Voting is now open for the 2026 “Best of Owensboro Living” awards, and the community has through Friday to support their favorite local restaurants, shops, professionals, and organizations. New this year are six OL Signature Awards recognizing those making an even broader impact across Owensboro.
The annual awards, presented by Owensboro Living, invite readers to celebrate the people and places that make everyday life in Owensboro better. This year’s awards are sponsored by Bluegrass Dental.
Here’s the link to cast your vote. Participants can submit one ballot per day during the three-day voting period, and voters are welcome to fill out as many or as few categories on each ballot as they like. Only votes cast at the official ballot link will count.
The online ballot features more than 90 categories, from restaurants and coffee shops to doctors, home services, boutiques, and community leaders. Winners are determined entirely by reader votes.
“The ‘Best of Owensboro’ awards are really a celebration of the businesses, professionals, and organizations that people here rely on every day,” said Owensboro Living Editor Ryan Richardson. “It’s a fun way for readers to show support for the places they love and help highlight the people who make our community special.”
Winners will be announced in the May issue of Owensboro Living and recognized during a special awards ceremony on May 1.
New this year: OL Signature Awards
This year introduces a new group of honors called the OL Signature Awards, recognizing individuals, businesses, and organizations making an exceptional impact in the community.
Unlike the traditional categories, these awards highlight broader leadership, service, and brand excellence across Owensboro.
The OL Signature Awards include:
- Best customer experience — Recognizing a business known for exceptional service and consistently going above and beyond for customers.
- Best local brand — Honoring a homegrown company that has built a strong identity and reputation within the Owensboro community.
- Best new business (under 18 months) — Celebrating a recently opened business that has quickly made a positive impression.
- Best community impact — Recognizing a business or organization that actively improves the Owensboro community through service, philanthropy, or leadership.
- Best first response agency — Recognizing the emergency service organizations that protect and serve the Owensboro community.
- Best Owensboro leader — Honoring an individual whose leadership is helping move the community forward.
Traditional Best of Owensboro categories
Below are the returning and new categories readers can vote on this year.
- Food and drink
- Best restaurant
- Best food truck
- Best caterer
- Best breakfast
- Best donuts
- Best coffee
- Best brunch
- Best sandwich
- Best Mexican food
- Best Asian food
- Best pizza
- Best barbecue
- Best burger
- Best seafood
- Best chicken
- Best bakery
- Health and wellness
- Best medical practice (overall)
- Best urgent care
- Best pharmacy
- Best physician
- Best nurse practitioner/PA
- Best dental office
- Best optometry practice
- Best dermatology practice
- Best dermatologist
- Best medical aesthetics practice
- Best esthetician/skin studio
- Best allergy practice
- Best mental health practice
- Best chiropractor practice
- Best physical therapy practice
- Best massage therapy practice
- Best gym/fitness center
- Professional services
- Best law firm
- Best attorney
- Best accounting firm
- Best accountant
- Best wealth management firm
- Best financial advisor
- Best insurance agency
- Best insurance agent
- Best mortgage company
- Best bank
- Best credit union
- Best IT company
- Best realty group
- Best realtor
- Best funeral home
- Retail and style
- Best gift store
- Best consignment shop
- Best women’s boutique
- Best men’s clothing store
- Best shoe store
- Best jeweler
- Best florist
- Best hair salon
- Best barber
- Best tattoo studio
- Best event rental
- Home and living
- Best home builder
- Best home remodeler
- Best furniture store
- Best home decor store
- Best home appliance store
- Best heating & air
- Best electrician
- Best plumber
- Best roofer
- Best lawn care
- Best garden center
- Best pest control
- Best carpet & flooring
- Pet services
- Best veterinary practice
- Best pet grooming company
- Best pet boarding/daycare
- Automotive
- Best automotive dealership
- Best automotive repair shop
- Best car wash
- Best auto detailer
- Best tire shop
- Community and culture
- Best local college/university
- Best nonprofit
- Best place to work
- Best retirement facility/assisted living
- Best event venue
- Best annual event
- Best charity event
- Best running race
- Best golf course
- Best photographer
- Best farmer/food producer
- Best roadside market
- Best news media
- Best radio station
