Step right up, ladies and gents, step right up and take a look! We have iconic stores, we have remarkable restaurants, we have terrific entertainment and services galore. Step right up and direct your attention to the 2026 Richmond magazine Best & Worst!
This is the 39th year, folks, the 39th year of the River City’s longest-running recognition of local business excellence. We have 192 — count ’em! — 192 categories of marvelous winners. You’ll be amazed by the exceptional spots for dining and drinks! You’ll be delighted by the outstanding options for shopping and recreation! And you definitely don’t want to miss the dazzling companies voted by readers just like you!
But that’s not all! We have also collected curiosities from all over RVA. You’ll be stunned by the trends that should end and shocked by the officials we want to avoid — and you’ll gasp with wonder at the extraordinary entrepreneurs, entertainers and ideas in the spotlight.
Turn the page for the latest, the greatest, the region’s very finest: your 2026 Richmond magazine Best & Worst winners!
Contributors: Haley Bartel, Scott Bass, Kim Catley, Adam Cheek, Nicole Cohen, Bird Cox, Kaitlin Davis, Mia Debelevich, Stephanie Ganz, Matthew Guillen, Skye Hathaway, Kevin Johnson, Rachel Kester, Mindy Kinsey, Harry Kollatz Jr., Mandy Loy, Anne McCrery, Peter McElhinney, Diane McMartin, Eileen Mellon, Gray Pershing, Audrey Polverari, Kelsey Robinson, Konrad Solberg, Genevelyn Steele, Ian M. Stewart, Christine St. Peter, Lauren Vincelli
*Our editorial team compiled and vetted the survey results before sharing them with the advertising staff.
