The Official 2026 ED 'Honors' Awards Pre-Nomination Voting Site!

The ED Honors Awards Show — the ONLY national awards show for the multi-billion-dollar gentlemen's club industry — is produced by ED Publications and is slated for August 25, 2026, at the Penn & Teller Theater in Las Vegas (inside the Rio). The ED's Awards Show will be hosted by top comedian Matt Richards (HBOMax, CBS, Showtime, TBS, MTV and more!).

Established in 1998, the ED's Awards Show is the marquee event of the Annual ED (EXOTIC DANCER) EXPO, the only national convention tradeshow for the adult nightclub industry since its inception in 1993. The 2026 EXPO will be held August 23-26 at the Rio Hotel Casino in Las Vegas, and rooms are just $69 per night!

The first step in the process of nominations for the ED Awards is this pre-nomination voting website, where industry professionals can nominate those clubs, staff members, entertainers and industry executives they feel are most deserving of an ED Award nomination.

Voters were introduced to something new in the title of last year’s show: Honors. That’s because we introduced several ED “Honors” Awards that acknowledge specific individuals who have made a significant contribution to the industry at large. The winners of these awards will be chosen by our “ED Honors Board,” a collection of well-established industry professionals from across the country that represent several areas of club operation, from clubs both big and small.

The following ED “Honors” Awards were introduced in 2025 (see further explanations of each category on their specific nomination page):

• Industry Innovator of the Year
• Progressive Leader (GM) of the Year
• Outstanding Employee of the Year
• Club Transformation of the Year
• Businesswoman of the Year
• Carol Doda Award (honoring the very first topless entertainer)

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT:

When nominating a club, a fellow industry professional or entertainer, please tell us why they deserve this nomination! This is especially important for the Honors Awards and our vetting process for these awards. So please, don't just put down a name, tell us why they deserve this recognition!

ED Publications, producers of the ED’s Awards Show, will be accepting votes on this pre-nominations website through May 24th!

The ED's Awards Show honors the country's top gentlemen's clubs, touring feature entertainers and club staff. The categories for clubs and entertainers have evolved over the years to keep pace with the industry's evolution. In 2026, awards will be presented to clubs in three regions—East, Central and West. Note: There are also Small Club of the Year categories in each of those three regions.

The most prestigious club award is "Overall Club of the Year," a category which typically boasts eight-to-ten nominees from across the U.S. These are clubs that have either won or were nominated in their award region multiple times. In 2022, a new award - "Overall Small Club of the Year" - was introduced that celebrates nominees from across the U.S. that represent clubs that are either in smaller club markets or are venues that are not "mega-clubs" (i.e., less substantial square footage).

The full list of entertainer awards being presented at EXPO 2026 will include: EDI 2026 Grand Champion, Feature Entertainer of the Year, Newcomer Entertainer of the Year, Club Favorite Entertainer of the Year, International Entertainer of the Year and Miss ExoticDancer.com of the Year. 

More about show host Matt Richards

MATT RICHARDS is an NYC-based actor, host, comedian, and writer. He’s appeared on virtually every major network and streaming channel, including HBOMax, Showtime, CBS, NBC, TBS, MTV and VH1. You can catch Matt in the Comedy Central Studios feature film Run For The Money opposite Beck Bennett and Joel McHale on Paramount+, and as the host of A&E’s popular food travel series Best in Chow. Matt was selected as a NEW FACE Character for the prestigious Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, and has been a host producer for Snoop Dogg on various programming for VH1, TBS and Peacock.

You know you’ll be attending the ED EXPO this August in Las Vegas …So why not register today and save?!

Register now for EXPO 2026 at the Rio in Las Vegas and save! The EXPO early registration rate of $299 has been extended to May 30, and you can save an additional 10% if you register three or more together. Tickets for the ED’s Awards Show at the Penn & Teller Theater are $59 and can be purchased along with your EXPO badge right here [https://theedexpo.com/register/]

Don’t forget to book your room at beautiful Rio Hotel & Casino!

If you think you know the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, take another look: Their $340-million-dollar renovation was designed to return this iconic venue to its previous glory. In 2026, ED EXPO attendees will have their opportunity to experience the “new” Rio, as the industry’s only convention lands at this luxurious property on August 23-26.

As The Strip’ gets more congested — and much more expensive — the Rio is the ideal destination to host the EXPO,” says ED Publisher, Dave Manack, noting that though the Rio is “off the strip,” it's only a five-minute Uber ride away. “The Rio property is pristine: The Ipanema Tower boasts brand-new suite-like rooms, while there are scores of dining options including the Canteen Food Hall, a gorgeous convention & tradeshow area, and perhaps the most amazing view of Las Vegas available via their rooftop Voodoo Lounge (and brand new “High Steaks” fine dining restaurant). We can’t wait for our attendees to see everything the Rio has to offer.”