2026 Homie Award Winners

Thank you to everyone who voted on these awards! The third annual Homie Awards gave out over 50 accolades to the show choir world.

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Choir of the Year: John Burroughs "Powerhouse"

Powerhouse executed a flawless season, sweeping major West Coast captions and going undefeated across a four-competition season. Their 1970s show matched up with all other Advanced Mixed 1 groups in the West Coast and a cadre of Midwest competitors. It will go down as one of "those Burroughs shows."

Best Vocals: Carmel "Ambassadors"

Ambassadors won Best Vocals at four of their five competitions in 2026, a testament to director Kyle Barker's leadership of the group. Counting last season, Carmel has taken this caption at seven of their last eight competitions.

Best Choreography: Center Grove "Sound System"

CG took choreo (or visuals) at all six of their competitions this year, turning back a loaded Nationals field as well as contingents from Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and more. They currently have a seven-competition Best Choreography streak.

Best Band: Linn-Mar "10th Street Edition"

Best Show Design: Omaha South "The Ambassadors" (Night at the Latino Museum)

Set/Backdrop of the Year: Burbank "In Sync"

Medley of the Year: Marysville "Swingers Unlimited" (Hot Blooded/Crocodile Rock/Godzilla/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Theme/Karma Chameleon)

Foreigner, Elton John, Blue Oyster Cult, a cartoon classic, and Culture Club all in the same number? Marysville's medley mixed show choir staple acts with some uncommon cuts to create a performance that stood out as one of the most innovative selections of the season.

Ballad of the Year: Waukee "Millennium" (Four/Goodbye)

Dance Break of the Year: Westside "Amazing Technicolor Show Choir" (Closer)

Questions of Westside's demise before the season were greatly exaggerated, as ATSC still strutted some signature Stephen Todd moves throughout their show. Heck, their opener dance break could've just as well been nominated for this too!

Best Costumes: Millard West "West in the Groove"

WIG's costuming this year can best be described as elegant, portraying a show that loosely resembled Hadestown. From an elaborate robe for the lead to lavender suits and flower dresses for choir members, the outfits checked all the boxes.

In-Show Moment of the Year: Los Alamitos "Sound FX" (Monster flash)

With a show based off the movie The Village, Sound FX enthralled audiences with an insanely high production value that has come to be expected from the top west coast choirs. However, one moment in their show stood out above them all.

Outstanding Soloist #1: Indigo Gabriel (Bloomington Kennedy "Rhythm in Gold")

Gabriel swept soloist awards across six competitions this year as part of RIG's Cruella show. It capped off a career that saw a total of 16 soloist in a show awards across four seasons, gaining the first three in Kennedy's 2023 Moulin Rouge! show.

Outstanding Soloist #2: Finley O'Malley (Millard North "Infinity")

O'Malley may have not won any Best Soloist captions this season, but she served as a glue soloist, propelling Infinity's show forward with a powerful early-set solo. Her work helped Infinity to one of its best seasons in several years.

Best Character Portrayed in a Show: Braeden Cox (Urbandale "Studio", Don Quixote)

Cox was the public face of Urbandale during Studio's first season under the direction of Adam Brown. Serving as the indispensible Don Quixote, he won Best Soloist at Waukee Northwest and helped Urby to two wins.

Rising Star: Evan Baker (John Burroughs "Powerhouse")

Best Stage Crew: Huntington North "Varsity Singers"

Prop of the Year: Iowa City West "Good Time Company" (Minecraft blocks)

Single-Gender Choir of the Year: Millard North "Illumination"

Single-Gender Best Vocals: Zionsville "Choralaires"

Choralaires took Best Vocals at two of the three competitions they attended with dedicated single-gender finals, only losing the award at Brownsburg. Additionally, they sang their way to third overall at Sullivan.

Single-Gender Best Choreography: Center Grove "Debtones"

It was a Center Grove sweep in Best Choreography this year, as like their mixed counterpart Sound System, Debtones also take a Homie for visuals. The group took Best Choreography at five of their six competitions in 2026.

Single-Gender Best Show Design: Los Alamitos "Soundtrax" (War Paint)

Mens Choir of the Year: John Burroughs "Men@Work"

Tier 2 Choir of the Year: Sioux Center "Satisfaction"

Prep Choir of the Year: Johnston "Synergy"

Synergy may be the second mixed choir at Johnston, but they performed like a bona fide 4A contender, making finals at all four of their local competitions, placing fourth four times, and making a very respectable bid for finals at a loaded HOA Orlando event.

Rookie Choir of the Year: Hamilton "The Legacy"

Most Improved Choir: Bloomington Jefferson "Jefferson Connection"

Jefferson put together a generational year in 2026. It was Connection's first multi-win season since a three-win 2010 campaign, just when some current members were coming into the world. They also notched two other podium finishes this season.

Traveler Award: Hurricane "Red Hot"

Boasting a full six-competition schedule, Hurricane only competed in West Virginia twice and in the Charleston metro once. They also visited Ohio (twice), Indiana, and Virginia, matching up with choirs as varied as Shepherd Hill to Petal.

Giant Slayer: Dwight D. Eisenhower "Express"

People's Choice: Bloomington Kennedy "Rhythm in Gold"

RIG won the Instagram vote for People's Choice. It was simply the cherry on top of what was a phenomenal season for Kennedy. The group won five competitions across Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, and California.

Caption Carnivore: Davenport Central "Central Singers, Inc." (26 captions)

Director of the Year: Jared McElroy (North Central "Counterpoints")

Rookie Director of the Year: Christina Cawthon (Mt. Zion "Swingsations")

Choreographer of the Year: Tori Brindis

Best New Choreographer: Paige Vose

Arranger of the Year: Garrett Breeze

Competition of the Year: Chesterton Trojan Classic

Chesterton trotted out a generational lineup for the second season in a row, bringing in Indiana titans Carmel and Franklin Central alongside Nebraska stalwart Gretna, Illinois's best choir (Wheaton North), the well-traveled Brandon from Mississippi, Virginia's top outfit in Cosby, and more.

Best-Run Competition: Franklin Central Hoosier Show Choir Classic

With a format that features small division on Friday and large division on Saturday, FC combines a large and well-designed auditorium with ample concession and homeroom space. All this allows for a jam-packed competition that still boasts organizational excellence.

Best New Competition: Skutt Catholic Show Choir Showdown

Competition Food of the Year: Chick-fil-A sandwiches

As the chicken chain has expanded its presence throughout the United States, its presence at show choir competitions has also expanded. The chicken sandwich has become a staple go-to protein option for many a hungry performer.

Competition Name of the Year: Hastings Swingin' on the River

This is one where it just all makes sense. Located near the confluence of the Mississippi River and the St. Croix River, Hastings High School even includes a bridge over the commons area. Swingin' on the River has been a staple competition in Minnesota.

Best Dressed Homeroom: Neosho PhenoMENon at Troy Buchanan

Choral Program of the Year: Linn-Mar

HomeRoom Lifetime Achievement Award: Pat Ribar (Gretna/Gretna East)

HomeRoom Lifetime Achievement Award: Dwight Jordan

HomeRoom Lifetime Achievement Award: Winona Costello

Spirit of Service: Kip Mathew (Harrisonville)

Spirit of Service: Jane Edwards (Keota)

Spirit of Service: Jeremiah Pritchard (Lake Forest)

Show Choir Nation Moment of the Season: Christmas special episode