LAS VEGAS—As she clutched her golden trophy and approached the podium, Jennifer White was overwhelmed by emotions.

Not just from the ones she was feeling.

But from the ones that were flooding in from the crowd after White was named Female Performer of the Year at the 2026 AVN Awards, Saturday at the Virgin Hotel

“JENNIFER WHIIIIIITTTTTEEEE!” Zac Wild bellowed as he rose from his seat and applauded.

“You did it, baby!” Kylie Rocket yelled from the front row.

“You earned it!” another voice screamed from the balcony.

Then, just as she was about to begin her acceptance speech, White spotted last year’s winner, Anna Claire Clouds, in the audience.

“She was getting a little emotional,” White told PornCrush. “People were genuinely happy for me—I could feel it. I think that was the best part of the night.”

Indeed, as much as she wanted to win the biggest award of the evening, White’s colleagues wanted it for her even more. Despite 17 years in the industry and more than 1,000 scenes, White entered Saturday’s ceremony without a single AVN victory on her resume.

Two hours later, with hundreds of supporters waiting in the casino to congratulate her, she left The Theater carrying the most-coveted prize of them all.

“I told her right to her face, ‘If you don’t win that award tonight, I will never come back to an AVN Awards show,” Wild, a frequent White scene partner, told PornCrush. “There was not a single fucking performer on this planet who deserved Female Performer of the Year other than Jennifer White. This night belonged to her, and I’m so happy for her.”

Clouds agreed.

“I’ve idolized Jennifer since before I got into porn,” Clouds said. “Seeing her win was like watching my idol get her flowers. She’s a true porn star—the epitome of a porn star.

“Jennifer White is porn.”

White—who earlier in the ceremony won the award for Best Star Showcase—drew roars from the crowd multiple times during her acceptance speech.

“This was a 17-year journey,” White said, “and sometimes it felt like an unreachable dream. But if you work hard, you can succeed. If no one invests in you, invest in yourself. If you never give up, you can succeed.”

White’s victories highlighted a star-studded event that drew more than 2,000 industry-types and fans to The Theater in the Virgin Hotel. Hosted by buxom Brazzers contract star Abigail Morris and popular cam model ItsLo, the show featured performances by comedian Brittany Schmitt and rapper Wiz Khalifa.

Still, the big-name entertainers weren’t enough to overshadow the focal point of the evening: trophies. And with more than 100 categories, there were plenty of people who went home happy on Saturday.

Other than White’s victory, the most-anticipated moment of the night came when “Strip” won the Grand Reel category for movie of the year. Directed by Ricky Greenwood for Dorcel, the film features stars such as Anna Claire Clouds, Blake Blossom, Kenna James, and Tommy Pistol and includes a lesbian scene with retired star Riley Reid.

Pistol took home the Best Leading Actor - Male trophy for his performance in the movie, while Ryan Reid won the award in the female category for her role in another Greenwood flick, “Deadly Vows.”

When it came to scenes, the premier categories received enthusiastic audience approval.

Kylie Rocket's win for Best Oral Sex Scene (with Isiah Maxwell) marked the third AVN award for the bubbly brunette—but it was the first time she’d accepted a trophy on stage. Ditto for petite princess Emma Rosie, who took home the gold for Best Anal Sex Scene for her backdoor romp with Zac Wild for Evil Angel.

Kira Noir and Miss B Nasty won for Best Girl-Girl Sex, while Chanel Camryn and Milan Ponjevic won the most-prestigious category of them all, Best Boy-Girl Sex Scene. Last year, the same duo won for Best Anal Sex Scene.

“You put us in a scene together, you’re going to get some good shit,” Camryn said.

Lexi Luna was named MILF Performer of the Year while Cheerleader Kait won for Best New Starlet. No performer, however, had a bigger haul than Aubrey Kate, whose five trophies included one for Trans Performer of the Year, which she won for an unprecedented fourth time.

Another memorable moment came when popular director Mike Quasar won the Mark Stone Award for Outstanding Comedy, earning his first AVN trophy.

“I always said I hope to win an AVN Award before I die,” Quasar tweeted Sunday, “so obviously this means I’m going to die soon.”

The crowd booed—heavily—toward the end of the show when an advertisement for JOI, an emerging AI company, played on the Jumbotron. But the good vibes returned minutes later when presenters Cherie Deville, Adriana Chechik, and Girthmasterr announced White as Female Performer of the Year.

“To see Jennifer get her flowers, I’m ecstatic,” director Craven Morehead said. “She’s the matriarch of the business. She’s the most real, talented, sweetest person you’ll ever meet. Her ego never enters the mix.”

Wild was effusive in his praise.

“It’s like a light switch when the camera comes on,” he said. “She does everything perfectly. She’s so in-tune with her hygiene, her performance, and taking care of herself. She gives it her all, and I’m so grateful that she still has that mentality and hunger through 18 years in the industry.”

White’s victory came six days after she won in the same category at the XMAs in Hollywood. White told PornCrush that she doesn’t plan to slow down in 2026.

“This is when you hit the gas pedal,” White said. “A lot of it has to do with my love of sex, and my love of acting, too. Just combining those two to make a career is amazing. This is the business for me, that’s for sure.

“I’m right where I belong.”