Visit California announces 2026 Poppy Awards finalists

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Feb. 6, 2026) Visit California today announced the finalists for the 2026 California Poppy Awards, which recognize excellence in tourism marketing and destination stewardship across California. A panel of industry marketing experts reviewed more than 160 submissions and selected the top finalists across nine competitive categories.

“California’s tourism industry continues to set the standard for creativity and excellence,” said Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of Visit California. “This year’s Poppy Award finalists have demonstrated exceptional innovation in their campaigns, showcasing the incredible diversity and vitality that makes California the nation’s top travel destination. We’re honored to recognize their outstanding contributions to our Industry.”

The Poppy Awards celebrate the best tourism marketing in the state. Tourism marketing has helped make California the No. 1 travel destination in the country, providing jobs for 1.2 million California workers and benefiting communities large and small across the state.

The awards ceremony will take place March 11 at the Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center in Chula Vista during Visit California's annual Outlook Forum industry conference, which takes place March 10-12 and is attended by more than 800 tourism industry leaders.

A panel of industry marketing experts selected the finalists of the Poppy Awards across eight categories:

Best Brand Advertising Campaign ($1 million and up)

• Aquarium of the Pacific
• Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
• San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
• Universal Studios Hollywood• Visit Greater Palm Springs
• Visit Napa Valley
• Visit Newport Beach

Best Brand Advertising Campaign (under $1 million)

• Belmont Park
• The Broad
• The San Francisco Peninsula
• Visit Oxnard
• Visit San Luis Obispo

Best Content Marketing

• Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park
• Mendocino Railway
• San Diego Tourism Authority
• SIXT Rent a Car LLC
• Visit Oceanside
• Visit San Luis Obispo

Best Influencer Campaign

• Mendocino Railway
• Murrieta Hot Springs Resort
• Pacifica Hotels
• Visit Carlsbad
• Visit Carmel
• Visit San Luis Obispo

Best Public Relations Campaign

• Hotel Maya, Long Beach
• LEGOLAND California Resort
• See Monterey
• Sensorio
• The Lodge at Torrey Pines
• Visit Anaheim
• Visit Newport Beach

Best Strategic Partnership

• Howard Johnson Anaheim
• L'Auberge Del Mar
• Mendocino Railway
• Visit Oakland and Visit Mendocino County
• Visit Sacramento
• Visit SLO CAL, Travel Paso and Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance
• Visit Yosemite | Madera County

Best Sustainability or Resilience Award

• Portola Hotel & Spa
• Rush Creek Lodge
• The Ranch at Laguna Beach
• Visit Lake Tahoe
• Visit Pasadena

Best Trade and Media Activation

• San Diego Tourism Authority
• See Monterey
• The Ameswell Hotel
• Visit Newport Beach
• California Welcome Center of the Year
• Ridgecrest Area Convention & Visitor's Bureau
• Salinas Valley Tourism & Visitors Bureau
• Visit Oceanside

Find additional information about the Poppy Awards on the Outlook Forum website.