Time is running out! The deadline to submit your entries for the 2026 STAR Awards is 11:59 p.m. on May 29, 2026. With more than 50 categories available, this is your opportunity to showcase your agency’s best work—but you’ll need to act fast.

This year brings exciting new categories, including Annual Report/Budget, Interview/Talk Show/Podcast, General Interest Story, and State of the City/County/Town. Social media recognition has also expanded, with new categories for Best Trending and Event Promotion/Recap, along with three dedicated Water categories.

Don’t miss your chance to be recognized among the best in public communications. If you haven’t started your submission, now is the time.

Winners will be announced at the STAR Awards Luncheon + Compact Symposium aboard the iconic Queen Mary in Long Beach on October 1, 2026—an unforgettable celebration of excellence.

Submit your entry before the May 29 deadline.

Winners announced at the STAR Awards Luncheon + Compact Symposium aboard the iconic Queen Mary in Long Beach on October 1, 2026

SUBMIT AN ENTRY

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Eligibility Criteria:

All entries must be submitted by a local government, such as a city, county, public school district, police, sheriff, or a non-profit organization whose scope of programming includes government access, or other entity serving local government interests in California and Nevada.  Each STAR Award is granted only to the jurisdiction or organization, not to individual contributors.

Videos must have originally aired or published online between June 1, 2025 – May 8, 2026.  Videos must have been created in-house for all categories except those as noted under Agency/Consultant categories.

All entries must be submitted individually through our online entry form.  On the entry form, include a link to the video. (For example: YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Vimeo or your channel’s On-Demand).

Categories and Operating Budget Breakdowns may be modified to accommodate the number of entries received.

Deadline to enter: 11:59 p.m. May 29, 2026

VIEW CATEGORIES | ENTRY RULES

Entry Fees
CAPIO Member Price:
$80 per entry – May 16 – 29

Non-Member Price: $95 per entry

Payment must be received by the entry deadline May 29, 2026.