Readers selected the most popular local hospitality providers and tourism experiences, cultural events, as well as designers and shops, as part of the international Best of Local 2026 awards. This year’s selection was record-breaking, with an impressive 150,528 valid votes cast. The votes were given to 500 selected locations and experiences from across Slovenia, divided into seven main categories and as many as 51 subcategories nationwide.
The Best of Local 2026 Award represents a mark of public trust and has been presented for the 15th consecutive year. The project is organised by leading media outlets, spearheaded by the independent media house The Slovenia, in cooperation with the international media brand In Your Pocket, and supported by Žurnal24, MojaObčina.si, Moji Mediji, Marketing Magazin, Hey Slovenia, and others.
The selection process is based on nominations by locals, professional associations, and media partners. These nominations are reviewed by the editorial team, which selects the finalists in each category. Public voting is the key element ensuring credibility, as the audience chooses their favourites from 10 finalists per category. This demanding project includes a review of 682 finalists, divided into 7 categories and 62 international subcategories.
The selection is professionally supported by numerous expert organisations, including the Association of Slovenian Museums (SMS), DGISS – the Association of Private Galleries, associations of tourist farms, artisanal cheesemakers, and specialty coffee producers, as well as Shoptok, Slovenika, Mladinska knjiga, Galarna, CZK – Made in Slovenia, the Chocolarium Museum of Chocolate, LJFW, Izvorno Slovensko, and the Hey Slovenia Patrol.
For 15 years, the Best of Local awards and entrance labels have served as trusted quality markers for providers in Ljubljana and, more recently, across Slovenia, guiding both domestic and international visitors. All 500 selected providers are also featured in the exclusive annual printed Best of Local Yearbook, which is distributed free of charge at 100 premium locations.
ABOUT BEST OF LOCAL
The Best Of Local award is a recognition that confirms the popularity of selected local providers, now being presented for the 15th consecutive year. The selection and award ceremony is organized by the media house The Slovenia, with the support of the international media outlet In Your Pocket. After more than a decade of selecting the best in Ljubljana, the organizers decided this year to expand the voting scope and choose the best providers from across Slovenia.
The Best Of Local accolade enhances reputation and continues the tradition of evaluation, which includes both an editorial panel and the broader public, who ultimately vote for their favorite provider in the selected categories.
Find out more about the Best Of Local HERE.
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