2025 IRMA Awards Winners
Each year, the International Regional Media Association recognizes the best in regional magazine journalism, photography, illustration, and design. Entries are evaluated by a panel of expert judges from across North America. Active members of IRMA are eligible to enter and the awards are announced each year at the annual IRMA Conference. Now in its 45th year, the Awards were announced on Friday, September 26, 2025, at a Gala Reception in Calgary, Alberta.
AND THE WINNERS ARE …
Judges awarded Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Merit Awards in 44 Categories. The Gold winners and runners up are listed by category below.
Magazine of the Year (Circulation 34,999 or Less)
Yukon, North of Ordinary
“A consistent, superb magazine with graphic design tht is consistently in lock-step with its well-organized and intelligent content. The writing is humorous and observant, the covers are provocative and the sections are personable and human.” — IRMA Awards Jury
El Palacio
“Beautifully designed with riveting content, both to New Mexicans and all of us, as many of the stories address reclamation and difficult topics such as violent and shameful incarcerations of the Apache people. Confident in its voice, and the content feels so authentic in its mission.” — IRMA Awards Jury
Oklahoma Today
“This magazine features consistent editorial branding, lots of space given to storytelling through photography, and illustration. The magazine is fun and readable and substantial.” — IRMA Awards Jury
Magazine of the Year (Circulation 35,000 or More)
Texas Highways
“An outstanding redesign that is slick and boasts amazing photography and stories that speak to people from all walks of life. Anyone picking up this magazine is going to be immediately drawn in.” — IRMA Awards Jury
Arizona Highways
“What a celebration of the natural beauty of Arizona! Stunning photography with images that pull readers in, invite them to pause, and provide a multitude of reasons to engage with the stories, which are just as compelling.” — IRMA Awards Jury
New Mexico
“Fun, fresh and poignant. Design elements are considered and deliver and overall visual cohesion. The mix of hard hitting stories and lighter features means there is something for everyone and even long-time residents will definitely learn something new!” — IRMA Awards Jury
Public Issues
Gold
Arizona Highways
“Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni”
Silver
New Mexico
“Worth Every Last Drop”
Bronze
Cottage Life
“Forces for Nature: Land Trusts”
Merit
El Palacio
“Returning Home”
Historic Feature
(34,999 or less circulation)
Gold
Adirondack Life
“Haus on the Hill”
Silver
Oklahoma Today
“Tulsa’s Dance with Destiny”
Bronze
El Palacio
“Acequias de Santa Fe: Preserving What Remains”
Historic Feature
(35,000 or more circulation)
Gold
Cottage Life
“What Really Happened to Tom Thomson?”
Gold
New Mexico
“Our Town”
Silver
Arizona Highways
“On This Day in Rock History”
Bronze
Texas Highways
“The Mighty Montezuma”
Nature and Environment
(34,999 or less circulation)
Gold
Yukon, North of Ordinary
“Bat Tenants: Unlike Vampires, Bats Don’t Need to Be Invited In”
Silver
Adirondack Life
“Oh, Give Me a Home”
Silver
Louisiana Life,
“Hatching a Way Forward”
Bronze
Cape Cod & The Islands Magazine
“Trash Talkers”
Nature and Environment
(35,000 or more circulation)
Gold
Cottage Life
“Who is Wolf 57?”
Silver
Arizona Highways
“To the Bat Cave!!”
Bronze
New Mexico
“Growing Lessons”
Recreation Feature
Gold
Avenue
“Winter in the Mountains for All”
Silver
New Mexico
“Unleashing the Beast”
Bronze
Cape Cod & the Islands Magazine”
“Who Do You RUCK For?”
