2026 People's Choice Awards
Awards rules & schedule
These rules apply to the 2026 People’s Choice season. Participation is free. Buying advertising, sponsorship, or promotional products does not affect nomination eligibility or vote totals.
2026 schedule
- Nominations: open now through October 31 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.
- Eligibility review: November 1–7. Organizers verify and combine duplicate nominations before publishing the ballot.
- Voting: November 8 at 12:00 a.m. through November 30 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern, after the approved ballot is published.
- Result review: December 1–6.
- Winner announcement: December 7 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern, after organizers approve the results.
If an operational issue requires a change, we will post it here and on the ballot page before it takes effect. There is no automatic guarantee of a winner in every category.
Who qualifies?
Businesses, independent professionals, attractions, destinations, and community organizations must have an active physical presence in North Carolina and fit a listed category. Independent operators and local branches of chains may qualify; nominate the specific location. National brands without a North Carolina location do not qualify. Organizers may request supporting information and exclude closed, unverifiable, duplicate, or ineligible entries.
Categories
Food & Drink; Home & Services; Things to Do; Shopping & Style; Health & Wellness; Travel & Stay; and Construction. Construction includes builders, general contractors, and building trades. Home & Services includes real estate, cleaning, landscaping, and maintenance. Each nominee competes in the single category that best fits its principal service; organizers resolve overlaps before the ballot is published.
How finalists are selected
Organizers review nominations for eligibility, accurate location, and category fit. Duplicate submissions are consolidated. Nomination volume is not a vote and does not purchase or guarantee a finalist position. Eligible, verified entries approved during review appear on the published ballot. Categories without an approved finalist will not open for voting.
Voting and fair participation
Sign in with ChatGPT to cast one vote per account in each category during the voting period. Once recorded, a vote cannot be changed. Account sign-in establishes an account identity; it does not prove that every account belongs to a different person. Participants must not use multiple accounts, bots, paid votes, or other methods to manipulate results. Organizers may investigate suspicious activity and disqualify manipulated votes or entries, recording the basis for any adjustment before publication.
Results and ties
The eligible finalist with the highest valid vote total in each category wins. Equal highest totals produce joint winners. A category with no valid votes has no winner. Results remain unpublished until the review is complete. Use the contact form to report eligibility concerns or suspected manipulation, ideally before voting closes.
Editorial Picks and winner badges
The archive’s Editorial Picks are separate from the 2026 public vote. They do not receive an advantage on the ballot. Only confirmed winners may use a 2026 People’s Choice winner badge, for their awarded category and year. The badge must not imply government approval, professional accreditation, or an award in another category. No fee is required to enter or vote.
Organizer and questions
Best of North Carolina Awards is organized by Kyle Michaud. It is an independent awards program. Send award questions and correction requests through our contact form.