We are excited to present this year’s Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners for the 2026 5 West Diamond Awards!
Browse the list to see if your favorites are there, and be sure to make a note of any new businesses you’d like to check out.
Congratulations to all our winners!
BEST INFLUENCER
- GOLD: Claire Guentz (@claireguentz)
- Silver: Raleigh FoodTrap (@raleighfoodtrap)
- Bronze: Nanjiba & Taqmir (@didyousayfoood)
BEST LOCAL MOVIE THEATER
- GOLD: Paragon Theaters Fenton
- Silver: AMC Dine-In Holly Springs
- Bronze: B&B Theatres Morrisville Park West
BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE
- GOLD: Koka Booth Amphitheatre
- Silver: Red Hat Amphitheater
- Bronze: Bond Brothers Eastside
BEST LIVE THEATER VENUE
- GOLD: Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC)
- Silver: Koka Booth Amphitheatre
- Bronze: Raleigh Little Theatre
BEST SPECIAL EVENT VENUE
- GOLD: Home for Entertaining
- Silver: Chandelier Event Venue
- Bronze: FigMINT Farms
BEST PLACE FOR GAMES + AMUSEMENT
- GOLD: Downtown Cary Park
- Silver: Fred G. Bond Metro Park
- Bronze: Boxcar Bar + Arcade
BEST MUSEUM
- GOLD: Museum of Life + Science
- Silver: North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
- Bronze: North Carolina Museum of Art
BEST ART GALLERY/COLLECTIVE
- GOLD: Art by Shalimar
- Silver: North Carolina Museum of Art
- Bronze: Cary Gallery of Artists
BEST PLACE FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION/PARK
- GOLD: Fred G. Bond Metro Park
- Silver: Downtown Cary Park
- Bronze: Juniper Level Botanic Garden
BEST BOUTIQUE HOTEL OR BED AND BREAKFAST
- GOLD: The Mayton
- Silver: Hive House
- Bronze: The Umstead Hotel and Spa
BEST LOCAL EVENT/FESTIVAL
- GOLD: Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival
- Silver: Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival
- Bronze: North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival
