With its magazine-style glossy cover, great photographs, and insightful opinions on the BEST of everything this area has to offer, Best Of 2026 is the issue you don’t want to miss. Our critics will make their choices, and those winners will be announced in the Best Of 2026 special edition on Wed, Sep 30, but they aren’t the only ones participating. Our readers get a say in all this as well. (Yes, you!)
Now thru midnight Sun, Sep 13, make your voice heard by participating in our online-only write-in ballot to determine the Readers’ Choice winners for all the sections: Getting & Spending, People & Places, Arts & Culture, Good Grub, and On the Town. Below are the categories for each.
Good Grub Categories
Bakery, Barbecue, Breakfast, Brunch, Burger, Chef, Chicken-Fried Steak, Chinese Food, Coffeeshop, Deli Sandwiches, Food Truck, Fried Chicken, Italian Food, Japanese Food, Mediterranean Food, Mexican Food, Pizza, Plant-Based Dish, Ramen, Restaurant, New Restaurant, Salsa, Seafood, Soul Food, Street Tacos, Sushi, Tamales, Tex-Mex Food, Thai Food, Vietnamese Food, Waitstaff, Wings, and Wildcard.*
On the Town Categories
Bar-Bar, Bartender, Beer Selection, Brewery, Place to See Comedy, Craft Cocktail, Place to Dance, Distillery, Dive Bar, Drag Show, Happy Hour, Hotel Bar, Karaoke Night, Late-Night Food, LGBTQIA+ Bar, Margarita, Martini, Mixologist, Patio, Dog-Friendly Patio, Restaurant Bar, Sports Bar, Place to Drink Wine, and Wildcard.*
Getting & Spending Categories
Antique & Vintage Finds, Barbershop, Beauty Service, Boutique, Car Wash, Place to Buy CBD or THC, Place to Buy Cigars, Place to Buy Coffee, Comic Book Store, Customer Service, Day Spa, Farmers Market, Place to Buy Gifts, Grocery Store, Hair Salon, Place to Buy Jewelry, Liquor Store, Metaphysical Shop, Music Store, Optical Shop, Pet Services, Record Store, Smoke or Vape Shop, Tattoo Studio, Thrift Store, Place to Buy Wine, and Wildcard.*
Arts & Culture Categories
Art Gallery, Art Gallery Exhibit, Artist, Arts & Crafts Event, Burlesque, Concert, Culinary Event, Cultural Event, Dance Troupe, Day Trip, Dog Park, Drag Performer, Entertainment Spot, Festival, Haunted Attraction, Kids’ Activity, Place to Take Kids, Place to See Movies, Museum Exhibit, Music Lessons, New Mural, Nonprofit Organization, Park, Podcast, Theater Production, Theater Troupe, and Wildcard.*
People & Places Categories
Place to Adopt Pets, Animal Rescue Group, Apartment Community, College Athlete, Professional Athlete, Camp for Kids, City Councilmember, Dentist, Doctor, Dog Groomer, Facebook Group, Hospital, Lawyer, Local Celebrity, Place to Meet Locals, Nurse, Photographer, Radio Personality, Realtor, Social Influencer, Tattoo Artist, Teacher, Television Personality, Veterinarian, Place to Work, Place to Work Out, and Wildcard.*
*About Wildcard Entries
Did we miss something in the categories above? It’s a big ballot, so it happens. Use the Wildcard field in each section to plug in your extra category idea, who you’d like to see win said category, and why.
ATTN Business Owners: How to Promote the Vote
Are you interested in campaigning for any of the categories above? Use the QR Code in this column to see the online version of this article, which includes the rules and advice on creating a post. Plus, that is where you’ll find the digital art that you can use on your social media channels to invite your family, fans, followers, and friends to nominate you in the category/categories of your choice at FWWeekly.com/Best-Of-20265-Ballot.
About the Music Awards
This year, we will be doing a separate Music Awards Ballot in December, then celebrating the 2026 winners at a ceremony in March 2027. Stay tuned for more info.