Merit
Cottage Life
“One Night Only”
Merit
Mountain Home
“The Iceboat Cometh”
Merit
Texas Highways
“A Notch Above”
Travel Feature
Gold
Arizona Highways
“Beyond Words”
Silver
Texas Highways
“The Magic Valley”
Bronze
Oklahoma Today,
“They Built This City on Cobblestone“
Art and Culture Feature (34,999 or less circulation)
Gold
Yukon, North of Ordinary
“Burlesque is Really Taking Off”
Silver
El Palacio
“The Sound of Community”
Bronze
Louisiana Life
“Dames de Perlage”
Merit
Mountain Home
“Field to Flask”
Merit
Saltscapes
“Maestro in the Maritimes”
Art and Culture Feature (35,000 or more circulation)
Gold
Arizona Highways
“I Am Not a Visitor”
Silver
Texas Highways
“Engines of Optimism”
Bronze
New Mexico
“A Deeply Practical Magic”
General Feature
(Circulation 34,999 or less)
Gold
The Bermudian
“Eliza is Missing”
Silver
Oklahoma Today
“Too Hot to Handlebar”
Silver
Yukon, North of Ordinary
“Sky-High Hospital”
Bronze
Mountain Home
“Hats Off to Christine”
Merit
Saltscapes
“A Second Chance”
General Feature
(Circulation 35,000 or more)
Gold
Texas Highways
“Tonight, It’s Personal”
Silver
New Mexico
“The Cult of Allsup’s”
Bronze
Arizona Highways
“The Great Bend of the Gila”
Reader Service
Gold
Cottage Life
“In It For the Long Haul
Silver
Adirondack Life
“A Bug’s Life”
Mark Kopke
Bronze
Oklahoma Today
“There Goes the Sun”
Bronze
Texas Highways
“Where to Stay”
Profile
(Circulation 34,999 or less)
Gold
Adirondack Life
“Melanie Sawyer’s Wild Life”
Silver
Yukon, North of Ordinary
“Wildlife 101: Kelly Milner”
Bronze
Kansas!
“Time Travelers”
David Cheramie
Bronze
Oklahoma Today
“Being There”
Megan Rossman
Profile
(Circulation 35,000 or more)
Gold
Arizona Highways
“A River Runs Through Him”
Silver
Texas Highways
“Green Acres”
Bronze
Avenue
“Driving the Film Industry”
Hed & Dek
Gold
Texas Highways
“This is How We Brew It”
Silver
Cottage Life
“The$12,000 Hole to Nowhere”
Bronze
Arizona Highways
“On This Day in Rock History”
Merit
Mountain Home
“Identified Flying Objects”
Essay
Gold
El Palacio
“Father I Hardly Knew Ye”
Silver
Texas Highways
“Eating with My Ghosts”
Bronze
Adirondack Life
“Old Growth”
Column
Gold
Adirondack Life
“Short Carries”
Silver
Louisiana Life
“From the Editor’s Desk”
Bronze
Texas Highways
“Vintage”
Department
Gold
Texas Highways
“Road Map”
Silver
New Mexico
“Originals”
Bronze
Arizona Highways
“The Journal”
Merit
Acadiana Profile
“Dîner Dehors”
Merit
Cottage Life
“Waterfront”
Food Feature
Gold
Texas Highways
“Savor the Moment”
Silver
New Mexico
“Tacos of Enchantment”
Lilace Mellin Guignard
Bronze
Louisiana Life
“There’s No Place Like Home”
Merit
Acadiana Profile
“Put a Little Veg in Your Life”
Special Focus
Gold
Cottage Life
“The Tiny Issue”
Gold
Texas Highways
“The Magic Valley”
Silver
Adirondack Life
“Adirondack Homes and Camps”
Silver
Oklahoma Today
“The College Football Issue”
Bronze
Arizona Highways
“Chiricaua, a Treasured National Monument Turns 100”
Merit
Arizona Wildlife Views
“The Night Issue”
Home and Garden
Gold
Cottage Life
“Time and the Tide”
Robert Stieve
Silver
Texas Highways
“Pressed for Posterity”
Bronze
Acadiana Profile
“Pattern Players”
Merit
The Bermudian
“Building and Interior Design Awards”
Editorial Package
Gold
Texas Highways
“Burgers Worth the Drive”
Silver
Cottage Life
“The Best of Cottage Country”
Bronze
New Mexico Magazine
“Lights, Camera, New Mexico!”
Illustration, Feature or Series
Gold
Cottage Life
“We Come from the Stars”
Silver
Adirondack Life
“The Name Game”
Bronze
Acadiana Profile
“Taking Care of Your Body and Soul”
Merit
Kansas!
