The Best of ATX Celebration 2026

The Best of ATX Celebration 2026 is taking over Distribution Hall on Wednesday, August 26, from 6 PM to 9:30 PM. It's the inaugural gala for the Best of ATX awards, put on by the Austin American-Statesman and Austin Monthly to recognize the businesses, people, and places that define the city. If you've been following the nominations this year, this is where the results actually come out.

The awards part of the night is the main draw: the Top 3 winners and First Place winners across more than 200 categories are revealed in real time on a massive video wall, so you'll see the winners announced as they happen rather than reading about them in a list later. It's a lot of ground to cover in one evening—over 200 categories—which means the reveals keep coming throughout the night.

Between the announcements, there's more to do than just watch the screen. The gala features signature cocktails and craft beverages from Best of ATX nominees, a red carpet, and live art installations. DJ Cassandra is on the decks, keeping the music going around the awards. It's set up as a social night as much as a ceremony, so you can work the room and grab drinks while the winners are called.

Tickets are $65, and the whole thing runs from 6 PM to 9:30 PM at Distribution Hall.