Site of the Year

What is Kentico’s Site of the Year?

Every year, Kentico’s Site of the Year (SOTY) awards celebrate the most exceptional digital experiences built on Xperience by Kentico.
From financial institutions and universities to healthcare networks and global travel brands, these awards highlight the projects that push the boundaries of what’s possible with modern digital experience technology. 

The competition recognizes far more than beautiful design; it celebrates true digital excellence: usability, performance, accessibility, innovation, and measurable business results. Whether it’s a global rebrand, a multi-site rollout, or a complex SaaS migration, the winners showcase how creativity and technology can drive real impact. 

What does the Site of the Year award represent?

The Site of the Year award is Kentico’s highest annual honor. It recognizes websites and digital projects that exemplify: 

• User-focused design— intuitive, responsive, and accessible experiences.
• Content excellence— dynamic, personalized, and localized storytelling.
• Technical strength— speed, scalability, and seamless integrations.
• Proven results— from conversions and engagement to operational efficiency.

Each year, winners are announced across 10 industry categories (such as Finance, Healthcare, Education, and Tourism), along with special recognition for the Community Choice Award, chosen through a public vote. 

How does Kentico choose its Site of the Year winners? 

The Site of the Year selection process is designed to celebrate digital excellence all year long. It starts with monthly recognition and culminates in a global awards announcement. 

Here’s how the journey unfolds: 

1. Submissions all year long
   Kentico’s Partner Portal remains open year-round for submissions from Kentico Solution Partners and clients who have recently launched a website or app built on Xperience by Kentico.
2. Site of the Month recognition
   Each month, Kentico’s internal experts review new submissions and spotlight the best projects as Site of the Month winners. These sites are selected for their outstanding design, content strategy, performance, and innovative use of Kentico capabilities.
3. Automatic qualification
   All Site of the Month winners are automatically shortlisted for Site of the Year consideration the following January, ensuring continuous visibility throughout the year.
4. Expert jury evaluation
   A panel of Kentico judges, including UX specialists, engineers, and product leaders, reviews the shortlist. Sites are evaluated on criteria like accessibility, performance, technical innovation, and business outcomes. Around 10 winners and two honorable mentions are chosen per category.
5. Community Choice round
   The fun part: the global community gets to vote. The Community Choice Award invites the public to choose their favorite project from among the industry winners via social media.
6. Winners announced
   The official Site of the Year winners are unveiled on kentico.com/awards and celebrated across Kentico’s blog, newsletters, and social channels.

This continuous recognition model, connecting Site of the Month and Site of the Year, turns Kentico’s program into a year-long celebration of innovation, collaboration, and digital craftsmanship. 

What are the best websites of the past years? 

Between 2019–2024, Kentico has recognized more than 180 award-winning projects from around the world, each showcasing exceptional user experience, design, and technical innovation.

Here are some of the standout winners that have defined excellence in digital experience over the years: 

2024 Highlights 

• ACF Fiorentina (Sports and Entertainment)— Unified ecosystem with CRM, loyalty app, and multilingual site.
• medmix (B2B)— Migration from Sitecore to Kentico with simplified administration.
• The Parking Spot (Consumer Services)— Full redesign with personalization and marketing automation.
• UCSD Extended Studies (Education)— Scalable modular design after upgrading fromXperience12.
• Visit New Hampshire (Tourism)— Personalized geolocation and improved accessibility.
• Bluebird Care (Healthcare)— Multi-tenant SaaS DXP managing 250+ franchise sites.

2023 Winners 

• Blanchard (Community Choice)— Americaneagle.com
• Hawaii USA FCU— ZAG Interactive
• Mainz 05 (Football Club)—Bluesoft
• Flow International—BlueModus
• City of Swan (Government)— ALYKA
• Škoda Elektromobilita—Bluesoft
• Turn2us (Charity)— Positive Digital

How has the award evolved?

Kentico’s Site of the Year has evolved alongside the platform itself, from traditional CMS builds to sophisticated SaaS-based digital experiences. 

By 2024, nearly two-thirds of winners were built on Xperience by Kentico, marking a decisive industry shift toward modern, cloud-based DXPs. 

Why does winning Site of the Year matter? 

For both agencies and brands, a Site of the Year award is a global mark of excellence. 

Winning projects gain: 

• Recognition on kentico.com/awards.
• Digital certificates and badges for online promotion.
• Partner Points and ecosystem credibility.
• Social and media visibility through Kentico’s channels.
• A trusted benchmark for innovation and performance.