Presented by Central Florida Lifestyle Magazine
Elite AwardsCentral Florida 2026-27
Welcome to the Central Florida Elite Awards 2026! Celebrate the best of Central Florida by nominating your favorite businesses, leaders, and services across the region. Choose a category on the form, tell us why they deserve to win, and submit your nomination!
- Nominations: Nov 9 – Dec 6, 2026
- Voting: Dec 7, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027
- Winners announced January 2027
About the Elite Awards
We honor the businesses, leaders & services that make Central Florida shine
Fifteen categories, one community vote. Nominate the people and places you love, then rally your friends to vote them into the Elite Winners Circle.
How to nominate
Nominate in three steps
- Select the award category that best represents your nominee's excellence.
- Complete the form with the nominee's details and your reasons for nominating them.
- Submit your nomination and join us in honoring Central Florida's Elite!
Timeline & key dates
Mark your calendar
- Nomination periodNovember 9 – December 6, 2026
- Voting periodDecember 7, 2026 – January 10, 2027
- Winner announcementWinners announced January 2027
2026-27 categories
15 award categories
Choose a category to see its nominees, vote, or nominate a new business.
- Best Local Influencer / Content CreatorView nominees & vote
- Best New BusinessView nominees & vote
- Best RestaurantView nominees & vote
- Best Local Attraction / ExperienceView nominees & vote
- Best Local Event / FestivalView nominees & vote
- Best Family Health ProviderView nominees & vote
- Best SpaView nominees & vote
- Best Fitness/GymView nominees & vote
- Best Specialized Medical ServicesView nominees & vote
- Best NonprofitView nominees & vote
- Best HotelView nominees & vote
- Best Coffee ShopView nominees & vote
- Best Wedding Venue/ServiceView nominees & vote
- Best LawyerView nominees & vote
- Best Local PodcastView nominees & vote
The awards
What every winner receives
- Elite Digital Edition 2027Inclusion in our dedicated Elite Digital Edition 2027
- Feature articleA feature article about your business
- NewsletterInclusion in our newsletter
- Social mediaA social media post celebrating your win
Overall winner
The cover of the Digital Edition
The business with the most overall votes across all categories receives placement on the cover of the Elite Digital Edition 2027.
Voting December 7 – January 10
Vote for your favorites
- Three free votes per hour per browser.
- Live vote totals are shown on every nominee.
- Hourly limits and automatic suspicious-vote checks remain active.
- Vote bundles: $5 for 10 votes, $10 for 20, $25 for 50, $35 for 70 and $50 for 100.
Elite moments
A look back
Select a photo to see it larger.
Sponsorship opportunities
Align your brand with excellence
Choose the sponsorship that fits your goals and we'll be in touch.
- Community sponsorSponsorship$2,500Logo on contest page, social shout-out, giveaway optionI'm interested ›
- Supporting sponsorSponsorship$5,000Logo on all digital marketing, newsletter mention, 2–3 social postsI'm interested ›
- Presenting sponsorSponsorship$8,000“Presented by” naming, branded voting page, spotlight article, dedicated e-blast, 3–5 social postsI'm interested ›
Submit a nomination
Nominate a Central Florida Elite
Frequently asked questions
Who can nominate?
Anyone in the Central Florida community can submit a nomination!
Can I nominate myself?
Yes, self-nominations are allowed.
How many businesses can I nominate?
You can nominate as many businesses as you wish, but only one nomination per business per category will be accepted.
When will my nomination appear?
Each nomination is reviewed by the Elite Awards team first. Once approved, it appears on the nominees page.
How does voting work?
During the voting period (December 7, 2026 – January 10, 2027) everyone gets three free votes per hour per browser, and vote totals are shown publicly. See how voting works.
When will the winners be announced?
Winners will be announced in January 2027. Stay tuned for more details!
Terms & conditions
By submitting a nomination, you agree to the following:
- Eligibility: Nominations are open to businesses, organizations, and individuals in Central Florida that meet the specific criteria for each award category.
- Nomination submission: Each person may nominate as many businesses as they wish, but only one nomination per business per category will be counted.
- Nominee consent: By submitting a nomination, you confirm that the nominee is aware of and consents to the nomination.
- Use of information: We may use the nominee's name, likeness, and details for the Elite Awards promotion, including social media, website, and marketing materials.