Best of Long Island 2026
Vote for your favorite Long Island businesses across dozens of categories. Voting opens soon — check back for updates.
Best Restaurant
Best Pizza
Best Diner
Best Seafood
Best Coffee Shop
Best Bakery
Best Bar / Nightlife
Best Hair Salon
Best Spa
Best Fitness / Gym
Best Auto Shop
Best Home Services
Best Real Estate Agent
Best Dentist
Best Pediatrician
Best Veterinarian
Best Day Care
Best Tutoring / Education
Best Boutique / Shopping
Best Florist
Best Event Venue
Best Wedding Vendor
Best New Business
Best Customer Service
Voting mechanics coming in a future update. Categories are subject to change.
How the Best of Long Island 2026 Awards Work
Best of Long Island is LI Daily's annual reader-driven awards program celebrating the businesses, restaurants, and service providers that make Nassau and Suffolk County worth calling home. Unlike editor-picked lists, every winner is chosen entirely by Long Islanders — locals who actually eat, shop, and live here.
Voting runs in two rounds. In the nomination round, readers submit their favorite Long Island businesses in each category. The top nominees advance to the final voting round, where one winner and two finalists are crowned per category. Winners are announced island-wide on the LI Daily news desk and promoted to our readership across Nassau and Suffolk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can vote in Best of Long Island?
Any Long Island resident or regular visitor can vote. One vote per category, per reader. We verify submissions to keep the results honest — ballot stuffing by a business or its staff will result in disqualification.
Can I nominate my own business?
Businesses cannot self-nominate or solicit votes from employees. You're welcome to let your customers know voting is open and point them to the Best of Long Island page, but the actual vote has to come from real customers — not staff or family.
When does voting open and close?
Nominations open in spring, finalist voting runs through early summer, and winners are announced in late summer. Exact dates for the 2026 cycle will be posted here as soon as they're finalized.
What do winners receive?
Winners receive a digital Best of Long Island 2026 badge for their website, social channels, and storefront, plus featured placement on LI Daily and coverage in our Best of roundup content.