The ballot
Voting for the next Best on the Block cycle opens in early summer. One ballot per person, basic anti-stuffing controls, no purchased placement — the whole methodology is in the awards hub.
The 2026 ballots are counted and closed — see this year's winners, including the three dethroned champions. Want a reminder when the next ballot opens? The newsletter is how islanders find out first.
Think a category is missing? The 2026 cycle added Best Restaurant by reader demand — pitch us the next one.
How it works
The categories. Eleven in the 2026 cycle: Best Restaurant, Best Lobster Roll, Best Mudslide, Best Beach, Best Pizza, Best Coffee, Most Romantic Spot, Best Bachelor/Bachelorette Destination, Best Hiking Spot, Most Dog-Friendly Spot, and Most Instagrammable Spot. Categories evolve when readers make a case.
The rules. One ballot per person, one vote per email, light rate limiting to keep the enthusiastic honest. Businesses can encourage their fans to vote — that's democracy — but they can't buy placement, sponsor a category, or preview results. Close races get called close in the write-up.
The timeline. Ballots open in early summer, close mid-July, winners publish in late July, and badge kits go out to winners in August — in time for the shoulder season windows. Past results: 2025 · 2026.