How to Vote in the 2026 Best of Rhode Island Readers’ Poll

It's almost time to cast your vote!

February 20, 2026

the Editors,

You’ve been patiently waiting. And it’s almost here! Our Best of Rhode Island online readers’ poll, which this year will run through the month of March, goes live on Sunday, March 1.

The annual contest, now in its thirty-third year, touches every corner of the state and, more importantly, it gives the reins to the locals. Whether you love a tiny salon in Burrillville or specialty food shop in Providence, we’re asking you to shout it from the rooftops (or, er, thoughtfully type it into the voting form on RIMonthly.com).

As usual, we’ve assembled a beast of a ballot with scores of categories — restaurant, salon, clam shack, fitness studio — in statewide and regional sections. We’re leaning on you, reader, to name the best of the best, but it needn’t be a big time commitment. You can scroll through and only fill in the categories that spark joy in your heart or fill your belly. For folks with opinions about everything: Welcome home. We can’t wait to see what you choose.

This year’s poll also includes some changes, as it does every year. We updated wording on several categories to be more specific or inclusive. We also eliminated some categories because they didn’t achieve enough votes from year to year or are redundant, so that we could add some new ones and give other businesses a chance. Stay tuned for the new additions!

So give us a little of your time next month and we’ll hand back a big, juicy Best of Rhode Island issue in August. The team at Rhode Island Monthly, and the state’s small business owners, thank you for your votes.

The official ballot will go live on March 1 on RIMonthly.com!

If you operate a local business and want to rally your fans for the vote, download our free voting widgets for your website or social channels. Plus, consult this tips sheet for answers to your most pressing Best of Rhode Island questions.

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