Our journey to the Grabbys 2026 in Torremolinos began – unexpectedly – with a real highlight. The over 2,300-kilometer drive through Luxembourg, France, and Spain was relaxed, smooth, and almost restorative. Anyone accustomed to the daily grind of German autobahns with their construction sites, speed changes, and stress experiences a completely different form of travel in Luxembourg, France, and Spain. Three driving segments between 500 and 900 kilometers – and we arrived at the hotel in the evening surprisingly well-rested.
Upon arriving in Torremolinos, we set up a separate apartment as a mobile studio in the Hotel Ritual, next to our room. In advance, numerous creators had expressed interest in shootings – and this work, in retrospect, became one of the few genuine added values of the Grabbys.
The Real Added Value of the Grabbys: Encounters with Creators
Away from the official event, exciting encounters emerged: creators with diverse backgrounds, motivations, and working methods. From the politically engaged Berlin actor who earns more as a creator than in theater, to the assistant doctor with a side job, to international creator couples and production groups – the Gay Content Creator scene is very multifaceted.
These conversations and shootings were inspiring – and they simultaneously made it clear where the truly interesting topic lies for us: with independent creators, not with the classic studios of gay adult entertainment.
The Grabbys Themselves: Clear Focus on Large Studios
The official program points – Fashion Show, Red Carpet, and Award Show – presented a different picture. It quickly became clear that the event primarily targets large production studios and their brand presentation.
The fashion show, postponed to Saturday due to bad weather, was less a fashion event and more a parade of studio models. Short walks, hardly any posing, little photographic added value. For photographers, there was practically no opportunity to take high-quality shots. What we saw was more an involuntary attempt at a gay answer to “The Devil Wears Prada!”
There are fashion brands specializing in gay men, and the pool with its catwalk at Hotel Ritual is perfectly suited for such a Grabbys catwalk, but what we saw had as little to do with a fashion show as Donald Trump with the Nobel Peace Prize. The textile collection at Fotostudio Vohwinkel offers a wider range of shirts, pants, briefs, and suits to showcase the masculinity of attractive men.
This pattern continued on the Red Carpet: high pace, “Next, please” timing by the official photographer, hardly any time for interaction or image composition. For external photographers, this meant: hardly any usable material. The main thing was to get the side program done. Loveless.
The impression solidified: the event is not designed to give creators or independent media space – but primarily serves to showcase established studios and sponsors. The “little creator next door” is welcome as a paying guest, however – only a rogue would think ill of it.
Working Conditions for Photographers: Practically Non-existent
From a photographic perspective, the conditions were generally inadequate:
- No clearly defined work areas for photographers
- No opportunity to work structured or set up motifs
- No access to award winners (exclusive to official photographers)
- No meaningful positioning for stage shots
- No organizational integration despite accreditation
Even simple and quickly deployable solutions – such as an additional shooting point with studio flash – were ignored despite our offer. Yet, precisely this would have given both creators and the event itself visibly more value. It would have been so easy to convey a feeling of appreciation to the attending “little creator next door” despite the circumstances. A implemented “Sorry, the weather is awful, we can’t help that, but we want you to be happy and satisfied!”
Four photographers were on site, equipped with good cameras and flashes, in our case with a complete studio flash system.
At the latest, when stage photography also became practically impossible, we stopped working.
Structural Problems for Creators
Conversations with creators also revealed a critical overall picture:
- Partially double cost structures (hotel + additional app/event fees)
- Limited access for external guests and collaborations
- Increasing displacement by fans of large studios
- Few genuine networking opportunities within the official framework
The creators known to our photography team from Studio Vohwinkel, who also traveled to the Grabbys, are probably already familiar with these limitations from previous years. Some creators also complained that fewer and fewer creators, but more fans of the big studios, were showing up at the hotel instead of creators.
It seems that this has already spread by word of mouth, leading many creators to seek accommodation outside the Hotel Ritual to arrange successful collabs. A trend is emerging for creators to perceive the Grabbys only as a date for collabs, meeting around this time in Torremolinos for photo and video productions. With such planning, they could save a lot of money. Since creators are well-connected with each other, the Grabbys could then definitively become an event for the big studios and their fans – an assumption that has been circulating for some time.
Conclusion
For us personally, the encounters with creators and the resulting shootings remain the most positive aspect.
The Grabbys themselves, however, currently offer:
- Little added value for independent creators
- Hardly any work opportunities for photographers
- A clear focus on large studios and their presentation
Should this development continue, the Grabbys will in the future serve more as a temporal anchor for independent productions – no longer as a central industry platform.
Tip for Creators
Get an apartment outside or share a house, and ideally plan your collabs outside the Hotel Ritual. This can save a lot of money.
