AEBN has released its lists of top-performing stars for the second quarter of 2026, with Kenna James leading the straight theater category and Derek Kage topping the gay theater list. These rankings, announced on July 15, 2026, from Charlotte, N.C., highlight the most popular performers across AEBN's platforms.
Q2 2026 Top Performers
In the straight theater category for the second quarter of 2026, Kenna James secured the top position. Following Kenna James were Casey Calvert, Leana Lovings, Penny Barber, Lauren Phillips, Anissa Kate, Alex Coal, Blake Blossom, Shalina Devine, and Cherie DeVille, listed in descending order of popularity. This marks a significant period for Kenna James, who was also ranked second in the straight theater category for the entirety of 2025, behind Lauren Phillips.
For gay theaters, Derek Kage was named the top star for the second quarter of 2026. The subsequent top performers in this category were Alex Kof, Eddie Patrick, Oliver Carter, Adam Snow, Jacob King, Sir Peter, Sean Xavier, Oliver Marks, and Brogan. Derek Kage also held the number one spot in gay theaters for the full year 2025, indicating consistent popularity. Sir Peter, who ranked second in gay theaters for 2025, also appeared in the top ten for Q2 2026.
AEBN also revealed its top trans star for the second quarter of 2026, naming Kasey Kei as the leader in this category on July 9, 2026.
Historical Performance and Trends
The recent Q2 2026 rankings show both continuity and shifts in performer popularity compared to previous years. Looking back at 2025, Lauren Phillips was the top star in straight theaters, followed by Kenna James. Other notable straight theater performers in 2025 included India Summer, Leana Lovings, Dee Williams, Shalina Devine, Syren De Mer, Octavia Red, Cherry Kiss, and Cherie DeVille. Several of these names, such as Kenna James, Leana Lovings, Penny Barber, Lauren Phillips, Anissa Kate, Blake Blossom, Shalina Devine, and Cherie DeVille, have maintained their presence in the top ranks into Q2 2026.
In gay theaters, Derek Kage's consistent performance is evident, having been the top star for 2025. Sir Peter was ranked second in gay theaters for 2025. Other top gay theater stars in 2025 included Andrew Delta, Eddie Patrick, Zane Kazan, Jordan Starr, Trevor Brooks, Marcus McNeill, Ryder Owens, and Champ Robinson. Eddie Patrick, Oliver Carter, Sir Peter, and Sean Xavier from the 2025 list also appeared in the Q2 2026 top ten.
Further back in 2024, Penny Barber was the top star in straight theaters, with Sir Peter leading the gay theaters. The top 10 straight stars for 2024 included Penny Barber, Dee Williams, Lauren Phillips, Kenna James, Coco Lovelock, Julia Ann, Syren De Mer, Magdalene St. Michaels, Jennifer White, and India Summer. For gay theaters in 2024, the top 10 included Sir Peter, Derek Kage, Austin Young, Roman Todd, Bruce Jones, Jayden Marcos, Andy Rodrigues, Beau Butler, Lawson James, and Ryder Owens. This historical data, compiled by AEBN, is based on scene and movie sales.
AEBN's Role in the Industry
AEBN, the Adult Entertainment Broadcast Network, has been providing adult video on demand to consumers since 1999. The company operates through a global network of Affiliate Partners and maintains distribution rights via thousands of Content Partners. This ensures access to a large library of full-length adult titles, encompassing straight, gay, fetish, and niche content. AEBNTrends.com, a platform associated with AEBN, regularly publishes updates on popular searches by country, along with various data and analysis for both straight and gay theaters. The full list of Q2 2026 top stars is available on AEBNTrends.
Key Facts
- Kenna James was the top star in straight theaters for the second quarter of 2026.
- Derek Kage was the top star in gay theaters for the second quarter of 2026.
- The Q2 2026 rankings were announced on July 15, 2026, from Charlotte, N.C.
- Lauren Phillips was the top straight theater star for the full year 2025, with Kenna James ranked second.
- Derek Kage was the top gay theater star for the full year 2025, with Sir Peter ranked second.
- AEBN also named Kasey Kei as the top trans star for Q2 2026 on July 9, 2026.
