And the winners are…
Best Movie Theater: The Little Theatre
Vintage Drive-in Theatre | Roc Cinema | Dryden Theater | The Strand
Best Film Festival: Rochester International Film Fest
ImageOUT | Witness Palestine Film Festival | Anomaly
Best Podcast: The InnerLoop
The Crime Dawg Podcast | Your Authentic Life | Getting Real with BOSSY
Best Arts + Culture Community Leader: Shawn Dunwoody
Thomas Warfield | Bleu Cease | John Magnus Champlin
Best Community Theater Company: Blackfriars Theatre
OFC Creations | Rochester Community Players | The Company Theatre
Best Professional Theater Company: Geva Theatre
Rochester Broadway Theatre League | Blackfriars Theatre | OFC Creations
Best Published Literary Work of 2025: “Day Trips Around Rochester” by Debi Bower
In This Moment by Various
Best Festival: Rochester International Jazz Festival
Lilac Festival | ESL Rochester Fringe Festival | Corn Hill Arts Festival
Best Museum: The Strong National Museum of Play
The Memorial Art Gallery | Rochester Museum and Science Center | The George Eastman Museum
Best Mural or Public Art Exhibit (2025): Mini Mystery Art Machine
The Power of Reading at Avenue D R-Center by Tenderchomps | Seabreeze Bowl by Kaitlin Roney | Ghost of Roseland by Benji Carr
Best Live Music Venue (500 & under): Bug Jar
Abilene | Three Heads Brewing | Photo City Music Hall
Best Live Music Venue (500+ Capacity): CMAC
Anthology | Kodak Center | Water Street Music Hall
Best Drag Performer: Mrs. Kasha Davis
Aggie Dune | Aphrodite | Fawna
Best Arts Event: ESL Rochester Fringe Festival
Corn Hill Arts Festival | M&T Bank Clothesline Arts Festival | RoCo 6×6
Best Dance Company: Garth Fagan Dance
Push Physical Theatre | CAT + THE COYOTE | BIODANCE
Best Comedian/Comedy Troupe: Kai Von Doom
Chris Thompson | Dario Joseph | Cindy Arena
Best Filmmaker: Jackie McGriff
Martin Hawk | Roy Hogan
Best Photographer: Jim Montanus
Aaron Winters | Gerry Szymanski | Quajay Donnell | Richard B. Colon
Best DJ: DJ Darkwave
Brian Buttlett | Chreath | Ben Frazier
Best Vocalist: Danielle Ponder
Teagan Ward | Cammy Enaharo | Alyssa Coco
Best Cover or Tribute Band: Cut Me Up Genny
Cruel Summer | BB Dang | The Jackson Cavalier Tribute Band
Best Original Band: Joywave
Some Ska Band | Side Eye | CATATAC
Best Artist: Shawn Dunwoody
Sarah Rutherford | John Magnus Champlin | Danielle Del Plato
Best Art Gallery: Memorial Art Gallery (MAG)
ARTISANworks | Rochester Contemporary Art Center | Behind the Glass
Best Actor: Madisen Zabawa
Daniel Mejak | Kiyomi Oliver | Carl Del Buono
