Entry fees are $135 each plus HST. The early bird fee is $125 each plus HST.
The Early Bird rate offer ends on January 9, 2026, and the final online submission deadline is January 14, 2026.
For the 2025–2026 season, no HARD COPIES are required, however hardcopies are strongly recommended for Best Magazine. All entry materials can be uploaded to our online portal.
For instructions on compressing PDF files, click here. To compress your PDF using Adobe’s online tool, click here.
Awards Presented to the Creator (with a $500 cash prize)
Online-only content is eligible in all categories unless otherwise specified, provided it meets the category criteria and publication standards.
1. Best Editorial, Column, or Regularly Featured Department
Entries consist of three examples of a single, regularly appearing department or column from three different issues, OR any specific editorial or series of editorials (maximum 3) on the same topic.
Submission Requirements: PDF of each entry in its entirety. Links to online articles are optional, but welcome.
2. Best Profile of a Company
Any article offering readers insight into the operational practices of a company, organization or trade/professional group.
While a single interview with the subject may be included, jurors strongly recommend that entries incorporate multiple original sources to provide context, balance, and journalistic rigour.
Submission Requirements: PDF of each entry in its entirety. Links to online articles are optional, but welcome.
3. Best Profile of a Person
Any article offering readers insight into the leadership of an individual who has made an impact in his/her company, industry, trade or profession.
While a single interview with the subject may be included, jurors strongly recommend that entries incorporate multiple original sources to provide context, balance, and journalistic rigour.
Submission Requirements: PDF of each entry in its entirety. Links to online articles are optional, but welcome.
4. Best Feature Article: Trade
Any in-depth feature dealing with subjects, events or developments of importance to a trade publication’s readers and industry.
Submission Requirements: PDF of each entry in its entirety. Links to online articles are optional, but welcome.
5. Best Feature Article: Professional
Any in-depth feature dealing with subjects, events or developments of importance to a professional publication’s readers and industry.
Submission Requirements: PDF of each entry in its entirety. Links to online articles are optional, but welcome.
6. Best News Coverage
Any article offering readers timely information and background of an important news event affecting the marketplace served by the publication.
Submission Requirements: PDF of each entry in its entirety. Links to online articles are optional, but welcome.
7. Best How-To Article or Series of Articles
Any article informing readers how to do their jobs better, more efficiently or more productively.
Submission Requirements: PDF of each entry in its entirety. Links to online articles are optional, but welcome.
8. Best Series of Articles
Any collection of articles (maximum 3) on a single related topic or subject.
Submission Requirements: PDF of each entry in its entirety. Links to online articles are optional, but welcome.
9. Best Photograph
Any original photograph by a Canadian photographer, commissioned by the publication.
Submission Requirements: PDF of each entry in its entirety. Links to online articles are optional, but welcome.
10. Best Illustration
Any original illustration or series of illustrations accompanying a single article (including cover, photo and spot illustration) by a Canadian illustrator, commissioned by the publication.
Submission Requirements: PDF of each entry in its entirety. Links to online articles are optional, but welcome.
11. Best Online-Only Feature
Any digital article, project, or concept that leverages technology and/or design (graphics, video, audio, interactive reports, etc.) to enhance the storytelling, audience engagement, and/or reader experience.
Submission Requirements: Link to each entry.
12. Best Topical Reporting: AI & Technology
This award honours an article with an emphasis on artificial intelligence, digital transformation, or emerging technologies and their impacts in any field, trade, or profession.
Submission Requirements: PDF of each entry in its entirety. Links to online articles are optional, but welcome.
13. Best DEI Reporting
Any article with an emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in any field, trade, or profession.
Submission Requirements: PDF of each entry in its entirety. Links to online articles are optional, but welcome.
Awards Presented to the Magazines (no cash prizes)
Online-only content is eligible in all categories unless otherwise specified, provided it meets the category criteria and publication standards.
14. Best Special Report
Any report on any B2B topics, featuring a trade or professional magazine’s independent industry research and editorial analysis.
Submission Requirements: PDF of each entry in its entirety. Links to online articles are optional, but welcome.
15. Best Art Direction: Single Article or Opening Spread
Art direction of an opening spread or complete feature.
Submission Requirements: PDF of each entry in its entirety. Links to online articles are optional, but welcome.
