The results are in: Kansas City magazine’s 2026 Best of Kansas City winners are officially live!
Thousands of votes were tallied during the final round, following an open nomination process that narrowed each category to five finalists. In total, tens of thousands of voters cast almost 200,000 submissions and votes, resulting in a list of over 300 winning restaurants, bars, shops, services, people and hidden gems that are the best that KC has to offer right now.
From iconic barbecue spots and neighborhood dive bars to standout salons and repair shops, this year’s list is a proud display of what the city loves, and is chosen entirely by readers. Advertisers cannot buy their way onto the list; every winner earned their place through votes cast by the community.
You can see the full list of winners here.
In addition to the reader-selected results, our editors have curated their own favorites, highlighting quirky and creative places and things worth talking about right now. See the editors’ picks here.
Thanks for another great year, KC!
