The 2026 Veggie Awards: The 100+ Best Plant-Based Products, People, and Places of the Year

Think vegan food has peaked? Not a chance. This year’s survey celebrates the brands and products making every meal feel like a win—from the oat milk taking over the world to the best new product we already can’t live without. Plus, we’re sharing your picks for Vegan City of the Year, your favorite social media stars, and the cookbook you couldn’t put down (spoiler: thank you, Miyoko). Ready to see who’s leading the pack? Let’s dig in.

Best Milk: Oatly

Oatly can’t be stopped. The Swedish alt-milk company just emerged from its strongest financial year to date, selling more of its sassy and self-aware-humor emblazoned cartons of oat milk than ever before. Tack on its seventh (!) consecutive Veggie Award for Best Milk, and you have enough reason to raise your glass of strawberry matcha—oat milk now, oat milk forever, baby.

2nd Place: Silk
3rd Place: Plantstrong

Best Ice Cream: Ben & Jerry’s

Vanilla, chocolate, cookies and cream. Meh. Today’s non-dairy ice cream connoisseur is looking for ribbons of vegan marshmallow fluff, gobs of peanut butter cookie dough, and molten cores of gooey caramel. And luckily enough, Ben & Jerry’s trusty fleet of 16 oat milk-based flavors have them covered.

2nd Place: So Delicious
3rd Place: Oatly

Best Staple Cheese: Violife

Originally started in Greece, Violife is now an absolute staple among dairy-free cheese lovers all across America. Have a hankering for enchiladas? Reach for the Mexican Style Shreds. In the mood for Italian? Layer Smoked Provolone Slices on your eggplant parm. Or heck, take it back to the islands with a grilled Violife halloumi meze platter.

2nd Place: Chao Creamery
3rd Place: Daiya

Best Artisanal Cheese: Rebel Cheese

If you’re reading this magazine, you already know cashews are practically magic. And we’re here to tell you that the folks at Rebel Cheese are wizards. The Shark Tank alum transforms the humble nut into mouthwatering, artisanal cheeses ranging from the familiar (like grateable parm, smoked cheddar, and pepper jack) to the divine (black truffle Pecorino or honey pistachio chèvre, anyone?).

2nd Place: Kite Hill
3rd Place: Treeline Cheese

Best Cream Cheese: Kite Hill

It’s a three-peat for Kite Hill’s almond milk cream cheeses, and we’re going beyond the bagel to celebrate. Add the Chive flavor to mashed potatoes for extra oomph, the Garden Veggie to avocado-veggie-sprout sandwiches, and the Everything spread to egg scrambles for a dose of umami that’ll make brunch that much more mouthwatering.

2nd Place: Violife
3rd Place: Tofutti

Best Butter: Earth Balance

It’s been a tumultuous year for vegan butter, but the OG spread from Earth Balance will never let us down. And our popcorn, braised vegetables, shortbread cookies, toast, vegan seafood boils, waffles, grits, bulletproof coffee, cobblers, buffalo sauce, pound cakes, cornbread, and vegan steaks are all the better for it.

2nd Place: Miyoko’s Creamery
3rd Place: Country Crock

Best Creamer: Silk

When it comes to your morning cup of java, whether you prefer a splash of soy in your dark roast or a layer of cinnamon caramel oat cold foam on your iced americano, Silk’s 11 dairy-free creamers will do the trick.

2nd Place: Oatly
3rd Place: Califia Farms

Best Yogurt: Forager Project

For those still spooning through cups of yogurt-Biscoff cookie Japanese cheesecakes, you’re in good company. We’ve perfected about 93 different flavor combos, and Forager Project is the foundation we love. Think cinnamon-vanilla with Nutter Butters, strawberry swirled with matcha powder and Oreos, and mango-passion fruit with ginger snaps and lime zest.

2nd Place: Silk
3rd Place: Kite Hill

Best Egg: Just Egg

How did we ever do breakfast before Just Egg? Scrambled simply, rolled into a Japanese omelet, baked into quiches, or whisked into waffle batter, this liquid gold delivers the flavor, texture, and protein punch of eggs, sans shell and salmonella. Just Egg, never leave us.

2nd Place: Bob’s Red Mill
3rd Place: Yo Egg

Best Burger: Beyond Meat

Yellow peas, brown rice, red lentils, and faba beans—all chock-full of protein and the base for the best plant-based burger in the nation. Beyond’s new clean-label formulations make its juicy patties feel wholesome and satiating while still delivering all the sizzly, stackable fun you want from a burger.

