Best of Denver® 2026

If you've lived in the metro area for more than a month, you've discovered the wonder of seeing the Continental Divide as you head up Interstate 70, the joy of catching the sunset from the steps of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, and the inspiring vision of sunrise over Denver from the top of Red Rocks. You've found your favorite coffee shop, the most convenient place to park if you're headed to Ball Arena, the most relaxing place to take a walk if you need a "work-from-home" break.

Since we published the first Best of Denver in 1984, we've shared all of these and more, amounting to over 16,000 awards in the past four decades. Taken collectively, they amount to quite a guide for the city, everything you need to survive and thrive in Denver.

With the 2026 Best of Denver, we've added over 300 fresh editorial awards, as well as nearly as many audience picks resulting from over 500,000 votes in our Readers' Choice awards. This year's cover was done by Hattie Boyd, a College of Arts & Media student at the University of Colorado Denver. These special people, places, and things are all reasons we're still high on the Mile High.

FAQs

How do nominees get on our Best of Denver Readers’ Choice ballot? The previous year’s winner is automatically added, along with other past-year top vote getters; there's also a write-in field. The 2027 Best of Denver Readers' Choice poll will be announced next January.

How often can readers vote? Readers can vote daily while the Readers' Choice poll is live to declare their favorites in hundreds of categories.

How do Editorial picks work? While readers declare what is named a Readers' Choice winner, Editorial picks (below) are determined by our editors and writers. The editorial staffers keep the Best of Denver in mind all year as they’re out and about in the city, noting people, places and things to check out. Send suggestions to editorial@westword.com.

If I win, do I get a plaque? All of our winners, both Readers' Choice and Editorial picks, will receive a certificate of their award for free. (If you are contacted by a business trying to sell you a plaque, that business is not associated with Best of Denver or Westword.)

What qualifies as "Denver?" Both Editorial and Readers' Choice picks share the same expansive definition of Denver: If it's in the Metro, we'll consider it. We include everything from Boulder to Castle Rock to Evergreen to Aurora!