Hey Founder,
You’re NEXT.
The 2026 NEXT Awards + Entrepreneurs’ Hall of Fame, Presented by Amazon
Monday, October 19, 2026 · Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Business leaders in the room last October.
Nineteen founders walked offstage with trophies. Not one of them talked about the trophy. They talked about the people who believed in them, the city that backed them, and the moment they realized what they were building actually mattered.
“When you get this many founders together in one room, the energy just keeps building.”
— Mayor Freddie O’Connell, 2025 NEXT Awards
Presented by
Categories
- Business & Professional Services
- Consumer Goods
- Healthcare
- Life Sciences & Biotechnology
- Music, Sports, Gaming & Entertainment
- Real Estate & Construction
- Retail and Restaurants
- Social Enterprise
- Entrepreneur of the Year
Plus: Entrepreneurs’ Hall of Fame · Furse Award · Freeman Award
Hall of Fame, Furse, and Freeman awards are selected by committee.
Qualifications
In business 5 years or less (as of 10/19/26) · Headquartered in Middle Tennessee
Founder must be actively involved · For-profit companies (unless Social Enterprise)
Cannot have won a NEXT Award in 2025 · Applications close Friday, May 1, 2026
Every day I just wake up and I’m like, man, this is working. We are doing it. I’m going to hang on to this and put it front and center on my desk and remember that we’re doing something that matters.
Nolan Tuttle, Upside Guarantee · 2025 NEXT Award Winner
Plan to win. I don’t think we knew it would grow to be what it is today. So just plan to succeed because that’s what we’re here to do.
Bariangela Segovia, Rolled 4 Ever Ice Cream · 2025 NEXT Award Winner
“Just reflecting on this last week and I am in awe of the event you built! The flow, the details, it was truly incredible and inspiring.
Amy Green, Mamaya Health
Our students LOVED being part of NEXT Awards. So empowering for them to experience the energy and dream of the possibilities.
Dr. José González, Belmont University
It truly felt like the Oscars, but for incredible entrepreneurs that are all about lifting each other up.
Aabesh De, Flora · 2024 NEXT Award Finalist
Know a founder who belongs on this stage?
Nominate them. It’s five fields — your name, their name, their email. We reach out. They apply.
Nominations close Friday, May 1.
A nomination puts a founder on our radar. They’ll complete a full application to be considered — so nominate them, then give them a nudge.
What Happens After You Apply
- 1
Applications are reviewed by a panel of independent judges across all 8 categories. - 2
Finalists are notified over the summer and invited to the October 19 ceremony. - 3
Winners are announced live on stage at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.
Questions? Reach out to chloe.cook@ec.co
Schermerhorn Symphony Center · Nashville
5:30 PM Doors Open & Red Carpet · 6:30 PM Dinner · 7:15 PM Program
9:00 PM Cocktails in the Courtyard
Nashville Black-Tie
Applications and nominations close Friday, May 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM.