Articles

Awards Article

<hr /> For anyone in the website business, building something beautiful is literally the top of the mountain. You know what I mean. There’s nothing more satisfying than designing, coding, and pushing a project into production – then seeing a bump in traffic, an increase in performance, and a wave of adoration across social media. But adding an award to your mantle? That just takes it to the next level. For <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/kentico">Kentico</a>, celebrating these efforts is a big point of pride, especially for a platform that powers over 90,000 websites across the globe. For almost a decade, the DXP has highlighted the very best work of its partners and clients with its coveted “Site of the Year” Awards – and they just released the winners of its 2025 edition.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/kentico-announces-winners-of-2023-site-of-the-year-awards">I’ve covered this program</a> previously, and I’m always impressed by the quality, complexity, and bold ambition of the finalists. 2025’s crop once again demonstrates the daring and prowess of organizations and their partners to push the boundaries and redefine modern digital experiences built on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.kentico.com/CMSModules/Newsletters/CMSPages/Redirect.ashx?linkguid=11b4f14a-807d-4840-bfa8-e529c85898b7&amp;email=matt%40cmscritic.com&amp;hash=be0d1d8f19e0858f5111492f222eca952b1f9d98aaaeebe1c4c04b9dec830ced">Xperience by Kentico</a> – the multichannel content management, marketing, and digital commerce solution packaged in one cohesive platform.This year’s class showed up with some stunning, full-scale UX redesigns that deliver visual awe and impact. But there were feats of engineering as well, with a myriad of use cases featuring AI-powered marketing transformations and complex workload migrations.  Kentico’s “Site of the Year” program is categorized by industry, spanning wide cohorts like B2B as well as verticals in financial services, commerce, education, hospitality, healthcare, government, and NGOs. 2025's submissions came from across the planet, including North America, EMEA, and APAC – illustrating the flexibility and extensibility of Xperience by Kentico.In addition to these examples of partner and customer-driven excellence, 2025 was a big year of milestones for Kentico. With global demand growing for it signature platform, the company’s continued investment in AI was crystallized by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.kentico.com/platform/aira">the launch of AIRA</a> (Artificial Intelligence Recommendations &amp; Assistance), a native AI agent that unpacks and understands content and customer data to help streamline the creation, optimization, and time to deploy for digital experiences. Building on its AIRA momentum, Kentico is once again aiming to transform expectations in 2026. The company recently introduced its <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/introducing-the-agentic-marketing-suite-kentico-extends-its-ai-strategy-to-power-marketing-teams">Agentic Marketing Suite,</a> extending its AI strategy to power teams with specialized agents, each designed to execute marketing and content tasks that unlock operational efficiencies in team workflows. <h3 id="honoring-creativity-and-innovation">Honoring creativity and innovation</h3>Let’s talk about websites – because they’re still the center of gravity. More than ever, the world’s leading brands rely on unique, high-performing digital experiences across multiple channels, hoping to dazzle visitors and convert interest into action. Even amidst the shifts in traffic and the rise of AI-powered answer engines, smart consumers still value a business’s website as a central source of truth. At the same time, websites are essential to arming the new frontier of GEO and AEO by delivering a foundation of well-structured content.Kentico’s “Site of the Year” honors its clients and partners by focusing a spotlight on their remarkable work – websites and digital solutions that achieve the highest levels of creativity, innovation, content strategy, and technological implementation.A bit of level-setting on the rules: Only projects that first earned Kentico’s “Site of the Month” banner were eligible to compete, making these finalists a true “best of the best” compendium. Winners were selected by an internal Kentico judging committee based on overall excellence and measurable impact.  