✨ What to Wear & What to Expect at the Idaho’s Best Awards Ceremony

The Idaho’s Best Awards Ceremony is more than an awards show — it’s a night to celebrate, connect, and dress up. Here’s what to know before you arrive.

👗 What to Wear

This is a dress to impress event. Formal attire is encouraged, and guests should expect to see:

• Tuxedos and suits
• Gowns and cocktail dresses
• Elevated, polished looks

Think red carpet energy — not business casual.

🎉 What to Expect

Guests can look forward to:

• Live, on-stage announcement of winners
• Recognition of finalists
• Professional event photography
• Drinks, dessert, and live entertainment
• A high-energy atmosphere celebrating Idaho’s best businesses

Mark Your Calendar

Tuesday, April 7
or Wednesday, April 8
7:30 pm: Doors Open for Red Carpet, Drinks, Dessert, Live Entertainment & Awards Presentation
9:30 pm: Approximate End Time

Boise Centre
Main Building – Level 1
850 W Front St
Boise, ID 83702

Your Night to Attend

To accommodate more finalists, we’re holding the ceremony across two nights. This way we can avoid jamming everything into one ultra-long night of announcing winner after winner after winner.

Half the categories will be announced on Tuesday 4/7 and the rest on Wednesday 4/8. To see which night your category is being announced, see the table on the finalists page.

If for some reason you absolutely cannot make it on your assigned night, please let us know. Depending on how ticket sales progress, we may be able to change it.

🎟️ A Quick Reminder

Tickets are required to attend and are expected to sell out. Be sure to purchase tickets as soon as they become available and plan to celebrate with your team.

Idaho’s Best has grown a lot over the past few years. With more nominations, more votes, and more incredible companies participating across the state, we made a small update to the way finalists and winners are announced this year.

It’s official — the 2026 Idaho’s Best finalists have been announced!

These businesses earned the highest overall scores in their categories, based on votes and Google reviews from the past year. Did your favorite company make the cut?

Let’s Celebrate Together 🎊

Finalists will be recognized at the Idaho’s Best Awards Ceremony, a fun, high-energy celebration designed to honor outstanding local businesses and celebrate with your team.

📍 Boise
📅 April 7 + 8

Hosting the event across two nights allows us to welcome more finalists and guests. Be sure to check the finalists list on our website to confirm which night your category will be announced.

🎟️ Tickets sell out fast, so don’t wait. Purchase tickets as soon as they become available and plan to celebrate this achievement with your team.

Congratulations to all of our 2026 Idaho’s Best finalists — we can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Ever wonder how Idaho’s Best winners are chosen? Our process balances community support with real-world reputation.

Here’s a simplified look at how it works:

1. Nominations – Idaho residents nominate businesses they trust
2. Internal Review – Google reviews from the past 12 months are analyzed
3. Voting Stage – Community votes are collected during the voting period
4. Overall Score – Votes and review performance are combined

This approach helps ensure that winners aren’t just well-liked, but consistently supported by real customers.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2026 Idaho’s Best Awards voting stage. Your support helps spotlight the businesses that truly stand out across Idaho.

Our team is now compiling results, combining votes with Google reviews from the past 12 months to determine which nominees earned the highest overall scores and will move forward as finalists.

Finalists will be announced soon — stay tuned for the next update.
Thanks again for being part of Idaho’s Best.

Voting for the 2026 Idaho’s Best Awards is underway, and there’s still time to make your voice heard.

🗳️ Voting is open through February 26

Remember, you can vote once per category, so even if you’ve already voted in one, there may be more opportunities to support the businesses you love.

What Happens Next?

Once voting closes, results will be reviewed and combined with Google reviews from the past 12 months to determine which nominees earn the highest overall scores and move forward as finalists.

If you’ve already voted, thank you. If not, now’s the time — visit our website and cast your votes before it closes.

The moment is here. Voting for the 2026 Idaho’s Best Awards is officially open, and this is when Idaho residents get a say in recognizing the businesses that truly stand out.

From longtime favorites to trusted local service providers, voting is your opportunity to support the companies that consistently deliver great experiences.

Voting Dates

🗓️ Voting is open February 10 through February 26

During this time, residents can visit our website and vote for their favorite businesses across multiple categories.

How Voting Works

Voting is simple, but meaningful:

• Each person may vote once per category
• Voting must remain fair and cannot be incentivized
• Votes are combined with Google reviews from the past 12 months

Together, these factors help identify the businesses that have earned trust, loyalty, and strong community support.

