15 transgender films and TV shows to watch for Trans Awareness Week 2026

Trans Awareness Week returns from Friday 13 to Thursday 19 November 2026, celebrating transgender lives, raising awareness and encouraging people to learn more about the experiences of the community.

The week is followed by Transgender Day of Remembrance on Friday 20 November, when people around the world remember those who have lost their lives to anti-trans violence.

Film and television have played an important role in bringing transgender stories to wider audiences. From award-winning dramas and groundbreaking television series to romantic comedies and documentaries, there are plenty of productions worth discovering.

Whether you're looking for something uplifting, an important piece of LGBTQ+ history or simply a good film to watch, here are 15 titles & trailers to explore during Trans Awareness Week.

1. Disclosure (2020)

Where to watch: Netflix

If you've ever wondered how Hollywood has influenced attitudes towards transgender people, Disclosure is an excellent place to start.

Directed by Sam Feder, the documentary explores more than a century of transgender representation in film and television, examining how familiar characters and storylines have shaped public perceptions.

Featuring Laverne Cox, Yance Ford and other transgender actors and filmmakers, it also celebrates the people challenging outdated stereotypes and creating opportunities for more authentic storytelling.

2. Pose (2018–2021)

Where to watch: Disney+

Set in New York during the 1980s and 1990s, Pose follows the lives of LGBTQ+ people involved in the city's ballroom scene, where elaborate competitions provide a space for creativity, friendship and fierce rivalry.

The three-season drama features Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Dominique Jackson, Indya Moore and Angelica Ross, alongside Billy Porter.

Beyond the spectacular costumes and performances, Pose explores chosen families, relationships, discrimination and the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Its prominent transgender cast and creative talent helped establish it as one of television's most significant LGBTQ+ dramas.

3. Will & Harper (2024)

Where to watch: Netflix

Will Ferrell and longtime friend Harper Steele take a road trip across America in this touching documentary about friendship and acceptance.

After Harper comes out as a transgender woman, the pair decide to revisit places they once enjoyed together, discussing how their friendship and Harper's experiences have developed.

Their conversations range from hilarious to deeply personal, with the documentary offering an honest look at the challenges Harper encounters alongside the support of an old friend. It is one of the warmer and more accessible choices on this list.

4. The Danish Girl (2015)

Where to watch: Digital rental or purchase

Eddie Redmayne stars alongside Alicia Vikander in this historical drama inspired by the life of Lili Elbe, an artist who became one of the earliest known recipients of gender-affirming surgery.

Set in 1920s Europe, the film follows Lili's journey and her relationship with fellow artist Gerda Wegener, exploring love, identity and the challenges surrounding her transition.

Although the film received considerable awards attention, it also attracted criticism for casting a cisgender actor in the central role and taking liberties with historical events. It remains a widely recognised depiction of transgender history, but is best approached as a fictionalised drama rather than a completely accurate biography.

5. Tangerine (2015)

Where to watch: Prime Video

Filmed on iPhones, Tangerine follows two transgender friends through Los Angeles on Christmas Eve, delivering a fast-moving story packed with humour, arguments and unexpected encounters.

Kitana Kiki Rodriguez plays Sin-Dee, who discovers that her boyfriend has been unfaithful while she was in prison. Together with her friend Alexandra, played by Mya Taylor, she sets out to confront him.

Directed by Sean Baker, the film received widespread praise for its energetic storytelling and performances. It also helped bring greater attention to transgender actresses working in independent cinema.

6. A Fantastic Woman (2017)

Where to watch: ITVX, including free viewing with adverts

Daniela Vega delivers an outstanding performance as Marina, a transgender woman whose life is thrown into turmoil following the sudden death of her partner.

As Marina attempts to grieve, she faces hostility from his family and others who refuse to recognise their relationship.

The Chilean drama won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film and brought Vega international recognition. Its portrayal of grief, dignity and personal resilience makes it one of the most acclaimed transgender-led films of recent years.

7. Paris Is Burning (1990)

Where to watch: BBC iPlayer/Youtube

Long before ballroom culture became familiar to mainstream television audiences, Paris Is Burning documented the extraordinary communities behind it.

Filmed during the 1980s, Jennie Livingston's documentary explores New York's ballroom scene, where Black and Latino LGBTQ+ people competed in elaborate events while creating communities and chosen families.

The film features influential figures including Venus Xtravaganza, Pepper LaBeija and Dorian Corey, offering a fascinating look at the culture that later inspired productions such as Pose.

It also examines the poverty, racism and discrimination faced by many participants, making it an important historical record as well as a celebration of creativity and community.

8. The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (2017)

Where to watch: Netflix

Marsha P. Johnson remains one of the most recognisable figures associated with the LGBTQ+ liberation movement and the fight for greater equality.

This documentary revisits Johnson's activism, including work alongside Sylvia Rivera, while following Victoria Cruz's investigation into the circumstances surrounding Johnson's death in 1992.

Johnson described herself using terminology associated with the gay liberation movement of her time and is widely celebrated within transgender history today.

