annaud, Jay Campion, Hugo Carter, Steve Collins, Billy Coogan, Johnny Eilish, Shane Medes, Timmy Morrison, Kian O’Connor and Michael Ross.
In more awards, Malik Delgaty won Favorite Dom, along with Best Bi Scene with Matcha Fae and Mateo Zagal for WhyNotBi’s “Bisexual Couple Boinks the Pool Boy.”
In other fan wins, Allen King won the new Favorite International Star category; Legrand Wolf won Favorite Daddy; Arno Antino was Hottest Newcomer; Jake Preston was Favorite Twink; SantanaXXL repeated as Favorite Independent Creator; Brody Meyer was Favorite Bear; Alejo Ospina has the Favorite Butt; William Miguel won Favorite Cam Guy; and Noah Way repeated as Favorite Transmasc Star.
Photography by Toby Acuna and Jeff Koga
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