2nd Place: Impossible
3rd Place: Plantstrong

Best Chicken: Gardein

Unbreaded strips perfect for stir-fries, crispy buffalo wings begging to be dipped in blue cheese dressing, and saucy mandarin chicken just as good as takeout. No one’s doing chicken quite like Gardein—which is why it’s taking home its sixth Veggie Award.

2nd Place: Daring
3rd Place: Impossible

Best Seafood: Gardein

Flaky, golden, and ready to soak up tartar sauce or sriracha, Gardein’s fishless filets and crabless cakes remain the gold standard for crispy, flavorful plant-based seafood you actually want to dive into. Now just one question remains, what’s for lunch: British-inspired fish and chips, Baltimore-style crab cakes, or Baja fish tacos?

2nd Place: Jack & Annie’s
3rd Place: The Plant Based Seafood Co.

Best Bacon: Lightlife

Salty, smoky, crispy—there’s a reason bacon has such a cult following. But the alt-protein aficionados at Lightlife know that breakfast can be powered by plants, too, and these gluten-based strips pack all the flavor without any of that pesky cholesterol.

2nd Place: Upton’s Naturals
3rd Place: MyForest Foods

Best Deli Slices: Tofurky

From pepper-crusted slices that stack beautifully on rye to smoky ham and turkey that hold their own under a slather of spicy mustard, Tofurky’s deli staples deliver the savory, meaty satisfaction our sandwiches need. Pro tip—keep slices on-hand for an instant upgrade to your sandwich shop veggie sub.

2nd Place: Field Roast
3rd Place: Unreal Deli

Best Jerky: Louisville Jerky Co.

When snack cravings call for something chewy, smoky, and a little unexpected, Louisville Jerky Co. answers. This 12-year-old company turns out wildly inventive flavors—think Kentucky fried chicken, sweet and sour pork, and truffle garlic—all with a tender bite that keeps things interesting. Gas station jerky could never.

2nd Place: Pan’s Mushroom Jerky
3rd Place: Primal Spirit

Best Condiment: Bragg Nutritional Yeast

Pop the bright yellow canister and prepare to sprinkle with abandon. Bragg’s Nutritional Yeast dusts popcorn, melts into sauces, boosts vinaigrettes, and transforms weeknight pasta into something craveable with a nutty, cheesy kick (with a dose of vitamin B12 to boot!) that VegNews readers can’t live without.

2nd Place: Vegenaise
3rd Place: Bitchin’ Sauce

Best Mac and Cheese: Chao Creamery

When comfort food calls, Chao answers with its signature, creamy vegan cheese practically made for macaroni. Stirred into hot pasta, the vegan cheese creates a velvety sauce with just the right balance of richness and tang. Add breadcrumbs and a pinch of paprika on top, and suddenly microwave dinner feels a little more gourmet.

2nd Place: Annie’s
3rd Place: Amy’s Kitchen

Best Frozen Meals: Amy’s Kitchen

Freezer aisle fatigue? Not with Amy’s. From globally inspired entrées to cozy, casserole-style classics, this brand has mastered the art of the heat-and-eat upgrade. And with organic wholesome ingredients and portions ranging from on-the-go burritos to family-size dinner trays, Amy’s is proving that convenience and quality can, in fact, share a box.

2nd Place: Trader Joe’s
3rd Place: Gardein

Best Chocolate: Hu Kitchen

Short ingredient lists can deliver big payoffs—just ask Hu Kitchen. Its rich, snappy vegan chocolate bars and bites let quality cacao shine, even when studded with crunchy quinoa or swirled with creamy nut butter. Each square is indulgently dark, subtly sweet, and decidedly grown-up—perfect for a 3pm pick-me-up.

2nd Place: Endangered Species Chocolate
3rd Place: Chocolove

Best Candy: Unreal Chocolate Gems

Candy aisle nostalgia, but make it junk-free. Unreal’s Chocolate Gems bring back the joy of M&M’s with these beet juice- and spirulina-tinted shells enveloping smooth, melt-in-your-mouth dark chocolate centers. The results are bright, poppable, and dangerously easy to finish in one sitting.

