CELEBRATE EXCELLENCE WITH THE IFEA/HAAS & WILKERSON PINNACLE AWARDS COMPETITION

And the Winners Are . . .

The judging for the 2026 IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards Competition has taken place and the winners have been selected!

Excitement is indeed in the air as we get ready to announce exactly who won on Monday, October 5, 2026, at the 71st Annual IFEA Convention & Expo, presented by atVenu, in Tucson, Arizona. We most definitely hope to see you there!

Did you win, you ask?!? Well, notices to all 2026 Pinnacle Award winners have been sent! Notifications were sent directly to the contact names listed on the Pinnacle Entry Form, so be sure to double-check your inbox for an email from nia@ifea.com. Check your junk mail and spam folder, too, and make sure nia@ifea.com is not blocked in any way. You don’t want to miss that email! Exciting news hopefully came your way! (And if you didn’t receive an email or think it may have been lost in cyberspace, just give us a call to double-check.)

Of course . . . we can’t tell you what you won . . . or in what category . . . all we can tell you is that you “won something!” Mean of us, we know, but we’ve got to keep it hush-hush until the big reveal on October 5! At that time, the celebrations will begin!

On the evening of Monday, October 5, 2026, notifications will be sent to the 2026 IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Award winners with a link to a special website page listing the complete details of what everyone won. Additional information on this page will include links to the 2026 Pinnacle Winner Logo, a sample press release, duplicate plaque ordering information and much more. Notifications will be sent to all individual contacts listed on the entry forms for the Pinnacle entries.

And for those of you already eager to get started on your 2027 IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Award entries, we most definitely encourage you to get started today! Use the 2026 Pinnacle Awards Entry Brochure as your guide for the types of entries you can submit. The official 2027 Entry Brochure will be available by the end of the year.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Nia Hovde, CFEE, Vice President/Director of Marketing & Communications, at nia@ifea.com.

Additional Details

Additional Resources

Questions?

For questions on any of the IFEA Awards Programs, contact: Nia Hovde, CFEE, Vice President/Director of Marketing & Communications, at Email: awards@ifea.com.

2026 IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Budget Categories Include:

All Pinnacle entries are not only separated in to 64 individual categories, but also into four individual budget categories within each category. This is to ensure that like size festivals & events compete against like sized festivals and events. A Gold, Silver and Bronze winner is then awarded within each budget category within each specific entry category. Therefore, there could ultimately be four Gold winners, four Silver winners and four Bronze winners within an individual Pinnacle Category. Judges may combine budget categories within a specific category, if the number of entries warrants it.

The specific budget category you enter is based on your organization's event expense budget. Budget categories* are as follows:
*Budget Categories Updated in 2025

Budget #1: Under $50,000
Budget #2: $50,000 to $500,000

Budget #3: $500,000 to $1.5 Million
Budget #4: Over $1.5 Million

2026 IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Entry Categories Include:

Complete descriptions for each category along with requirements, judging criteria and instructions on how to submit your entry for each category can be found in the IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards Brochure.

BEFORE YOU START WORKING ON YOUR PINNACLE ENTRIES, be sure to download and thoroughly read through the 2026 IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Entry Brochure where you will find the specific entry requirements and required information for each category.
DOWNLOAD PINNACLE ENTRY BROCHURE HERE

OVERALL AWARD

Recognizing the pinnacle of achievement within the festivals and events industry—those that demonstrate balanced excellence across all operational, creative, and community impact areas.
1. Grand Pinnacle

BROADCAST & VIDEO

Honoring excellence in television, radio, and video storytelling used to promote, document, or celebrate an event or festival.
2. Best TV Promotion
3. Best Full-Length TV Program
4. Best Video Promotion
5. Best Radio Promotion

SOCIAL MEDIA & DIGITAL CONTENT

Celebrating creative and effective use of digital platforms and social media to engage audiences, build community, and promote events.
6. Best Single Social Video
7. Best Social Video Series (NEW)
8. Best Multimedia Component
9. Best Facebook Site
10. Best Instagram Site
11. Best Single Digital/Social Ad
12. Best Digital/Social Ad Series
13. Best Event / Organization E-Newsletter

WEBSITES & MOBILE PLATFORMS

Recognizing innovation and excellence in online engagement through event and organizational websites, apps, and adaptive platforms.
14. Best Event Website
15. Best Organization Website
16. Best Event Mobile Application / Adaptive Website

