Websites and Mobile Sites 2026

Accessible Technology

Website, app, software or technology including gaming that exemplifies building accessibility above and beyond compliance standards. Product should advance social justice and eliminate barriers and inequities, including but not limited to social, neurological, visual and hearing impaired, economic, and geographic. Enter any and all links that best exemplify your work in this space.

Activism

Sites facilitating political change, social movement, human rights, public education and reform, or revolution.

Architecture, Art & Design

Sites that feature architecture and design, including commercial and residential structures, homes and apartments, exterior and interior design, industrial design or display or promote art of any medium, art galleries, art auctions, or content focused on art criticism or the art world.

Best Data Visualization

Only data visualization aspects of a site will be judged. Websites that demonstrate best-in-class use of data visualization by representing complex datasets in innovative, visually appealing, and easily comprehensible ways.

Best Home Page

Only home page is judged. Sites that set an industry standard of excellence for home page design.

Best Individual Editorial Feature - Ind/Brand/Org

Best individual or multi-part article enhanced by the addition of innovative interaction design components and multimedia storytelling elements. Work entered here is created by an individual, organization, or brand.

Best Individual Editorial Feature - Media Company

Best individual or multi-part article enhanced by the addition of innovative interaction design components and multimedia storytelling elements. Work entered here is created by media companies.

Best Mobile User Experience

Best Mobile Visual Design - Aesthetic

Best Mobile Visual Design - Function

Best Navigation/Structure

Sites that offer the best-possible user experience through superior navigation and site structure. Only information architecture will be judged.

Best Practices

Best Practices sites serve as an industry benchmark for the most current, innovative, and advanced practices in web development; from offering personalized data experiences and beyond. Sites must demonstrate unparalleled excellence across the Academy's six criteria: content, structure, navigation, visual design, interactivity, functionality, and overall experience.

Best Responsive/Adaptive Design for Mobile

Best Trend, Insights or Impact Report

Best online site or experience for a trend, insights or impact report that set an industry standard by using innovative technology to enhance UX, interactivity, navigation, visual design, functionality and overall design.

Best Use of AI

Sites that offer the best, most innovative use of artificial intelligence. Only use of AI is judged.

Best Use of Animation or Motion Graphics

Sites that integrate animation or motion graphics in a seamless, superior way that enhances the user experience. Only animation and motion graphics judged.

Best Use of Photography

Only photography as it's used throughout the site is judged. Geared toward sites that rely heavily on photographic imagery as a critical part of the user experience.

Best Use of Video or Moving Image

Sites that incorporate video and/or moving images in a way that enhances the user experience and generates engagement. Only video or moving images judged.

Best User Experience

Sites that offer the best user experience through innovative design, and useful functionality.

Best User Interface

Sites that set an industry standard of excellence for user interface design by creating a seamless experience for end users.

Best Visual Design - Aesthetic

Only visual design judged. Geared toward sites and experiences where visual design is intended to be beautiful, emotional, and appeal to the senses.

Best Visual Design - Function

Only visual design functionality judged. Sites that set an industry standard of excellence by relying on visual design as a critical part of a functional user experience.

Best Writing (Editorial)

Sites that demonstrate excellence in editorial, whether in journalism, breaking news, opinion or blog writing, humor writing, analysis, etc. Only editorial writing will be judged in this category.

Business Blog/Website

Sites or blogs created by individuals, groups, or companies for professional and business related topics.

Business, News & Technology

Recurring email newsletter curated by groups or companies with news and information for professional and business related topics including politics and finance.

Charitable & Non-Profit: National & Global Organizations

Charitable Organizations/Non-Profit

Sites for charities and charitable organizations whose primary purpose is helping people or other worthy causes

Community

Sites creating and facilitating online community, connectedness, and/or communication around shared interests. These sites can target either a broad-based or niche audience including B2B sites that focus on team engagement, health and happiness programs, etc.

Corporate Communications

Sites that serve as online identities for corporations, organizations, businesses, or professional individuals. These sites may promote, market, or provide information and a point of contact for products, services, corporate individuals, or companies involved in online or offline commerce.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Sites that showcase a company's commitment to encouraging community growth and development, and to activities and programs that benefit the environment, consumers, employees, and the public.

Cultural Blog/Website

Sites or blogs created by individuals, groups, or companies that cover cultural, lifestyle, fashion or entertainment topics.

Cultural Institutions

Sites for museums, parks, zoos, gardens, aquariums, theaters, arenas, and any other institutions of cultural significance.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

Sites that focus on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging across all identies with the goal of creating inclusive environments where individuals can be authentic without discrimination.

Education

Sites that are educational, promote education, or provide online curriculum or education services. This category includes educational content for children or adults, resources for educators, and "distance learning" courses. Does not include school or higher education sites; see School/University.

Employment

Sites featuring job and employment listings, job and career search services, recruiting services, career advice, headhunting, or other career or job-related information.

Entertainment

Sites developed for the distribution of entertainment content or focused on the entertainment industry; including, sports, games, news, gossip, humor, reviews, or promoting a specific celebrity or group.

Entertainment & Culture

Recurring email newsletter curated by groups or companies with news, stories and information about entertainment content, including sports, games, news, gossip, humor, reviews, art and design, exterior and interior design, architecture, art galleries, art auctions, fashion or the art world.

Events

Sites devoted to promoting and generating engagement around events and/or to promoting and hosting live events online.

Fashion, Style & Beauty

Sites that feature personal style, clothing, design, accessories, makeup, or beauty products. These include fashion and beauty editorial and style guide sites.

Financial Services & Banking

Sites providing financial services and/or information. These include online stock trading, financial news, mortgage information, credit cards, or investor relations and services.

Food & Drink

Sites that cover the culinary world, including food culture, restaurants, recipes, cooking, and products.

Government & Associations

Sites providing information and services pertaining to associations, non-government or government organizations. These include sites that enable online citizen action, offer self-help information, publish documents and forms, and provide access to services provided by associations or government agencies.

Health & Wellness

Sites that provide information on personal health and well-being. These include medical, alternative medicine, health and lifestyle, mental health, and fitness.

Health, Wellness & Lifestyle

Recurring email newsletter curated by groups or companies with news, stories and information about health, wellness and lifestyle. These include medical, alternative medicine, health and lifestyle, mental health, food, drink and fitness.

Independent Publishers

Recurring email newsletter curated by an independent publisher or creator to provide their audience with news, stories, and information. This includes substack newsletters.

Law

Sites for law firms, legal service providers, pro-bono legal services, and self-help legal information that feature content on legal issues, trials, court decisions, or legal advocacy.

Magazine or Publication

Magazines or publications published only online or sites that are online editions or companions to offline magazines and publications.

Mobile Innovation & Emerging Tech

Music

Sites devoted to discussing and/or promoting music and music culture. Includes band sites, music blogs, and review sites.

NetArt

Projects that integrate art and technology, exploring and expanding the distinctive capacity of the medium. Projects must include a web-based component and may include an offline element.