2nd Place: Justin’s Nut Butter Cups
3rd Place: Cocomels Coconut Milk Caramels

Best Dessert Brand: Abe’s

Allergy-friendly and crowd-pleasing aren’t always synonymous—but Abe’s knows how to pull it off. From cupcakes perfect for a fifth birthday party to picnic pound cake enjoyed with a glass of wine and good convo, each tender bake is crafted for sharing (or not—we won’t tell).

2nd Place: Sweet Loren’s
3rd Place: Rubicon Bakers

Best Cookie: Sweet Loren’s

Hot out the oven, no mixing bowl required. Sweet Loren’s ready-to-bake dough turns out golden-edged, soft-centered cookies that taste homemade in no time. Whether you opt for oatmeal cranberry or go all out with salted caramel chocolate chunk, the result is the same: warm, bakery-style cookies without any of the cleanup.

2nd Place: Alternative Baking Co.
3rd Place: Siete

Best Snack: Hippeas

Crunch factor? Handled. Hippeas turns humble chickpeas into airy, flavor-packed puffs that disappear by the handful. Reach for the vegan white cheddar for a dependable classic, or switch it up with “flavor-blasted” Blazin’ Hot or lip-smacking Grillo pickle puffs to keep snack time from ever feeling routine.

2nd Place: SkinnyPop White Cheddar Popcorn
3rd Place: Back to Nature Cheezy Crackers

Best Coffee Beverage: Califia Farms

Whether it’s a no-nonsense black cold brew or a creamy caramel almond latte, Califia Farms is the tastiest way to stay caffeinated and moving all day long. Its plant-based milks are silky and flavorful, blending seamlessly into espresso shots, pour-overs, and iced concoctions alike.

2nd Place: La Colombe
3rd Place: Stumptown

Best Bubbly Beverage: GT’s

GT’s continues to lead the sparkling fermented beverage scene with tangy, effervescent kombuchas that double as gut-friendly elixirs. Fans can sip fun and fruity options like pomelo pink lemonade or adult-forward brews like Chardonnay or pineapple tepache, knowing each bottle balances flavor and function with just the right amount of fizz to keep wellness routines on track (and tasty).

2nd Place: Spindrift
3rd Place: Olipop

Best Protein Powder: Orgain

From strawberries and cream to birthday cake, four-time winning brand Orgain is proving plant protein can taste as good as it works. And with options for keto, high-protein, and minimal-ingredient blends, it’s the powder that’s powering our smoothies, baked goods, and post-workout shakes with ease

2nd Place: Vega
3rd Place: Garden of Life

Best New Product: Just Meat Chicken

Shreddy, juicy, and unapologetically meaty, Just Meat Chicken is revolutionizing all of our favorite recipes. Made with wheat and soy protein, sunflower and coconut oils, and a few seasonings, these chicken chunks have become the stars of our sesame ginger lettuce cups and chili lime burrito bowls, bringing the heft, pull, and fall-apart texture we didn’t know we were missing.

2nd Place: Baileys’ Oat Milk Liqueurs
3rd Place: Blackbird Foods Mini Vegan Pizza

Best Classic Gone Vegan: Hellman’s Plant-Based Mayo

What do poke bowls, French fries, and chocolate cake all have in common? Each gets a serious boost from a touch of mayo. And with Hellmann’s vegan blend, you’ve got a reliable go-to, making everyday meals and special recipes that much more creamy and decadent (seriously, you should definitely be putting mayo in your cakes).

2nd Place: Boursin Cheese Spread Alternative
3rd Place: Babybel Plant-Based Snack Cheese

Favorite TikToker: Tabitha Brown (@iamtabithabrown)

Whether she’s making comfort food feel like a hug, spotlighting vegan businesses, or sprinkling in life lessons with a laugh, Tabitha’s TikTok is the ultimate feel-good scroll, making even the busiest feed a little brighter.

2nd Place: Carleigh Bodrug (@plantyou)
3rd Place: Alexis Nikole Nelson (@alexisnikole)

Favorite Athlete: Colin Kaepernick (Football)

Even off the field, Colin Kaepernick plays the long game. Plant-based and principle-driven, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback continues to push for justice while maintaining elite fitness—reminding us that performance and activism can, and should, coexist.

2nd Place: Lewis Hamilton (Formula 1 Racing)
3rd Place: Rich Roll (Ultra Endurance)

Favorite Instagrammer: Kreg Sterns (@bigboxvegan)

It may feel like Trader Joe’s is constantly discontinuing our favorite products, but want proof that there are still plenty of plant-based treasures to be found in 2026? Stop by Big Box Vegan’s IG feed. It’s there you can scope out the latest product finds from stores and chains across the country—your shopping list will thank you.

