Airport Experience® News - Pre-Conference Issue 2026

AXN REVEALS 2026 AWARDS FINALISTS BY AIRPORT EXPERIENCE NEWS

After reviewing hundreds of submissions, the Airport Experience News team is pleased to share the finalists for its 2026 Airport Experience Awards. Once again, the AX Team was overwhelmed with both the number of submissions and the quality of the teams, concepts and companies all vying for recognition as leaders in the dynamic airport concessions world. The finalist submissions have been turned over the AX Awards Committee for their selections. The committee – newly selected each year – is comprised of 24 industry executives (12 concessions/ brand executives and 12 airport executives) who cast their votes for winners from among the finalists. Winners will be revealed at the 2026 Airport Experience Conference, to be held February 22-25 at the Gaylord Opryland Convention Center in Nashville.

Airport With the Best Community Engagement Initiative – Large Airports • Nashville International Airport

• Toronto Pearson International Airport • Dallas Fort Worth International Airport • John F. Kennedy International Airport • Orlando International Airport

Airport With the Best Community Engagement Initiative – Medium/Small Airports • Lakeland Linder International Airport • Long Beach Airport • Albuquerque International Sunport • Ontario International Airport Airport With The Best Overall Program – Large Airports • Denver International Airport • Nashville International Airport • Chicago Midway International Airport • Vancouver International Airport • Dallas Fort Worth International Airport Airport With The Best Overall Program – Medium/Small Airports • William P. Hobby Airport • Lehigh Valley International Airport • Calgary International Airport

Below are the finalists in each category:

AIRPORT AWARDS

Airport With the Best Commercial Team – Large Airports • Denver International Airport • Nashville International Airport • San Diego International Airport • Chicago Midway International Airport • Vancouver International Airport • Dallas Fort Worth International Airport • Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport • Toronto Pearson International Airport • Orlando International Airport Airport With the Best Commercial Team – Medium/Small Airports • William P. Hobby Airport • Palm Springs International Airport • Kelowna International Airport • San Jose International Airport • Calgary International Airport • Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport

Airport with the Best Program Design • San Diego International Airport • Denver International Airport • Nashville International Airport

Airport With Highest Regard for Customer Service – Large Airports • Nashville International Airport

• JFKIAT (Operator of Terminal 4 at JFK) • Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

Airport With Highest Regard for Customer Service – Medium/Small Airports • William P. Hobby Airport

• John Wayne Airport, Orange County • Lakeland Linder International Airport • Cleveland Hopkins International Airport • Ontario International Airport

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AX NEWS FEBRAURY 2026