FROM BEACHES, BOUTIQUE HOTELS AND BISTROS TO BRUNCH STOPS AND BOATING ADVENTURES, IT’S TIME TO SELECT THE BEST IN PINELLAS COUNTY
Voting Begins NOW for the 2026 Best of St. Pete-Clearwater Awards!
ST. PETE-CLEARWATER, Fla. (April 6, 2026) – The polls are officially open for the 2026 Best of St. Pete-Clearwater Awards. Residents and visitors are invited to cast their virtual ballots and select their favorites from a record-breaking list of 337 nominees from a total of 38 different categories, including destination staples such as Best Beach, Best Festival, Best Water Adventure and more. Voting is live at VisitSPC.com/BestOf.
This year’s categories and nominees reflect the ever-evolving St. Pete-Clearwater destination, featuring four sections: Best Places to Stay & Play, Best Things To Do, Best Bites, and Best Sips. New categories include Best Dog-Centric Hangout, Best Happy Hour, Best Late-Night Spot, Best Local Beer, Best Pizza, Best Sports Bar, and Best Tour. Voters are permitted to submit one ballot per day, per device. The digital polls will remain open through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, May 10.
Best of St. Pete-Clearwater winners will be revealed and celebrated at the exclusive invite-only annual “Besties” awards gala – a celebration for and with the local hospitality industry – taking place in August. Beyond the “Best of” distinction, each category’s Top 5 – determined by the amount of votes – will secure a prominent online presence at VisitSPC.com and may be featured in the 2026-27 Gulf to Bay Destination Magazine – the award-winning official destination guide and tourism publication of Pinellas County which has a print distribution of 500,000 copies.
Pinellas County tourism partners last fiscal year teamed up to welcome nearly 15 million visitors and generate more than $10 billion in economic impact to Pinellas County. Last fiscal year marked the fourth consecutive year that Tourist Development Tax collections in Pinellas County surpassed the $90 million mark. The Tourist Development Tax, commonly referred to as bed tax, is a fundamental component for our local economy with more than 100,000 jobs in a tourism-related capacity, countywide property tax savings of approximately $2,000 per household, and supporting tourism-related projects such as the recently completed $125 million beach nourishment project. For more information on the positive impact of tourism, visit FromVisitorsWithLove.com.
- America’s Favorite Beaches & Then Some -
About Visit St. Pete-Clearwater:
Soaking up the sun on the sugar white sand, enjoying the interactive art and museums, taking in a waterfront concert, dining at Michelin-rated restaurants and capping the experience with a picturesque sunset – all in a single day – is what makes St. Pete-Clearwater America’s Favorite Beaches. Beyond the 35-mile stretch of award-winning coastline, the destination is a harmonious blend of natural beauty, history, creativity, and adventure, nestled between the emerald Gulf waters on Florida’s west coast and Tampa Bay. A premier destination for solo adventurers, friends, sports enthusiasts, film producers, business professionals and families, this sun-soaked peninsula seamlessly transitions world-class cultural experiences and a sophisticated urban pulse with endless sun and fun.
Discover the adventures that await at VisitSPC.com.
Media Contacts:
Jason Latimer, [email protected], 727-386-3783
Eddie Delgado, [email protected], 727-415-1337