“Now Entering Dimension G”
Illustration, Spot
Gold
Texas Highways
“Burgers Worth the Drive”
Silver
Oklahoma Today
“Bigfoot Watching the Sun”
Bronze
New Mexico
“Soak Up Summer”
Merit
Cottage Life
“Cottage Glossary: Boat Coat”
Single Photo
Gold
El Palacio
“Sand and Stone”
Silver
New Mexico
“True West”
Bronze
Adirondack Life
“Serenity with Man’s Best Friend”
Bronze
Arizona Highways
“Aurora Borealis”
Merit
Cape Cod and the Islands
“Beyond Horizons: 2024 Year in Photography”
Merit
Oklahoma Today
“Boy Covered in Mud”
Photo Series
(Circulation 34,999 or less)
Gold
Yukon, North of Ordinary
“Peter Mathers Ice Bears: Late for Dinner”
Silver
Acadiana Profile
“A Little West in the South”
Bronze
Louisiana Life
“Hatching a Way Forward”
Photo Series
(Circulation 35,000 or more)
Gold
Texas Highways
“Running Its Course”
Silver
Arizona Highways
“Midsummer Nights”
Bronze
Down East
“Shear Genius”
Portrait Photo
Gold
Texas Highways
“Running Its Course”
Silver
Kansas!
“Where the Villains are Met with Boos!”
Bronze
Arizona Highways
“Sandra Day O’Connor”
Bronze
New Mexico
“Pinstripe Wizard”
Portrait Series
Gold
Kansas!
“Time Travelers”
Silver
New Mexico
“A Deeply Practical Magic”
Bronze
Texas Highways
“Stomp Your Feet, Clap and Have a Good Time”
Print Calendar
Gold
Louisiana Life
“Culinary Calendar”
Gold
Texas Highways
“Texas Highways Calendar”
Silver
Arizona Highways
“Arizona Highways Calendar”
Bronze
Arizona Wildlife Views
“Arizona Wildlife Calendar”
Merit
Wyoming Wildlife
“Wyoming Wildlife Calendar”
Cover
(Circulation 34,999 or less)
Gold
Kansas!
“Skies and Space”
Silver
Oklahoma Today
“Bigfoot”
Bronze
Acadiana Profile
“Pizza”
Cover
(Circulation 35,000 or more)
Gold
New Mexico Magazine
“Western Fashion”
Silver
Texas Highways
“September 2024”
Bronze
Arizona Highways
“September 2024”
Art Direction of a Single Story
(Circulation 34,999 or less)
Gold
Oklahoma Today
“Tulsa’s Dance wth Destiny”
Silver
Acadiana Profile
“Now That’s a Piece of Pizza”
Bronze
Lousiana Life
“La Nouvelle”
Merit
Adirondack Life
“Making Camp”
Art Direction of a Single Story
(Circulation 35,000 or more)
Gold
Texas Highways
“Burgers Worth the Drive”
Silver
Cottage Life
“The Best of Cottage Country”
Bronze
Arizona Highways
“The Old Stomping Grounds”
Merit
New Mexico Magazine
“True West”
Overall Art Direction
(Circulation 34,999 or less)
Gold
Acadiana Profile
Silver
Louisiana Life
Bronze
Oklahoma Today
Overall Art Direction
(Circulation 35,000 or more)
Gold
Texas Highways
Silver
New Mexico Magazine
Bronze
Cottage Life
Merit
Arizona Highways
Magazine Writer of the Year
Gold
Down East
Jesse Ellison
Silver
New Mexico
Molly Boyle
Bronze
Arizona Highways
Tom Zoellner
Magazine Photographer of the Year
Gold
Arizona Highways
Joel Hazelton
Silver
New Mexico
Tira Howard
Silver
Texas Highways
Dave Shafer
Bronze
Adirondack Life
Carrie Marie Burr
Newsletter
Gold
Texas Highways
“Behind the Issue”
Silver
Louisiana Life
“Newsletter”
Bronze
The Bermudian
“How To: The Bermudian’s Guide How To Do a Whole Lot of Bermudian Things”
Podcast
Gold
Yukon, North of Ordinary
“The Podcast”
Silver
El Palacio
“Encounter Culture Podcast”
Bronze
Arizona Highways
“Podcast”
Best Brand Innovation
Gold
Texas Highways
“The Magic Valley Microsite”
Silver
Cape Cod and the Islands
“Coastal Lifestyle TV”
Website of the Year
Gold
Texas Highways
TexasHighways.com
Silver
Arizona Highways
ArizonaHighways.com
Bronze
The Bermudian
The Bermudian.com