Meet the Nominees, Get Ready to Vote, and Save the Date

The 2026 Idaho’s Best Awards season is officially in full swing. Idaho residents once again stepped up to nominate the businesses they love most, resulting in a highly competitive and exciting year.

From restaurants and retail to professional services and local favorites, one thing is clear: Idaho shows up for its local businesses.

Official 2026 Nominees Have Been Announced

After nominations closed in early January, our team spent weeks reviewing submissions to determine this year’s official Idaho’s Best nominees.

Each nominated business was carefully evaluated to ensure:

• The category was the best fit
• Business information and locations were accurate
• Google reviews from the past 12 months reflected consistent customer experience

While many businesses are nominated each year, only a limited number move forward as official nominees. This process helps ensure Idaho’s Best remains one of the most competitive and meaningful awards programs in the state.

Voting Opens February 10–26

This Is When Your Voice Matters

The next stage of the Idaho’s Best Awards is voting, which runs from February 10 through February 26.

During this time, Idaho residents can visit our website and vote to support the businesses they believe truly stand out. Voting is combined with Google reviews from the past year to help determine which nominees earn the highest overall scores.

Keeping the Playing Field Fair

Single-location businesses are straightforward to evaluate, but companies with multiple locations require additional consideration. To keep things fair, Google reviews are averaged across all locations, allowing businesses to compete based on quality and consistency rather than size alone.

Save the Date: Idaho’s Best Awards Ceremony

April 7–8 in Boise

The 2026 Idaho’s Best Awards Ceremony will take place in Boise on April 7 and 8. Hosting the event across two nights allows us to welcome more finalists and guests and celebrate more outstanding businesses.

Once finalists are announced, we’ll share which categories will be recognized on each night so finalists know when to attend. Winners will be revealed live at the ceremony before being shared on our website shortly after.

Thank You for Supporting Idaho’s Best

Idaho’s Best wouldn’t exist without the support of the local community. Thank you to everyone who nominated businesses, shared posts, left reviews, and plans to vote. We can’t wait to celebrate with you throughout the rest of the 2026 season.