Celebrating the Best in Catering and Events
The 2026 NACE One Awards honor the outstanding work of individuals, chapters, and companies across the NACE community who made a significant impact in 2025. With 172 nominations across all award categories—including industry, chapter, and member recognitions—this year's finalists represent the very best of creativity, service, and excellence in the catering and events world.
Scroll down to explore the full list of nominees. Winners will be announced during the 2026 NACE Experience Conference for Catering and Events. onTuesday, August 4, 2026, at the New Orleans Marriott. in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Industry Awards
Catered Event of the Year
Less than $50,000
- Kelber Catering, Inc. — Experience Prince's Minneapolis
- The Boxyard — Atmos Rewards Program Launch
- Sugar Creek Country Club — Sugar Creek Country Club - A Magical Lightscape
- University of Michigan Catering — FSD Chef Immersion 2025
$50,000 - $100,000
Catered Event of the Year (cont.)
Greater than $100,000
- Detroit Athletic Club — Back to the Club Night-110 Years at 241 Madison
- Divine Events — SITE NITE 2025
- Food For Thought — The Joffrey Ballet Gala
- Mintahoe Catering and Events — 100th Anniversary Company Picnic
- Biscuits and Berries Catering — 'Around the World' Corporate Event
- Biscuits and Berries Catering —Interdimensional Indulgence
- Deirdre Furlow, M Culinary Concepts — President’s Awards “Speakeasy” Experience 2025
- Tonia Babineaux; Sodexo Campus Services — Sodexo JASPA Conference
- Truluck's Oceans Finest Seafood & Crab — Holiday Sparkles
- Cafe Natalie Catering — An Autumn Experience: Dining Amongst Giants
- TISOH: The International School of Hospitality — TISOH's 20th Anniversary Gala- A Night to Remember
Event Design & Décor of the Year
Less than $50,000
- Sugar Creek Country Club — Sugar Creek Country Club - A Magical Lightscape
- PJ Hummel & Company — Immortal Soiree
- Hideaway Golf Club, Nicole Benvenutti, CPCE — Bring in The New Year
$50,000 - $100,000
- Terramar, a DMC Network Company — 2025 Leadership Summit Closing Night Dinner
- Fantasy Sound Event Services — Jenny & Benny’s Light & Airy Secret Garden Wedding
- Premiere Events — American Heart Ball - Havana Nights
- Skylark Productions — Skylark Productions - VITL Awards 2025
- Hospitality Butler — Skylark Productions - Love In - Joy: A Tipton Wedding
More than $100,000
- Irene + Co Events — Elegance, Edited by Irene + Co Events
- Elegant Events Florist — Elegant Events Florist
- Rock Events — beNeFit XIII: A Black and White Night to Cure NF
- Fantasy Sound Event Services — WIPA San Francisco ‘Decade in Bloom’ 10 Year Anniversary Party
- White Door Events — Besser Wedding at Temple Israel | Immersive Black Velvet + Custom Lighting Design
- Hello! California Destination Management — Enchanted Forest Gala
- Hello! Florida Destination Management — Magical Oasis
- Hello! Nashville Destination Management — Tennessee Twilight
- Access — Electric Rainforest: An Immersive Closing Celebration
- Access — Boundless Nature: An Immersive Welcome Experience
- Access — Backyard Soirée: An Intimate Concert Celebration
Event Entertainment of the Year
Event Photography of the Year
Event Rental Collaboration of the Year
- Quest Events — Quest Events - 2025 Equest Blue Ribbon Gala
- Rice University — Rice School of Engineering 50th Anniversary
- Archive Rentals — Leadership in Design: A Collaborative Event Experience for Intuit
- Premiere Events — Not Our First Rodeo - Premiere Events 25th Annviersary Party
- Sapphire Fountains — Not Our First Rodeo - Sapphire Fountains/California State Fair 2025
- CORT Party Rental — 60th Birthday Party
- Skylark Productions — Skylark Productions - Luxury Wedding 2025
- Skylark Productions — Skylark Productions - Vanilla Ice Concert
- Ashley Scott, CPCE - AFR Furniture Rental — AFR Furniture Rental - 2025 Choctaw Onyx Elite Gala
- Divinity Event Productions — AFR Furniture Rental - Seamless Transitions Through Collaboration
- Lightware Labs Projection Mapping — Patel Wedding - Digital Decor Projection Mapping
- Alexander Party Rentals — Captain Whidbey Wedding
Event Production of the Year
Less than $50,000
- Warehouse 215 — Warehouse 215 - 3 Year Anniversary Celebration
- Sugar Creek Country Club — Sugar Creek Country Club - A Magical Lightscape
- Perot Museum of Nature and Science — Sleepover at the Museum
- CORT Events — One Space, Many Experiences: CORT Events’ Hosted Buyer Lounge at IMEX America 2025
$50,000 - $100,000
Event Production of the Year (cont.)
