The First Sammy Awards Recap and Winners
Last night…was it as amazing for you as it was for us? If you missed the first Sammy Awards ceremony then you missed out on a truly bad ass party brimming with live music, free food and booze, along with Paul Wall and Bun B’s performances, and a first class crowd full of lookers sporting their finest attire or ridiculous costumes. Guests got to sample several cocktail competition entries by Houston’s top bartenders, and while Brandon Young’s exquisite creation, the tequila-grapefruit based Galveston Sea Breeze, was the crowd favorite, it couldn’t have been easy to choose just one as all of the concoctions were perfectly executed.
Free donuts from our beloved Shipley’s graced the tables and attendees enjoyed other party favors such as t-shirts, passes to festivals, and concert tickets. It really was a wonderful evening and everyone that showed up seemed to truly enjoy the experience. We hope to see you at the 2026 Sammy Awards for another celebration of Houston’s best music, art, culture, and food.
The 2026 Sammy Awards winners were announced and presented with gold medals emblazoned with their achievements. Here are the 2026 Sammy Awards winners listed by category.
FOOD/ BOOZE
Best New…
Tiger Den
Best Dessert
Shipley’s
Best Mom & Pop
Lankford Grocery
Best Restroom
Boheme
Best Burger
Bernie’s Burger Bus
Best Taco
Tacos A Go-Go
Best Sushi
Uchi
Best Pizza
Star Pizza
Best Steak Night
MKT Bar
Best Sandwich
Eatsie Boys
Best Pho
Van Loc
Best Ramen
Jenni’s Noodle House
Best Vegetarian
Radical Eats
Best Hummus
Phoenicia
Best Mac & Cheese
Jus’ Mac
Best Curry
Red Lion
Best Coffee
Black Hole
Best Bahn-Mi
Les Givral’s
Hall of Game Food
Ninfa’s on Navigation
Best Food Writer
Allison Cook
Bartender
Lindsay Burleson of Poison Girl
Mean Bartender
Travis Tobey of Fitzgerald’s
New Local Beer
Karbach- Love Street
Best Brewery
Saint Arnold
Hall of Game Booze
West Alabama Ice House
Best New Bar
Little Dipper
MUSIC
Best New Artist
The New Mercies
Record of the Year
The Tontons- Make-Out King & Other Stories of Love
Live Show
The Suffers
Best Americana
Buxton
DJ
Fistful of Soul
Hall of Game
Little Joe Washington
Best Jazz
Free Radicals
Best Hip Hop
Fat Tony
Best Country
Robert Ellis
Best Metal
Venemous Maximus
Best Blues
Little Joe Washington
Best Indie Rock
The Tontons
Best Punk
The Secret Prostitutes
Best Experimental
B L A C K I E
Band that Jumps
American Fangs
Best Sound Person
Ryan Chavez
ART
Curator
Juan Pablo from El Rincon Social
Aerosol
GONZO247
Street Art
Eyesore
New Gallery
The Brandon
Best Poster Artist
Shelby Hohl
Photographer
Ben DeSoto
Hall of Game
Jermaine Rogers
CULTURE
Tattoo Shop
713 Tattoo
Best Comedian
Ashton Womack
Best Mayor
Annise Parker
Non Profit
OKRA Charity Saloon
Eccentric Person
Juan Carlos
Blog
Swamplot
Best Ass
Omar Afra (Runner up: Mills-McCoin)
Website
