Our categories, criteria, and jury questions have been updated and streamlined with the objectives of making the application process easier, quicker, and open to more applicants, and making the applications and jury feedback more applicable and helpful for future years. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you begin applications for the 2026 Awards:

• You don’t have to be an SFEA member to apply, but for the following categories, you must be present at the annual conference to win: Best Festival or Event Over $75K, Best Festival or Event Under $75K, Best Festival or Event Under $20K, Best New Event, Event Professional of the Year. So in order to apply in those five categories, you must be planning to attend at least the Kaleidoscope Awards Gala on Tuesday night. Gala Only tickets are available.
• You can submit as many applications, in the same category or different categories, as you would like.
• Vendors may submit themselves for an award – you do not need a planner to submit you. There are several vendor-designed categories, including Best Event Impact Support and Best Vendor Impact, plus several categories that are widely applicable, such as the DEI and Green Initiatives and Event Professional of the Year.
• Our 2025 Specialty Award category this year is Best Pop-up! Be sure to check out the criteria and see if any of your events fit the bill. This is a one time only change for this category.
• You can now pay for all of your applications together, in one payment! Submit your applications in their categories, then find the payment application and adjust the number in your cart. Your apps will be approved once payment posts. This also means that you can now pay for applications by check if you wish – just contact us for an invoice.
• The application deadline is Jan 28, 2026, at 4:00 pm ET. Judging will take place from February 2-13.
• Here is a list of the 2026 categories, with notations for new categories (**) and categories with modified scope or criteria (#):
  • • Best Festival or Event Over $75K
    • Best Festival or Event Under $75K
    • Best Festival or Event Under $20K
    • Best New Event
    • Event Professional of the Year
    • Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Initiative Award
    • Green Initiative Award
    • Best Children’s Event/Programming/Engagement (12 and under)
    • Best Festival or Event Video
    • Best Event Website
    • Best Event Within an Event
    • Best Event Series (Series includes 2 or more events under same name/theme)
    • Best Event Impact Support (Inclusive of volunteers, sponsors, and community event support)
    • Best Vendor Impact
    • Best Promotional Poster
    • Best Merchandise
    • Best Event Photograph
    • Best Event Program (Inclusive of brochures, booklets, etc.)
    • Best Marketing Campaign (Now inclusive of social media campaigns)
    • Best Festival or Event T-Shirt
    • **Specialty Award – Unique Seasonal Celebrations

Visit the Conference registration page on Eventeny and scroll to the “Kaleidoscope Awards” tab to apply.

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If you’ve ever thought about applying for a Kaleidoscope Award, but haven’t, here are some testimonials from past winners about why awards matter and what a difference they can make for the future of your festival, event, or company:

“Winning the new event award last year was a great reward for all those that worked hard on the event and the publicity we got for receiving the award helped us to boost our event this year and we actually were able to double the event size!” – Kristie L., The City of Kingsport (TN)

“[Our Kaleidoscope Award] has allowed us to pursue larger acts and has helped us generate more sponsorships as a now award-winning event! We’ve added it to our credenza in the office and it makes me smile every time I walk by it. :)”– Haley T., Downtown Vision Jacksonville (FL)

“It was a dream come true to receive a call from Frito-Lay after they simply Googled ‘Award-winning festivals of the south’ and at the top of that list was the SFEA Kaleidoscope Best Festival over 75K – Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits Festival.” – Nancy K. R., Jekyll Island Authority