Best of the 603 - Timeline
How it works ...
Each year we ask the general public to nominate their favorites across 276 categories. All nominated businesses will move forward to the voting ballot, no matter how many times they’re nominated. During the voting phase each person can vote one time per day per category. After voting ends, results are published as a year-long reference for the community.
Nomination Phase
May 13th, 2026 at 12:00pm thru Jun 3rd, 2026 at 5:00pm
It all starts with the Nomination Phase. In the Nomination Phase, the public submits their favorites for consideration in each category. It only takes one nomination to move onto the voting phase, so no need to nominate your favorite over and over again - one nomination is all it takes!
Voting Phase
Jun 10th, 2026 at 12:00pm thru Jun 24th, 2026 at 5:00pm
After the Nomination Phase comes to a close, there is a brief pause for the nominees to be validated to ensure each nominee qualifies for their respective nominated category. Each member of the public can vote one time per day per category.
Winner Announced
Sep 10th, 2026 at 12:00pm
The votes are tabulated and the winners are selected based on the most votes. Winners will be reflected online for one year as a resource for the community.
Winner & Magazine Timeline
For winners and those who purchase a magazine ad, please see the timeline below for important dates and deadlines:
Winner Notification Due Date
Due Jul 26th, 2026 at 11:59pm
Non-disclosure agreements and winner questionnaires will be sent to all winners via email. Winners will be able to provide content and update contact information for themselves. Winners will also be able to see a preview of their free winner feature. Winners must submit their questionnaire by Jul 26th, 2026 at 11:59pm.
Magazine Ad Purchase Deadline
Ad purchases must be placed by Jul 26th, 2026 at 11:59pm
Various ad placements are available for purchase for this year's magazine. The ads must be purchased by Jul 26th, 2026 at 11:59pm in order to secure the spot for the magazine.
Looking for the magazine spec sheet? Click to download it
Content Due Date
Jul 31st, 2026 at 6:00pm
If you purchased a magazine ad, all images and ad copy must be submitted to the design team by Jul 31st, 2026 at 6:00pm.
Ad Approval Deadline
Magazine design due date is Aug 7th, 2026 at 6:00pm
For those who purchased a magazine ad, all magazine ads must be approved by Aug 7th, 2026 at 6:00pm. This date applies to ads being designed by our team or ads being provided to us camera ready.
Would you like to know more about Best of the 603?
If you still have any questions on any part of the contest, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions page for more clarification on many parts of the contest.