The PennZone

TORONTO - PennZone -- Calgary hosted North America's finest regional magazine professionals at the 2026 International Regional Magazine Awards.

The annual event, hosted by the International Regional Media Association (IRMA), took place September 18.

Gold, Silver, Bronze and Merit awards were presented in 45 categories, after rigorous judging of 354 entries undertaken by 38 volunteer judges.

"The IRMA Awards celebrate the very best in regional magazine journalism in North America. Our magazine members are vital chronicles of place, people, history and community, and these awards recognize excellence in writing, visual art, editing, art direction and brand marketing. IRMA is honoured to bring these publications and their teams together to celebrate regional storytelling," said Joyce Byrne, Executive Director of IRMA.

This year's Magazine of the Year category was presented to Adirondack Life in the circulation under 34,999 category, and to Texas Highways in the circulation over 35,000 category.

Of Adirondack Life, judges acknowledged the striking covers and beautifully but simply designed features that highlight the lush photography and draw the reader in, as well as thoughtful writing that is full of energy on important topics.

Judges praised Texas Highways, saying "Everything is bigger in Texas, and that's a point of pride for Texas Highways, but that also presents a unique journalistic challenge: to document a state so vast and so diverse culturally and topographically in a way that still feels personal and local. What comes across and ties the magazine and state together are the voices of the people that are featured."

Top Gold-winning publications:

• Texas Highways
• Arizona Highways
• Louisiana Life
• Adirondack Life
• New Mexico Magazine

2026 Gold Award Winners

Magazine of the Year, Circulation 34,999 or Less: Adirondack Life
Magazine of the Year, Circulation 35,000 or More: Texas Highways

Public Issues: (Tie) "Addition and Subtraction", Adirondack Life; "Home of the Clouds", Arizona Highways

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Historic Feature, Circulation 34,999 or Less: "Strike and Struggle", El Palacio
Historic Feature, Circulation 35,000 or More: "Staring Into Space", Arizona Highways
Nature and Environment, Circulation 34,999 or Less: (Tie) "The River Fixers", Adirondack Life; "Hiding in Plain Sight", Louisiana Life
Nature and Environment, Circulation 35,000 or More: "Gone in Seven Seconds", Texas Highways
Travel Feature: "Arizona Unplugged", Arizona Highways
Art and Culture Feature, Circulation 34,999 or Less: "Mardi Gras Magic", Louisiana Life
Art and Culture Feature, Circulation 35,000 or More: "Earth, Water, Wind, and Fire", Texas Highways
Recreation Feature: "Show of Hands", Texas Highways
General Feature, Circulation 34,999 or Less: "Northern Cousins in a World of Silos", The Yukon Magazine
General Feature, Circulation 35,000 or More: "A Tale of Two Crops", New Mexico Magazine
Profile, Circulation 34,999 or Less: "Character Study", Adirondack Life
Profile, Circulation 35,000 or More: "Forces for Nature", Texas Highways
Reader Service Article: "Flight Of Fancy", New Mexico Magazine
Hed & Dek: (Tie) "Fork Yeah", Acadiana Profile; "Ducking and Weaving", Louisiana Life
Essay: "Amarillo by Morning", Texas Highways
Column: "Editor's Letter", Arizona Highways
Best New Magazine Writer of the Year: "Bobby Alemán: Where the Raindrop Ends", Texas Highways
Magazine Writer of the Year: "Kevin Rabalais", Louisiana Life
Single Photo: "Gone in Seven Seconds", Texas Highways
Photo Series, Circulation 34,999 or Less: "Hoop Net Fishing", Acadiana Profile
Photo Series, Circulation 35,000 or More: "Big Skies", Texas Highways
Portrait Photo: "Bill Anton", Arizona Highways
Portrait Series: (Tie) "The Makers and the Music", Acadiana Profile; "The Young'Uns", Arizona Highways
Magazine Photographer of the Year: "Joel Hazelton", Arizona Highways

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Illustration -- Feature or Series: (Tie) "The Cottager's Guide to Cloud Collecting", Cottage Life; "State Parks Field Guide", Oklahoma Today
Spot Illustration: "Open Road: Tied to a String", Texas Highways
Home and Garden: "Into the Woods", Texas Highways
Art Direction of a Single Story, Circulation 34,999 or Less: "Surf and Turf", Louisiana Life
Art Direction of a Single Story, Circulation 35,000 or More: "Music Venues", Texas Highways
Overall Art Direction, Circulation 34,999 or Less: "Sarah Majeste", Acadiana Profile
Overall Art Direction, Circulation 35,000 or More: "Mark Mahorsky, Sara D'Eugenio, Chris Linnen, Brandon Jakobeit", Texas Highways
Department: "Fuel", Texas Highways
Food Feature: "The Reel Deals", Texas Highways
Special Focus: "The Music Issue", Texas Highways
Editorial Package: "The Music Issue", Texas Highways
Cover, Circulation 34,999 or Less: "Hiding in Plain Sight", Louisiana Life
Cover, Circulation 35,000 or More: "Everything's Big Here", Texas Highways
Best Print Calendar: "Louisiana Culinary Calendar", Louisiana Life
Best Brand Innovation: (Tie) "Top 20 Under 20", Avenue; "Route 66 Centennial", New Mexico Magazine
Website of the Year: "arizonahighways.com", Arizona Highways
Newsletter: "New Mexico Magazine, Newsletter", New Mexico Magazine
Podcast: "Arizona Highways Podcast", Arizona Highways

The complete list of winners and finalists can be seen at https://www.irmamagazines.com/2026-irma-awards-winners/

The International Regional Media Association (IRMA) is a member-driven not-for-profit organization dedicated to connecting members through their passion for publishing and their communities. Since 1960, IRMA has been bringing members together to share business successes and celebrate regional stories.

2026 IRMA Members: Acadiana Profile, Adirondack Life, Arizona Wildlife Views, Arizona Highways, Avenue, Bucks County, Cape Cod and the Islands, Cottage Life, Down East, El Palacio, Kansas!, Louisiana Life, Maine Home + Design, Mountain Home, New Mexico, Oklahoma Today, Saltscapes, Texas Highways, The Bermudian, Wyoming Wildlife, The Yukon Magazine.

For inquiries or more information please contact

Joyce Byrne
Executive Director
info@irmamagazines.com
416-886-8114

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