2026 Best in Kentucky finalists
The 2026 Best in Kentucky finalists are here!
The order of finish will be announced live on Facebook and YouTube on August 19, 2026, at 10 a.m. (EDT). The results will be published in Kentucky Living’s September edition and right here on KentuckyLiving.com.
Congratulations to all of this year’s outstanding finalists!
Local Radio Host
- Cale Tharp WLCB 93.7, Hodgenville
- Larry Smith WVLC 99.9, Campbellsville
- Terry Meiners WHAS 840, Louisville
Local TV Personality
- Candyce Clifft WDRB, Louisville
- Dawne Gee WAVE, Louisville
- Railfan Micah Turner, YouTube
Meteorologist
- Kevin Harned WAVE, Louisville
- Marc Weinberg WDRB, Louisville
- Jude Redfield WDRB, Louisville
Kentucky Musician or Band
- Tyler Childers Nashville, Tennessee (from Lawrence Co.)
- The Green River Band Columbia
- JD Shelburne Nashville, Tennessee (from Taylorsville)
Athlete
- Trent Noah Harlan
- Otega Oweh Lexington (from New Jersey)
- Malachi Moreno Georgetown
Road Trip
- Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area Golden Pond
- Mammoth Cave National Park Mammoth Cave
- Red River Gorge Geological Area Stanton
Distillery Tour
- Buffalo Trace Distillery Frankfort
- Maker’s Mark Distillery Loretto
- Heaven Hill Springs Distillery Bardstown
Event or Festival
- Lincoln Days Celebration Hodgenville
- Campbellsville Fourth of July Celebration
- Marion County Country Ham Days Lebanon
Agritourism Attraction
- Gallrein Farms Shelbyville
- Dennison’s Roadside Market Horse Cave
- Blackacre Nature Preserve & Historic Homestead Louisville
Place for Live Music
- Renfro Valley Entertainment Center Mount Vernon
- Joel Ray’s Lincoln Jamboree Hodgenville
- The AMP at Log Still Gethsemane
Museum
- Frazier Kentucky History Museum Louisville
- Creation Museum Petersburg
- Lincoln Museum Hodgenville
Kid-Friendly Attraction
- Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo Horse Cave
- Ark Encounter Williamstown
- Louisville Zoo Louisville
Winery
- McIntyre & Family Winery Bardstown
- Purple Toad Winery Paducah
- Happy Jack’s Winery Hardinsburg
Historic Attraction
- My Old Kentucky Home State Park Bardstown
- Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill Harrodsburg
- Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park Hodgenville
Specialty Lodging or Bed & Breakfast
- Restin’ Holes Willisburg
- L&N Bed and Breakfast Henderson
- My Old Kentucky Dome Mt. Washington
Downtown Shopping District
Camping or RV Spot
- Lincoln Lodge Hodgenville
- Green River Lake State Park Campbellsville
- John James Audubon State Park Henderson
Place for Adventure
- Red River Gorge Geological Area Stanton
- Mammoth Cave National Park Mammoth Cave
- Bernheim Forest and Arboretum Clermont
Hiking Trail
- Bernheim Forest and Arboretum Clermont
- Red River Gorge Geological Area Stanton
- Mammoth Cave National Park Mammoth Cave
Public Hunting/Fishing Area
- Cave Run Lake Morehead
- Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area Golden Pond
- Taylorsville Lake
Water Tourism Spot
- Green River Lake
- Lake Cumberland
- Cave Run Lake Morehead
Breakfast Place
- Pat’s Place Bardstown
- Carriss’s Grocery Shelbyville
- Druther’s Restaurant Campbellsville
Bourbon
- Maker’s Mark Loretto
- Elijah Craig Bardstown
- Inclusion Brand Crestwood
Barbecue
- Brothers Campbellsville
- B&N Food Market Bagdad
- Thatcher Barbecue Company Slade
Craft Beer
- Country Boy Brewing Georgetown & Lexington
- Henderson Brewing Co. Henderson
- Good Buddies Brewing Co. Lebanon
Hamburger
- Laha’s Red Castle Hodgenville
- Bardstown Burger Bardstown
- B&N Food Market Bagdad
Down-Home Restaurant
- Lighthouse Restaurant Sulphur Well
- Mammy’s Kitchen & Bar Bardstown
- Our Best Restaurant Smithfield
Coffee Shop
- Vibe Coffee Elizabethtown & Hodgenville
- The Hive Coffee & Bakehouse Glasgow
- Harden Coffee Campbellsville
Sweets Shop
- Serendipity Kandy Kitchen Shelbyville
- The Sweet Shoppe and Dessert Cafe Hodgenville
- Hadorn’s Bakery Bardstown
Food Truck
- The 5,000 Campbellsville
- Matilda’s Dogs and More Sonora
- Pappy‘s Campbellsville