Greater than $100,000
- Rock Events — The Dream Party: 40 Years of Legacy
- Boca Woods Country Club — Boca Woods Under The Big Top
- Fleur Consultants, Nicole Benvenutti, CPCE — Party Like Gatsby
- Divinity Event Productions — An Immersive Multi-Space Wedding Experience
- Detroit Zoo Events Team — Sunset at the Zoo
- Perot Museum of Nature and Science
— Night at the Museum - Hello! Arizona Destination Management — Phoenix Underground
- Crescent Event Productions — Funnel Hacking Live - 2025
- Total Events DFW & JP Storyworks — Total Events DFW & JP Storyworks: "THLN Boots, Bling and Paws Gala"
- Crescent Event Productions — Go High Level Summit - 2025
Team Event of the Year
Less than $50,000
- Hill Top Hospitality Farm Dinner
$50,000 - $100,000
- Immortal Soiree
- Wine Before Time
- Craig’s Party
Greater than $100,000
- TISOH's 20th Anniversary Gala- A Night to Remember
Speaker of the Year
Wedding of the Year
Less than $50,000
- Keith Willard Events — A Room Reimagined
- Fleur Consultants, Nicole Benvenutti, CPCE — A Film Festival Wedding
- FPC Live - High Noon Saloon — Greg + Hani's Music Festival Wedding
$50,000 to $100,000
Chapter Awards
Chapter of the Year
Up to 30 members
31-64 members
65+ Members
Chapter Community Service of the Year
Up to 30 members
31-64 members
- Las Vegas — Las Vegas Chapter Community Service of the Year 2025
- Greater Denver — Fostering Community
- Boston — NACE Boston: Christopher's Haven Initiative
65+ Members
Chapter Education Program of the Year
Up to 30 members
- Asheville — Lunch & Learn with Megan Gillikin
- Music City — Emotional Intelligence | Leading with Impact Presented by Brian Green CMP, CMM
31-64 members
- Central Coast California — Central Coast Corporate Connections: Insights from Tourism & Hospitality Leaders
- South Florida — Going For The Gold
- Greater Denver — Reels to Revenue
- Phoenix — Unlocking Success with NACE: The Power of Community & Emotional Intelligence
- Las Vegas — Chapter Education of the Year
- Ventura — Ready, Set, Play!
- Boston — Making Waves with Color: Color Theory with Brian A. M. Green
65+ Members
- Houston — Hospitality for a Greener Future
- Milwaukee — Run for Success: Derby Day Sales Strategies
- Dallas/Fort Worth — Harvest & Hospitality
- Greater Seattle — The Happiness Edge: How High-Vibe Energy Sets You Apart in Events & Hospitality
- Greater Chicago —A Connoisseur’s Evening: Wine & Dine At The Art Institute with NACE Chicago
- Greater Chicago — AI & Streamlining Processes | Getting Out of the Cage During Peak Season
- Charlotte — Charlotte Chapter of NACE 30th Anniversary Celebration
Chapter Fundraising Event of the Year
31-64 members
- Phoenix — License To Thrill - A Night In Monaco
- Ventura — One Last Night: The Velvet Afterlife
- Boston — NACE Boston Vendor-Tines
- Tacoma Puget Sound — The Immortal Soirée
65+ Members
Chapter Program of the Year
Up to 30 members
- Music City — Music City NACE Grand Ole Nashville Gala
- Bryan College Station — Murder Mystery Dinner: Horror At Homecoming
31-64 members
- Greater Detroit — Big Events, Big Impact 2025
- Greater Detroit — 2025 NACE DETROIT TRENDS
- Greater Denver — Rooted in Wellness
- Ventura — Styled In Seconds
- Alamo — Food Trends 2025
- Salt Lake City — Saints & Sinners Gala: Divine Indulgence Meets Devilish Fun
- Boston — Category is…LEGENDS, LOOKS & LEGACY
65+ Members
- Dallas/Fort Worth — "It Takes A Village"
- Houston — TRENDS Experience 2025
- Greater Chicago — Wine & Dine at The Art Institute
- Charlotte — BESPOKE WEDDINGS AND SOCIAL GATHERINGS
- Orlando — CFWA x NACE Orlando Annual Wedding Education Meeting
- Greater Seattle — Strut Sustainably: A Fashion Show & Pop-Up Market
- Philadelphia/South Jersey/Delaware — Shining a Light on Inclusivity: An Evening of Insight & Celebration
Member Awards
Member of the Year
- Linwood Campbell
- Diana Fox, CPCE
- Jennifer Burns
- Courtney Haynes, CPCE
- Nicole Bealby, CWP, CPCE
- Selina Mullenax, MS, CPCE, CMP
Student Member of the Year
- Alex Garton
- Ariana Adolph
Emerging Member of the Year
- Amy Hirsch
- Courtney Chilton
- Bonnie Vidal
- Sierra Youngblood, CPCE
- Bailee George
- Carly Held
Michel Malecot Culinary Excellence
- Shane Streitz
George Zell Spirit of NACE
- Delores Crum, CPCE, CERP
- Jennifer Jenkins, CPCE
- Erin Dennis, CPCE