The official Best of Orlando® party returns!

After a seven-year hiatus, the Best of Orlando® Awards Night, “The Party of the Year,” is finally making its return.

On Tuesday, Aug. 18, Orlando Weekly will bring back one of the city’s most beloved annual celebrations at the Plaza Live, marking the first official Best of Orlando® event since 2019.

This year’s event comes with a major twist: For the first time in the history of Best of Orlando®, it will take place before the winners are publicly revealed.

That means finalists, friends, family members and supporters will learn the results together in real time as the winners of the Best of Orlando® Awards, the city’s largest contest and most coveted readers’ choice awards, are revealed for the very first time.

The Best of Orlando® issue will be distributed and the results will be published online the following day, Wednesday, Aug. 19.

“Best of Orlando® is a celebration of everything that makes Orlando the creative, independent and vibrant city that it is,” says Orlando Weekly publisher Graham Jarrett. “We want to see all of the finalists come out and celebrate together. Win or lose, being named a finalist is an accomplishment worth celebrating. This event is about recognizing the people, businesses and organizations that help make Orlando the vibrant city that is.”

In addition to the live winner reveals, attendees can expect complimentary bites from Best of Orlando®-nominated restaurants, live entertainment, music and the chance to mingle with the people, businesses and organizations that help shape Central Florida’s culture year after year.

Another first: Official Best of Orlando® certificates will be available at the event not only for first-place winners, but for second- and third-place finishers as well.

Tickets are on sale now at orlandoweeklytickets.com. And by the way — voting is still open!

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