Sunshine State Awards ceremony

Join us for the 2026 Sunshine State Awards ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 29 in Fort Lauderdale, where we’ll celebrate the best in Florida journalism.

Meet us at ArtServe, 1350 E Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale (map). Tickets can be purchased online below or at the door; prices will be higher at the door, so get them now! High school students are always free.

6 p.m. cocktail hour

Open bar and passed appetizers in the lobby. While you mix and mingle, say cheese for the photographer and explore our pop-up experiences. Guests are also invited to explore the exhibit, The Art of Language, an artistic exploration of the crossover between imagery and the written word.

7:30 p.m. ceremony

We’ll go to the auditorium to present awards to first-place winners in high school, college, and professional categories. All winners and finalists can pick up their certificates. All unclaimed certificates will be mailed to the address provided on the entry form. Duplicates can also be ordered for a small fee.

Dress code

We’re not strict, but since people ask, we recommend cocktail attire.

Your emcee

Sheli Muñiz

Sheli Muñiz is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and anchor for NBC6 News in South Florida, where she anchors the 4 p.m. newscast and hosts the station’s monthly health program, Your Health. Since joining NBC6 in 2015, she has covered some of the nation’s biggest stories, earning recognition for her coverage of the historic Puerto Rico protests. When she’s not anchoring the news, she’s chasing after two toddlers and exploring South Florida restaurants alongside her husband.

Parking

There’s plenty of free parking at ArtServe.

Lodging

We are partnering with Courtyard by Marriott Fort Lauderdale Downtown as our hotel partner, located just five minute by car from ArtServe. Guests attending the Sunshine State Awards can enjoy a stay for $119 per night. To make a reservation, call Marriott Reservations at 866-999-7721 or visit this link; our group code is AS31882DF1.