16. Best Cover
Any single publication cover.
Submission Requirements: PDF of each entry in its entirety. Links to online articles are optional, but welcome.
17. Best Art Direction of a Complete Issue
Art direction of a complete issue.
Submission Requirements: PDF of each entry in its entirety and PDF of the cover of the issue to be judged.
18. Best Podcast
Honours the podcast series that best serves its intended trade or professional audience. The originality of the theme and the quality of production will be judged, as well as creative use of the podcasting or audio medium.
Submission Requirements: Upload a JPG or PNG visual representation of your entry. Submissions may consist of links to up to three (3) episodes.
19. Best Editorial Newsletter
Honours the outstanding work of an individual or editorial team in creating original and engaging content via a regular email series that best serves its intended trade or professional audience. Editorial elements may include but are not limited to text, audio, photographs, illustrations, infographics, and visual elements. Newsletters must be designed specifically for the email platform. They should feature original content and not simply a reproduction of the publication’s website.
Submission Requirements: Submit a brief statement (max 500 words) that:
A) introduces the publication to the jury;
B) articulates the publication’s strategy for newsletters;
C) provides context for the development and deployment of the emails; and
D) comments on the impact of the newsletter.
Submit a URL to the main point of entry, and URLs to the three newsletters to be evaluated.
20. Best Editorial Package
An outstanding collection of articles and content on a related theme in a single issue, which reflects collaboration by writers, editors, art directors and/or visual creators. Elements may include, but are not limited to, annotations, illustrations, photography, sidebars, infographics and captions. Entries may consist of a series of print and/or online related feature articles and content packaged together, or an entire special or thematic issue.
Submission Requirements: PDF of each entry in its entirety and PDF of cover or opening spread of the package to be judged. Links to online articles are optional, but welcome. If the package consists of a complete issue, please upload a PDF of the issue in its entirety. If the package consists of a specific portion of the issue, please only upload a PDF of that portion. For details on how to extract pages from a PDF, please refer to Adobe’s guide, available here.
21. Best Issue
The best overall issue of a publication in terms of the impact and usefulness relative to its editorial mandate. This award is open to any regularly produced issue as well as thematic and anniversary issues and SIPs. The intent is to reward general excellence by the entire editorial team in production of a single issue.
Submission Requirements: PDF of the issue to be judged; PDF of the cover of the issue; PDF of a cover letter (maximum 400 words) providing context for the issue.
22. Best Magazine
This award will go to the publication that displays overall excellence in content and design, and that most consistently mirrors its mandate/mission (as published in the media kit) and most effectively engages and serves the needs of its readers.
Submission Requirements: PDF of a presentation letter (maximum 1,000 words) introducing the jury to the publication that includes the editorial mandate and an outline of your magazine’s achievements in 2025; PDFs of two (2) issues published in 2025.
23. B2B Leadership Award
This award recognizes outstanding career achievement, contributions to the industry, and overall leadership of a member of the Canadian B2B media industry. This award is open to anyone working in the B2B publishing industry: journalist, writers, creators, editors, publishers, art directors, circulation experts, marketing, sales and promotion professionals, production managers.
Entries for the B2B Leadership Award consist of a cover letter indicating the candidate’s name, title, and a summary of their career achievements, including links to or examples of their work, as well as at least two supporting letters from other individuals, and a headshot of the candidate. The entire submission should consist of a single PDF file, not more than 10 pages in length. The deadline for entries for this award is February 27, 2026. Entries submitted after the online submission deadline (January 14, 2026) must be emailed to staff@magazine-awards.com.
24. Best Branded Content Collaboration — B2B
Honours an outstanding branded content initiative produced by or in collaboration with a B2B magazine, publisher, or content studio, where the work effectively serves a trade or professional audience while maintaining editorial and creative integrity.
Entries may include print, digital, video, newsletter, podcast, or mixed-format content developed jointly between a B2B publication and a client, brand, or agency. The piece should address a professional or trade audience and align with the magazine’s mandate.
Submission Requirements: Upload one PDF of the branded content piece in full. Include a brief statement outlining partner roles (editorial, client, agency) and any available audience or business outcome metrics. Links to digital versions or multimedia components are optional but welcome.