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Arizona Restaurant Association’s 2026 Foodist Awards Nominations Open Today!
Saturday, October 11, 2025 - 8:00 AM
to Friday, October 24, 2025 - 6:00 PM
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM See all dates and Times
Today, nominations for the 2026 Foodist Awards are open to the public, through Friday, Oct. 24.
“We are pleased to present our 12th annual Foodist Awards in 2026,” said Steve Chucri, Arizona Restaurant Association president and CEO. “But before we do that, we need your help selecting the best and brightest of our state’s hospitality industry across 19 categories statewide. Members of the culinary community have the opportunity to make their voice heard through the Foodist Award nominations, and we can’t wait to see the results of your votes.”
The Foodist Awards recognize the best of the best including restaurants, bars, companies and individuals who demonstrate exceptional business acumen, leadership and creativity while shaping Arizona’s culinary landscape. The categories for the 2026 Foodist Awards are as follows:
Food & Beverage
Standout Signature Dish
Best Bread
Arizona Grown Purveyors
Favorite Local Craft Beer
Most Creative Handcrafted Cocktail Program
Experiences
Top Happy Hour Spot
Outstanding Bar/Nightlife Experience
Best Place to Watch a Game
Exceptional Fine Dining Culinary Experience
Immersive Culinary Experience
Restaurants
Favorite Neighborhood Hangout
Phenomenal Fast Casual Concept
Hotel Restaurant Hot Spot
Uniquely Arizona
Emerging Restaurant of the Year
People
Team Member of the Year
Manager of the Year
Top Mixologist/Bartender
Top Chef
Food Pioneer
The Food Pioneer category serves as the Foodist Awards’ “lifetime achievement award.” This peer-voted award honors a lifetime of outstanding culinary excellence that continues to educate, inspire, entertain and foster a deeper understanding of the culinary culture in Arizona.
In addition to public votes, the Foodist Awards panelists contribute to the nominations and finalist selections each year. Foodist Awards finalists will be announced in December. The Foodist Awards show takes place Monday, Feb. 23, 2026 at Warehouse215 in Phoenix. Further details are forthcoming.
For more about the Foodist Awards and to submit nominations, visit https://foodistawards.com/. For more about the Arizona Restaurant Association, visit https://azrestaurant.org/.
Event Links
Website: https://go.evvnt.com/3294461-0
