Announcing the 2026 America in Bloom National Award Winners

Top honors for the 2026 America in Bloom Program were announced at the annual AIB Symposium & Awards Celebration held in the Washington, D.C. area, September 24–26, 2026.

All participating communities were evaluated on eight criteria:

• Community vitality
• Floral impact
• Landscaped areas
• Urban forestry
• Environmental initiatives
• Heritage celebration
• Overall impression
• Community involvement

America in Bloom is the only national awards program that sends specially trained Advisors to personally visit participants. Additionally, each community receives a detailed written evaluation that can be used as a guide to future improvements.

The following awards were announced:

• Population category winners
• Outstanding achievement awards
• Special awards
• Community champion
• Cheerleader award
• YouTube video award

2026 America in Bloom Program Awards — Population Category Winners

• Shawnee Hills, OH — Under 1,350
• Castle Rock, WA — 1,350–2,500
• Lakeside, OH — 2,500–3,300
• Lewes, DE — 3,330–3,800
• Lewisburg, WV — 3,800–5,800
• Logan, OH — 5,800–7,700
• Hawthorn Woods, IL — 7,700–15,500
• Washington, MO — 15,500–23,000
• Foley, AL — 23,000–33,000
• College Park, MD — Over 33,000

2026 America in Bloom Program Awards — Outstanding Achievement Award Winners

• Orion Township, MI — Community Vitality
• Whitehouse, OH — Floral Impact
• Lewes, DE — Landscaped Area
• Edmonston, MD — Urban Forestry
• Tavares, FL — Environmental Initiatives
• Holly, MI — Celebrating Heritage
• Eustis, FL — Overall Impression
• Bay View, MI — Community Involvement

2026 America in Bloom Program Awards — Special Award Winners

• Eustis, FL — Stars & Stripes Celebration
• Castle Rock, WA — Flower Power – Best Hanging Basket Program
• Edmonston, MD — Back to Our Roots – Best Use of Native Plants
• Washington, MO — Eye-Popping Pots – Best Use of Containers in the Landscape
• Tavares , FL — First Impressions – Gateways
• Logan, OH — Beauty Through the Seasons
• Royal Oak, MI — Coolest Downtown
• Ortonville, MI — Bloom Equity
• Lewisburg, WV — Alive with Flowers – Sunbeam Social Media Award
• Castle Rock, WA — Sunfinity Sunflower Award
• Lakeside, OH — Hidden Gem
• Hawthorn Woods, IL — Trash Talker – Best Clean-Up Program
• College Park, MD — Partners in Bloom – Best Collaborative Project
• East Canfield Village, MI — Art in the Landscape
• Orion Township, MI — Best Pocket Park
• Greenwood, SC — Therapeutic Gardening
• Whitehouse, OH — Small Town, Big Budge
• Havre de Grace, MD — Buds to Bloom – Youth Involvement
• Fairport Harbor, OH — Pride in Bloom
• Estelline, SD — Rural Impact
• Colmar Manor, MD — America in Bloom Progress Award: Most Improved
• Orion Township, MI — Focused on Fitness – Promoting Healthy Living Through Community Design

2026 America in Bloom Program Awards — Dwight Lund Community Champion Award Winner

Warren Golde of Lewes, DE

2026 America in Bloom Program Awards — Cheerleader Award

Traci Anderson of Tavares, FL

2026 America in Bloom Program Awards — YouTube Video Award Winner

Logan, OH

To date, more than 440 communities from 44 states have participated in the program, and more than 24 million people have been touched by it. Registrations for the 2027 national America in Bloom program can be submitted until February 28, 2027. Eligible participants include towns, cities, college and university campuses, business districts, military installations, and recognized neighborhoods of large cities.