2026 Chamber of the Year Announced

The Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives announced the winners of the 2026 Chamber of the Year competition at the Annual Awards Show, during #ACCE26 in New Orleans.

Chamber of the Year, sponsored by GrowthZone, is the most prestigious and competitive award presented annually by ACCE. It recognizes the leadership role chambers of commerce have in their communities. Those honored with the Chamber of the Year designation have demonstrated organizational strength and made an impact on key community priorities such as education, transportation, economic prosperity and quality of life. 

“Chambers of commerce are helping communities navigate change, solve complex challenges and create new opportunities,” said ACCE President & CEO Sheree Anne Kelly. “This year’s Chamber of the Year winners exemplify bold leadership, innovation and measurable impact. Their work is strengthening regional economies and positioning their communities for long-term success.”

The 2026 Chambers of the Year are:

Category One: Greater Mason City Chamber of Commerce, Iowa

Category Two: Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, Michigan

Category Three: Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, Oregon

Category Four: Greater Des Moines Partnership, Iowa

Chambers of commerce interested in competing for the award must first qualify by participating in a vigorous multi-stage process. Organizations entering the Chamber of the Year competition must meet minimum thresholds in at least three of five key performance areas in ACCE’s Annual Chamber Operations Survey, including net revenue and assets, membership account retention and membership dollar retention.

Qualifying chambers enter the competition with a written application addressing all aspects of organizational operation and programmatic work. Applications are scored by peer chamber executives to determine finalists. The finalists then move on to an interview before a panel of experienced chamber professionals. 

To ensure the fairest competition, applicants are grouped into four categories based on budget. A strong conflict of interest policy signed by all volunteer judges, ensures a competitive and fair playing field for all applicants.