GALA has been recognized for its contributions to the Hispanic arts at the local, national, and international levels. In 1981, GALA received one of the first Mayor's Arts Awards of the District of Columbia, and in 1988 was honored with a Helen Hayes/American Express Award for outstanding leadership in theater. GALA was also awarded the 1998 Public Humanities Award by the Humanities Council of Washington, DC for outstanding contributions to the city through promoting the public life of the humanities.  For its contributions to the Latino and arts communities, GALA was also recognized in 2006 by the National Puerto Rican Coalition and ASPIRA in 2006 and the D.C. Superior Court in 2008.

Several GALA artists also have received Helen Hayes Awards nominations and awards.  Artistic Director Hugo Medrano received the 1994 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Resident Play for his role in Kiss of the Spider Woman; Kim Kovac and Deirdre Lavrakas received the 1994 Outstanding Light Design Award for Kiss of the Spider Woman; and Dahd Sfeir from Uruguay received the 1996 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Actress in a Resident Musical for her role in Mano a mano.  GALA artists also have received nominations for directing, light design, sound design, costume design, and as lead and supporting actors in resident plays and musicals.

GALA productions also have been presented at prestigious international festivals.  These festivals include the Latino Festival at New York's Public Theater; the International Theater Festival of Miami, for which GALA was awarded the Miami Critics Association Award for Best Visiting Production; the 1989  International Theater Festival of San Jose for Peace in Costa Rica; the International Theatre Festival of Central America; and the San Martin International Theater Festival in Venezuela.  GALA productions also have been presented at the Teatro Nacional in San Salvador, El Salvador and the Teatro Nacional in Havana, Cuba.

GALA also has been recognized for its leadership.  For his visionary work and pursuit of excellence, Hugo Medrano, GALA co-founder and artistic director, was honored with the 1994 Hispanic Achievement Award in Communications from Hispanic Magazine and AT&T and The Mary Goldwater Award of Theatre Lobby in 1995.  In1998, Hugo and Rebecca Medrano were recognized by the Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington with its Founder's Award for their achievement in bringing Spanish-language theater to the nation's capital. Ms. Medrano, GALA co-founder and executive director, also was recognized with the 2006 Mayor’s Arts Award for Excellence in Service to the Arts for her exemplary leadership, support and service to the development of the arts in the District of Columbia. In 2008, Hugo and Rebecca Medrano were awarded the order of Queen Isabella by the King of Spain Carlos I, in recognition of their promotion and dissemination of Spanish culture in the US.  In addition, Abel Lopez, Associate Producing Director, was honored with a 1991 Helen Hayes Award for Distinguished Community Service, a 1995 Lobby Award for Direction and Producing,  a 1996 Leadership Award by The Association of American Cultures; the 2001 Selima Ottum Roberts Award from Americans for the Arts for his contributions to the arts; and  a 2003 Richard Bauer Award from the Washington Area Performing Arts Video Archives for his contributions as a past president of the League of Washington Theaters.