2nd Place: John Lewis (@badassvegan)
3rd Place: Nemanja Golubovic (@kalemyname)

Favorite YouTuber: Jane and Ann Esselstyn (@janeesseslstyn)

Through decades of plant-based cooking and now personal health battles, mother-daughter duo Jane and Ann show that veganism and resilience go hand in hand. Their channel is equal parts kitchen wisdom, life advice, and motivation to live fully—no matter the obstacles.

2nd Place: Michael Greger, MD (@nutritionfacts.org)
3rd Place: Chef AJ (@chefaj)

Favorite Celebrity: Billie Eilish

Between a veganized world tour, plant-based food drives, and going viral for her dairy-free take on a Dubai chocolate bar, it’s easy to see why VegNews readers awarded this champion of the plant-based movement her first Veggie Award.

2nd Place: Joaquin Phoenix
3rd Place: Tabitha Brown

Best Podcast: Nutrition Facts With Dr. Greger

In roughly 20 minutes, this award-winning podcast breaks down complex nutrition topics into actionable advice with wit and precision. From everyday health hacks to big-picture science summaries, you know what they say: a podcast episode a day may help keep the doctor away.

2nd Place: Plantstrong Podcast with Rip Esselstyn
3rd Place: Vegan Hacks with Jason Kartalian & Mike Keller

Best Meal Delivery Service: Purple Carrot

Whether you’re assembling Carolina-style shiitake brisket sandwiches or just heating up a Korean fried chicken rice bowl, Purple Carrot makes vegan cooking feel equally easy and elevated. Each week’s menu balances bold flavors with clever twists that VegNews readers keep on regular delivery rotation.

2nd Place: Hungryroot
3rd Place: Daily Harvest

Best Vegan City: Los Angeles, CA

In Echo Park, Miami transplant Men & Beasts is serving modern Chinese and stunning ceremonial tea services. In South Central, Baba’s Vegan Cafe crafts healthy, holistic comfort food for the community. And in Venice, fans of brioche cinnamon rolls and 48-hour focaccia are anxiously awaiting the opening of brick-and-mortar Manifold Bakery. Vegan things are happening in LA, and plant-based fans are loving every bite.

2nd Place: New York City
3rd Place: Portland

Best Grocery Store: Besties Vegan Paradise (Los Angeles, CA)

The neighborhood market that started in a quiet residential corner of East Hollywood has blossomed into a city-wide powerhouse, expanding to LA’s famed Original Farmers Market shopping center and another sleek, minimalist location in the downtown arts district. Need vegan queso blanco, Dubai chocolate spread, or poached eggs? Your Bestie’s got your back.

2nd Place: Follow Your Heart Market & Cafe (Canoga Park, CA)
3rd Place: Food Fight! Grocery (Portland, OR)

Best Online Grocery Store: Vegan Essentials

Click, cart, celebrate—Vegan Essentials makes filling your fridge with vegan goodness both effortless and exciting. Hard-to-find brands, specialty ingredients, and surprise delights arrive at your door with zero guesswork (and zero compromise).

2nd Place: Besties Vegan Paradise
3rd Place: FakeMeats.com

Best Cookbook: The Vegan Creamery by Miyoko Schinner

When the Queen of Vegan Dairy shares her expertise, we listen. And in her seventh book, Miyoko Schinner takes dairy-free creations into art form. From the plant-based cheese wheels that made Miyoko a household name to the best strawberry ice cream you’ve ever had, these 208 pages teach techniques to help make every home chef feel like the vegan crème de la crème.

2nd Place: The Korean Vegan: Homemade by Joanne Lee Molinaro
3rd Place: The Blue Zones Kitchen: One Pot Meals by Dan Buettner

2026 Prize Winners

Dream Vegan Getaway to The Stanford Inn
Elizabeth Hemphill-Burns

Epic Vegan Feast from Kite Hill
Georg Adfor

Premium Plant-Based Whole Cuts from Juicy Marbles
Sierra Bloomer

Ultimate Goodie Box from Vegan Essentials
Diane Roosth

These lucky VegNews readers are also big winners in our Veggie Awards. Congratulations to this year’s prize winners!