Nominees: Time to Spread the Word

If your business is an official 2026 nominee, now is the time to let your customers know.

Helpful ways to encourage participation include:

• Sharing your nomination on social media
• Using the complimentary voting graphics in your dashboard
• Mentioning your nomination in-store or during appointments
• Sending a short email or text thanking customers and inviting them to vote

Support Local. Make It Count.

Voting is open now — head to our website and make your voice heard before voting closes on February 26.

How to Get Ready for the Idaho’s Best Voting Period

We’re officially in countdown mode. In just three days, voting for the 2026 Idaho’s Best Awards will open — one of the most important stages of the entire program.

If your business is an official nominee, now is the time to prepare. If you’re a supporter of local businesses, get ready to make your voice heard.

When Does Voting Open?

🗳️ Voting opens February 10 and runs through February 26

During the voting stage, 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 12 months to help determine which nominees rise to the top.

Nominees: How to Make the Most of Voting

Voting must remain fair and cannot be incentivized, but nominees are encouraged to spread the word. A little preparation now can make the voting period much more impactful.

Here are a few effective ways to prepare:

• Share a post letting customers know voting is opening soon
• Download and use the complimentary voting graphics in your dashboard
• Mention your nomination during customer interactions
• Plan a short email or text reminder once voting opens

Almost Time

Voting opens in just three days, and this is when the Idaho’s Best community really comes together. Whether you’re preparing to share your nomination or planning to vote, now is the time to get ready.

Your 2026 Idaho’s Best Checklist

Being named a nominee means your customers have noticed your hard work. Use this checklist to stay on track and prepare for the next stages of the awards program.

✅ Step 1: Claim Your Nomination

Claim your company’s nomination on our website to access your dashboard, receive updates, and confirm your business information.
👉 Claimed nominations may be given preference in the event of a tie.

✅ Step 2: Review Your Business Information

Once logged in, confirm that your business name, category, address, locations, and contact details are accurate.

✅ Step 3: Download Complimentary Graphics

Use the promotional graphics in your dashboard on social media, your website, in-store signage, and email newsletters.

✅ Step 4: Prepare for Voting (Opens February 10)

You may encourage people to vote, but voting must remain fair and cannot be incentivized. Helpful ways to spread the word include:

• Sharing the voting link on social media
• Thanking customers and inviting them to vote
• Posting signage in your business
• Sending a friendly email or text

✅ Step 5: Encourage Google Reviews Year-Round

Google reviews from the past 12 months play a major role in the awards process. Consistent, honest reviews help strengthen your presence year after year.

✅ Step 6: Watch for Finalist Announcements

After voting closes, results are reviewed to determine which nominees move forward as finalists. Watch your email and dashboard for updates.

✅ Step 7: Plan Ahead for the Awards Ceremony

Finalists will be invited to celebrate at the Idaho’s Best Awards Ceremony, taking place April 7–8 in Boise. Once finalists are announced, we’ll share which categories will be recognized on each night.

Tickets will be available soon and are expected to sell out.

You’re On Your Way

By following this checklist, you’ll be fully prepared for the next stages of the 2026 Idaho’s Best Awards. We can’t wait to celebrate with you.

The Idaho’s Best community has spoken, and our team has completed the review process. Businesses selected as official 2026 Idaho’s Best nominees earned their place through a strong combination of nominations and Google reviews from the past 12 months.

Being named a nominee is an accomplishment in itself, and we’re excited to have you move forward in this year’s awards program.

What Should You Do Next?

Claim Your Nomination

If your business is a nominee, be sure to claim your nomination as soon as possible. It only takes a minute and unlocks important tools and benefits.

Why Claim Your Company’s Nomination?

Claiming your nomination gives you immediate access to your business dashboard, where you can:

• Download complimentary promotional graphics
• Access announcements and program updates
• Purchase event tickets and plaques
• Review and correct your business information

Claiming your listing also helps ensure your business name, locations, and contact details are accurate throughout the program.

Claiming Your Nomination Helps Us — and You

Engagement plays an important role in keeping Idaho’s Best fair and competitive. When businesses claim their nominations, it helps us better understand participation across categories and refine the program over time.

While ties are rare, they do occur — and in those cases, preference may be given to businesses that have claimed their nomination.

Get Ready for Voting — Opens February 10

The next stage of the program is voting, which opens February 10. Nominees are encouraged to prepare now by downloading the complimentary graphics available in the dashboard and planning how to share the voting link with customers, friends, and followers.

Let’s get the word out and make 2026 Idaho’s Best our most engaging year yet.