Welcome To the 2026 Mascot Awards
The Mascot Awards are the Mascot Hall of Fame’s annual celebration of mascotry’s best moments. They include stunts, dance-offs, hospital visits, epic wipeouts, reveals that made the whole internet stop scrolling, and more! The prize is the Golden Reggy, the trophy every mascot wants on its (oversized, foam-padded) mantel.
Film has the Oscars. Television has the Emmys. Sports has the ESPYs. Country music has the CMAs.
Mascots have the Golden Reggys.
Why the Mascot Awards Exist
The Mascot Hall of Fame has inducted the greatest characters in sports since 2005. Hall of Fame induction honors a career, the body of work that turns a costume into a legend.
But mascot greatness doesn’t wait. It happens every night, in every gym, ballpark, arena, parade route, and pediatric ward.
The Mascot Awards honor this year’s efforts.
That means any mascot can win: the high school bulldog who’s never been on TV, the minor league moose working a 140-game summer, the brand-new corporate character still learning which way the head faces. Hall of Famer or not, rookie or veteran, if you made a moment, you’re in the running.
Meet the Golden Reggy
The trophy is named for Reggy the Purple Party Dude, the Mascot Hall of Fame’s official spokescharacter. He’s the purple, French fry-haired, boogie-nosed face of the Hall.
Kathy Wilson created Reggy in the fall of 2000. He hit the road on his first summer baseball tour in 2001 and has done comedy and dance routines at ballparks ever since.
The Golden Reggy is his golden twin. Same spirit, more shine, far less shedding.
The Six Mascot Award Divisions
No high school mascot should have to go head-to-head with a major league legend. The Mascot Awards are split into six divisions, each with its own individual awards, while also competing in open award categories.
High School Mascot
For the mascot program that best brought its school, fans, and community to life through outstanding spirit, performance, engagement, and impact.
Explore the High School Mascot of the Year award →
Collegiate Mascot
College Golden Reggys include Collegiate Mascot of the Year, Collegiate Human Mascot of the Year, and Collegiate Live Animal Mascot of the Year; the last requires responsible animal stewardship to be eligible.
Explore the Collegiate Mascot awards →
Minor League & Semi-Pro Mascot
For the mascot that delivered outstanding entertainment while building meaningful connections with its fans, organization, and community, one rain delay at a time.
Explore the Minor League & Semi-Pro Mascot of the Year award →
Major League Mascot
For the program that set the standard at the highest level of professional sports in performance, creativity, fan connection, brand representation, and community impact.
Explore the Major League Mascot of the Year award →
Corporate Mascot Awards
Two Golden Reggys for brand characters: Best Corporate Campaign Led by a Mascot and Best New Corporate Character (2 years and under).
Explore the Corporate Mascot awards →
Nonprofit Mascot
For the mascot that best brought its organization’s mission to life through character, community engagement, creativity, and meaningful impact.
Explore the Nonprofit Mascot of the Year award →
The Open Mascot Awards: Anyone Can Win
Beyond the divisions, the open categories put every level on the same stage. A middle-of-nowhere high school mascot with a smartphone and a great idea can take home the same Golden Reggy as a big-league franchise. In these categories, we judge impact relative to opportunity and resources.
- Stunt of the Year. The moment that made fans ask, “Did that mascot really just do that?”
- Best Dance Performance. Not just proof a mascot can dance, but proof dance can be great mascot entertainment.
- Best In-Game Routine or Skit. For when the game’s most memorable play doesn’t happen on the field.
- Most Iconic Viral Moment. The clip that escaped the feed and became part of the culture.
- Best New Mascot Reveal. The year’s best first impression.
- Rising Star Award. For mascots five years old or younger who already look like future legends.
- Mascot Prop of the Year. Sometimes the difference between good and legendary is the perfect prop.
- Mascot Video Short of the Year. Great character, great idea, and someone who knows when to yell “Action!”
- Greatest Community Impact. When a mascot uses its power to make life better for others.
- Awwww Inspiring Moment. The feel-good moment of the year. You’ll know it when you see it.
- Mascot Fail of the Year. The funniest harmless mishap of the year, the one that went completely wrong and became the moment everybody remembers.
- Mascot First. For the mascot or organization that did something significant that had never been done before.
The Industry Award: Mascot Maker of the Year
Behind every great mascot is a small army of designers, builders, coaches, choreographers, producers, and entertainment directors. Mascot Maker of the Year honors the individual, company, or organization whose work strengthened the entire mascot industry.
The other Golden Reggys celebrate the characters in the spotlight. This one celebrates the people behind the curtain.
How the Mascot Awards Work
- Nominate. Programs submit their best work through the official nomination forms, usually a highlight video, photos, and a short impact statement.
- Judge. Industry experts review every submission and set the award ballots.
- Vote. Fans rally behind their favorites. (Yes, you can vote for your own team’s or favorite mascots. We’d be suspicious if you didn’t.)
- Celebrate. Winners take home a Golden Reggy and the right to say the five best words in mascotry: “We won a Golden Reggy.”
Vote tallies are decided with the following formula: Fans 60%, Industry Professionals 20%, MHOF Committee 20%.
Show, don’t tell. Mascots are silent performers, so nominations work the same way. The strongest submissions prove the work with video and photos.
Did You Know?
The Mascot Hall of Fame was born out of a sausage incident. In 2003, fans watched a Pittsburgh first baseman hit a Milwaukee Brewers Racing Sausage with a bat during a between-innings race.
Mascots weren’t getting the respect they deserved. Armed with a newly written Mascot Bill of Rights, a group of spirited mascots marched on City Hall in Philadelphia and held a Mascot Rights Rally, leading to the creation of the Mascot Hall of Fame, which inducted its first class in 2005.
One more: the word “mascot” comes from La Mascotte, an 1880 French operetta about a farm girl believed to bring good luck. By definition, every mascot is a good-luck charm. Some of them just happen to be seven feet tall and covered in fur.
The Center of the Mascot Universe
The Mascot Hall of Fame honors legacy. The Mascot Awards honor this year’s excellence. Together, they celebrate everyone who climbs into a sweaty suit, plays to the crowd without saying a word, and leaves people smiling a little wider than when they arrived.
So dust off the highlight reel, round up the photos, and find your division. Your Golden Reggy is waiting.
