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Credit: Nick Cardello<\/p>\nCredit: Nick Cardello<\/p>\n
Creative Loafing Tampa Bay\u2019s 2026 Best of The Bay<\/a> is finally here, which means the nominations are in and the polls <\/a>are now open! It\u2019s time to show some love to your favorite local bars, food trucks, musicians, artists, and everything and anything you think makes Tampa Bay exceptional.<\/p>\n Voting is open between Thursday, July 23 through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 30. Readers can vote once per day across nine categories, including Arts, Beauty & wellness, Drink, Entertainment, Food, Goods, People, Places, and Services.<\/p>\n Winners will be revealed at Creative Loafing\u2019s big Best of the Bay party on Oct. 7, where nominees, winners, local celebrities and more get to mingle, shuffle, eat and drink, and get a first look at Creative Loafing\u2019s annual Best of the Bay-themed issue.\u00a0<\/p>\n A limited number of pre-sale tickets for the party are on sale for a limited time at a discounted price.\u00a0 Prices increase on July 26.<\/a><\/p>\n Every year, CL asks the public for help with this gigantic issue, and once the polls close, we comb through millions of readers\u2019 poll votes to bring you the best people, places or things that help Tampa Bay thrive, all chosen by you, the public.\u00a0So, happy voting!<\/p>\n To see previous winners, and for more information on Creative Loafing\u2019s annual Best of The Bay issue and party, visit botbtampabay.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n Pitch in to help make the Tampa Bay Journalism Project a success.<\/a><\/p>\n Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.<\/a><\/p>\n Follow us:\u00a0Google News<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0NewsBreak<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Reddit<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Facebook\u00a0<\/a>|\u00a0BlueSky<\/a><\/p>\n This article appears in July 23 \u2013 29, 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n \t