With Transgender Day of Remembrance following the awareness week, the documentary offers an opportunity to reflect on LGBTQ+ activism, the experiences of marginalised communities and the people who fought for recognition.

9. Boy Meets Girl (2015–2016)

Where to watch: STV Player for free with adverts, and Prime Video

For something lighter, this British romantic comedy centres on Judy, a transgender woman in her forties who begins an unexpected relationship with a younger man named Leo.

Rebecca Root stars alongside Harry Hepple in the BBC series, which follows the couple as they navigate their developing romance and the reactions of their families.

Rather than concentrating entirely on Judy's gender identity, the comedy gives viewers a relatable relationship filled with awkward moments, affection and familiar family disagreements.

The series was an important development for transgender representation in British television, with Root taking a leading role in a mainstream BBC comedy.

10. Anything's Possible (2022)

Where to watch: Prime Video

Directed by Billy Porter, Anything's Possible is a romantic comedy about Kelsa, a confident transgender teenager navigating her final year of high school.

When classmate Khal develops feelings for her, the pair begin a romance that brings excitement, uncertainty and complications within their friendship groups.

Starring Eva Reign and Abubakr Ali, the film explores first love, friendship and growing up, with transgender identity forming part of Kelsa's life rather than defining every aspect of her story.

It is a welcome option for viewers looking for a contemporary romance featuring a transgender lead.

11. Boys Don't Cry (1999)

Where to watch: Disney+

Hilary Swank won an Academy Award for portraying Brandon Teena in this acclaimed but deeply upsetting drama based on real events.

The film follows Brandon, a young transgender man attempting to build a life in Nebraska, where he develops friendships and a romantic relationship before becoming the victim of horrific violence.

Boys Don't Cry brought Brandon's story to international attention and remains one of the best-known films about a transgender person.

However, its portrayal of sexual violence, transphobia and murder makes it a particularly difficult watch. The casting of a cisgender actress in the central role has also prompted discussion about transgender representation in cinema.

12. Transamerica (2005)

Where to watch: Tubi, subject to UK availability

Felicity Huffman stars as Bree, a transgender woman preparing for gender-affirming surgery when she discovers that she has a teenage son she never knew about.

What follows is an unusual road trip as Bree and her son Toby travel across America, gradually learning more about one another.

The comedy-drama combines uncomfortable family encounters with moments of genuine warmth, exploring parenthood, acceptance and the possibility of building relationships later in life.

Huffman received an Academy Award nomination for the performance, although the casting remains another example of a transgender character being played by a cisgender actor.

13. Euphoria (2019–)

Where to watch: NOW and Sky Go

HBO's acclaimed teenage drama stars Zendaya as Rue, but one of its most significant characters is Jules, played by transgender actress Hunter Schafer.

Jules is a transgender teenager whose relationship with Rue becomes a central part of the series, with the programme exploring love, identity, friendship and complicated emotions.

Schafer's performance has attracted considerable praise, particularly for bringing a transgender character into one of television's most widely discussed contemporary dramas.

The series contains mature themes, including drug addiction, sexual content and violence, so it is better suited to adult viewers looking for a darker drama.

14. Veneno (2020)

Where to watch: HBO

This acclaimed Spanish drama tells the story of Cristina Ortiz Rodríguez, better known as La Veneno, a transgender television personality who became famous in Spain during the 1990s.

Featuring transgender performers including Daniela Santiago, Isabel Torres and Jedet portraying La Veneno at different stages of her life, the series explores fame, identity, relationships and the challenges she faced.

The eight-part production received international praise for its performances and its portrayal of transgender history in Spain.

Although UK streaming availability is currently limited, Veneno is worth remembering for viewers interested in international LGBTQ+ television and stories based on real people.

15. Break the Game

Where to watch: https://breakthegame.vhx.tv - To rent.

Gaming and transgender identity come together in this documentary following Narcissa Wright, a record-breaking speedrunner known for playing The Legend of Zelda games.

After coming out as a transgender woman, Narcissa experiences a difficult relationship with parts of her online audience. Hoping to rebuild her following, she attempts another gaming record while livestreaming her progress.

Directed by Jane M. Wagner, the documentary explores gaming culture, online harassment, public attention and the challenges of maintaining relationships in digital spaces.

It provides a very different perspective from the historical dramas and Hollywood documentaries elsewhere on this list, examining transgender experiences within the world of online entertainment.

Marking Trans Awareness Week 2026

Trans Awareness Week is about more than reflecting on the difficulties transgender people face. It is also an opportunity to celebrate achievements, creativity, relationships and the many different experiences within the community.

These films and television programmes offer everything from comedy and romance to historical documentaries and award-winning drama. Some are difficult to watch, while others celebrate friendship, love and everyday life.

Trans Awareness Week takes place from 13 to 19 November 2026, followed by Transgender Day of Remembrance on 20 November.

Viewers can also support transgender filmmakers, writers and performers throughout the year by seeking out their work and sharing the stories they enjoy.

Streaming availability refers to UK listings checked ahead of the awareness week and may change. Some titles require a subscription, while others are available through free ad-supported services or digital rental. Image credits to respective owners.