Overview

Since 2007, ACCE has annually recognized chambers of commerce in various size categories for their work leading businesses and communities with the Chamber of the Year award. The award recognizes excellence in operations, member services and community leadership. 

Chamber of the Year is sponsored by

Read about the updates for the 2026 competition. Click here.

Application Process

The Chamber of the Year award involves a three-stage process, which includes Dynamic Chamber Benchmarking, application and interview. Winners of the Chamber of the Year award must wait three years before submitting another application.

Stage 1: your chamber must first complete ACCE's Dynamic Chamber Benchmarking survey by March 13, and score above average in three of the following five criteria: member retention, dollar retention, net income, net assets and current ratio. Chambers who qualify will be notified of their status by March 24.

Stage 2: Complete and submit your application by May 7. Chamber of the Year applications are evaluated within four budget-based categories. Your category placement will be determined by the information provided in your Dynamic Chamber Benchmarking submission. View the category breakdown below: 

  • Category 1: Less than $649,999 
  • Category 2: $650,000-$1,399,999 
  • Category 3: $1,400,000-$3,999,999 
  • Category 4: $4,000,000+ 

ACCE’s Horizon 2035 is integrated throughout the application and should be referenced when completing your submission.

Chamber of the Year Entry Fee: $300 - Complete entry fee here. 

Payment must be made by credit card. This fee is waived for Horizon Investors & All ACCEss Pass holders. 

Stage 3: Finalists will be selected to participate in an in-person interview at ACCE's annual convention in New Orleans, LA (Monday, July 20).

2026 Timeline

  • February 10: Chamber of the Year Interest Webinar – 2 p.m. ET (Enroll here)
  • March 13: Deadline for chambers to complete the Dynamic Chamber Benchmarking surveys 
  • March 13 Optional synopsis review. Submit the completed form by March 13 and receive feedback by March 31. 
  • March 24: Chambers that qualify will be notified and encouraged to submit an application 
  • April 14: Chamber of the Year Application Do's and Don'ts Webinar - 2 p.m. ET 
  • May 7: Chamber of the Year application deadline - 11:59 p.m. PT 
  • June 3: Applicants informed if they are finalists or not 
  • June 4: Finalists announced 
  • June 24: Chamber of the Year Interviews that Win Webinar 2 p.m. ET 
  • July 20: Finalist interviews at #ACCE26 in New Orleans 
  • July 21: Winners announced at ACCE Awards Show 

New for 2026

ACCE took a hard look at the complexity of the chamber of the year application and made some big changes to streamline the process, while maintaining the competitiveness of the award. 

  • Simplified Application Process: Our new streamlined application is completely online, eliminating the need for a graphic designer. We want to judge the quality of your initiatives, not the design of your application.
  • Easier Application for Smaller Chambers: Chamber in categories 1 and 2 will submit just one program synopsis instead of two. We know how many hats smaller chamber CEOs wear, and we want to make this process easier. 
  • New, More Transparent Categories: Applicants will now compete in categories based simply on budget. No more complicated formulas to figure out which category you will be in.    

Application 

Synopsis Review

You have the option to submit your synopsis topic for review prior to your application submission. A committee of your peers will review the submission, giving it one of the following evaluations: red (not competitive), yellow (standard and should consider re-evaluation) and green (great topic). Submit your synopsis topic review form by March 13 to receive feedback by March 31.  

 

 2025 Winning Applications 

 

 2024 Winning Applications 

Publicity and Brand Awareness

Chamber of the Year winners and finalists will experience heightened attention via media advisories and press conferences. Finalists and winners are authorized to use the appropriate version of the Chamber of the Year logo in promoting their chambers and communities.

Award Eligibility

  • ACCE’s Chamber of the Year award is open to all current ACCE member chambers of commerce in good standing.

  • To apply for the 2026 Chamber of the Year award, chambers must complete the Dynamic Chamber Benchmarking Survey by March 13 and meet the minimum qualification requirements.

  • For former Chamber of the Year (COY) winners who wish to reapply, COY eligibility requires sitting out for three program years. For example, if a chamber won in 2022, the chamber would sit out 2023, 2024, and 2025, becoming eligible to reapply in 2026.

  • Past winners