PRINT PUBLICATIONS

Honoring creativity and clarity in print materials that inform, inspire, and promote—ranging from programs and brochures to guides and inserts.
17. Best Event Program / Guide
18. Best Newspaper Insert / Supplement
19. Best Promotional Brochure
20. Best Printed Materials (Multiple Page)

ADVERTISING & VISUAL DESIGN|

Recognizing outstanding design and messaging across advertising, posters, photography, and outdoor promotional materials.
21. Best Printed Materials (Single Page)
22. Best Cover Design
23. Best Single Newspaper Display Ad
24. Best Single Magazine Display Ad
25. Best Ad Series
26. Best Promotional Poster
27. Best Commemorative Poster
28. Best Promotional Photograph
29. Best Invitation / Ticket

EVENT BRANDING & ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN

Celebrating visual creativity in how an event presents itself through décor, signage, and branded environments that enhance the attendee experience.
30. Best Outdoor Billboard / Signage
31. Best Installation / Wrap
32. Best Street Banner
33. Best On-Site Décor

MERCHANDISING & RETAIL

Recognizing excellence in event-branded merchandise, from concept and design to execution and sales strategy.
34. Best T-Shirt Design
35. Best Pin or Button
36. Best Hat
37. Best Festival / Event Merchandise
38. Best Sponsor Gift
39. Best Give-Away Item
40. Best Overall Merchandising Program

SPONSORSHIP & PARTNERSHIP EXCELLENCE

Highlighting innovation and effectiveness in sponsorship solicitation, activation, relationship management, and partner engagement.
41. Best Targeted Sponsor Solicitation Proposal
42. Best Individual Sponsor Follow-Up Report
43. Best Sponsor Partner
44. Best Sponsor Activation
45. Best Sponsorship Program for Individual Sponsor
46. Best Overall Sponsorship Program

COMMUNITY, EDUCATION & ENGAGEMENT

Recognizing programs that strengthen community connection, broaden participation, support learning, and enrich the overall event experience.
47. Best Volunteer Program
48. Best Green Program
49. Best Educational Program
50. Best Accessibility Program
51. Best Culture, Community & Connection Plan
52. Best Children’s Programming
53. Best Community Outreach Program

ENTERTAINMENT & PROGRAMMING

Celebrating innovation, creativity, and success in entertainment, special programs, and new event concepts.
54. Best Parade
55. Best Overall Entertainment Program
56. Best Event / Program Within an Event to Benefit A Cause
57. Best Event (Within an Existing Festival)
58. Best New Festival or Event
59. Best Cultural / Heritage Event (NEW)
60. Best Nighttime Economy Event (NEW)

EVENT OPERATIONS & SAFETY
Recognizing excellence in the planning, preparedness, and implementation of operational systems that ensure smooth, safe, and successful event execution.
61. Best Emergency Preparedness & Risk Management Plan

INDUSTRY EXCELLENCE

Honoring innovation, service quality, and outstanding contributions from partners, vendors, and suppliers within the festivals and events industry.
62. Best Product or Service
63. Best Vendor / Supplier

MEDIA RELATIONS

Recognizing excellence in the strategy, execution, and measurable success of a comprehensive media relations campaign.
64. Best Overall Media Relations Campaign

ACADEMIC & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Celebrating educational institutions and programs that prepare the next generation of event professionals.
65. Best Event Management Bachelor’s Degree
66. Best Event Management Master’s Degree
67. Best Event Management PhD Program

About the Winners

For all entries, each winning festival/event receiving a Gold, Silver or Bronze award is selected from those festivals and events who enter the IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards Competition and are judged on the overall excellence of a festival / event based on the specific criteria and requirements of the specific category(ies) being entered, within each of the four separate budget categories. Festivals / Events recognized as an “IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Award Winner” are entitled to use that specific language in sharing the news about a Pinnacle win, for the specific category(ies) won. Language declaring a Festival / Event as the “Best Festival / Event in the World by the IFEA” is not correct or in line with the nature of the competition and will not be supported or endorsed by the IFEA.

Sponsor of the IFEA Pinnacle Awards

Haas & Wilkerson Insurance has proudly supported the IFEA and festivals and events industry for over three decades. As the title sponsor of the IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards Program, they have helped to raise the quality and standards of excellence for festivals and events around the globe.

With over 85 years of entertainment industry experience behind them, they provide insurance programs designed for each event’s specific needs and have a long list of clients that includes festivals, fairs, parades, carnivals and more. Learn more about them at www.hwins.com.