You can explore more about this <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.kentico.com/CMSModules/Newsletters/CMSPages/Redirect.ashx?linkguid=18b8acaa-24af-4f10-976e-74ebe1bf15e4&amp;email=matt%40cmscritic.com&amp;hash=be0d1d8f19e0858f5111492f222eca952b1f9d98aaaeebe1c4c04b9dec830ced">year’s winners and honorable mentions</a> on Kentico’s website, where they drill into the details. For each category winner, they provide a well-rounded rationale that showcases the innovative thinking, stellar design, and AI-enhanced solutions that put them in the top spot.If you’re interested, you can also vote in Kentico’s <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kenticosoftware_communitychoice-soty-digitalexperience-activity-7429873612603596800-ltb5/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop&amp;rcm=ACoAABkGfZEBzxXaDBwgLBqINaYG9q1JUbfxMW8">Community Choice Awards</a> through March 6th. This crowdsourced portion of the program is handled entirely on LinkedIn.Without further ado…<h3 id="2025-‘site-of-the-year’-winners-and-honorable-mentions----">2025 ‘Site of the Year’ Winners and Honorable Mentions    </h3>Man, this was a dynamite grouping of sites – and all deserving of kudos. For me, there were certainly some standouts. In the B2B category, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.kentico.com/CMSModules/Newsletters/CMSPages/Redirect.ashx?linkguid=2352b3f4-ad18-4695-b4cf-9fea119232c4&amp;email=matt%40cmscritic.com&amp;hash=be0d1d8f19e0858f5111492f222eca952b1f9d98aaaeebe1c4c04b9dec830ced">LeShuttle Freight’s</a> elegant, high-performance, multilingual experience was top-notch. In addition to simple, intuitive navigation, it has a tricked-out, real-time service update that provides critical visibility for time-sensitive logistics. The mobile experience is also lightweight, prioritizing the right elements in the UX. Implemented by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.crafted.co.uk/services/digital-products/kentico">Crafted</a>, a long-standing U.K.-based Kentico partner, LeShuttle is a solid design that streamlines the customer journey for logistics partners, drivers, and customers – so they can keep truckin'.<figure class="image"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2026/02/image-1771964387975.png" alt="" /></figure>Source: LeShuttle Freight website In the Entertainment, Hospitality, and Tourism category, I was also keen on the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://bobw.co/">Bob W. site</a>, which made me want to book my next trip to Amsterdam today. The gestalt was right up my alley, offering a clean, minimal design with clear pathways to explore short-stay apartments in a variety of locales. Agency partner <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.idhlagency.com/">IDHL</a> did yeoman’s work on developing the “Bob” identity and persona, delivering a charming and inviting vibe to the experience. Along with some killer frontend features like smart filtering and a little backend magic with reusable content, Bob W. personifies what great UX is – and I love how it all supports a corporate commitment to sustainability and a stay that’s 100% offset. It’s hospitality that's more hospitable to the earth.  <figure class="image image_resized" style="width:90.66%"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2026/02/image-1771964386776.png" alt="" /></figure>Source: Bob W. website To say that <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.kentico.com/CMSModules/Newsletters/CMSPages/Redirect.ashx?linkguid=d26dfe6c-b389-43aa-a623-daa701b4b192&amp;email=matt%40cmscritic.com&amp;hash=be0d1d8f19e0858f5111492f222eca952b1f9d98aaaeebe1c4c04b9dec830ced">Oppenheimer</a> made a “bold” move to Kentico would be an understatement. As the winner in the Financial Services category, the wealth management leader successfully migrated from CrownPeak in only five months, with the goal of optimizing their content ops via single-source content management across multiple digital channels.Implemented by Kentico partner <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://sagepath-reply.com/">Sagepath Reply</a>, Oppenheimer’s slick design captures the essence of a trusted financial partner while simplifying navigation to key topics like capital markets. They also introduced new AI-driven tools focused on marketing and content optimization. It feels powerful yet approachable – and evokes confidence and stability at every turn. For a financial institution, this was a winning investment.<figure class="image"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2026/02/image-1771964386955.png" alt="A close-up of a website

AI-generated content may be incorrect." /></figure>Source: Oppenheimer website <h3 id="winners-by-category">Winners By Category</h3> <h4 id="b2b">B2B</h4><ul><li>Winner: LeShuttle Freight (Implemented by Crafted)</li><li>Honorable Mentions: ZAG Interactive (ZAG Interactive), Westport (ALYKA Pty Ltd) </li></ul> <h4 id="commerce">Commerce</h4><ul><li>Winner: Translink (MSQ DX)</li><li>Honorable Mentions: Rhythm Japan (Interesting Solutions), Elkov Elektro (Bluesoft) </li></ul> <h4 id="consumer-goods-and-services">Consumer Goods and Services</h4><ul><li>Winner: MND Energie (Bluesoft)</li><li>Honorable Mentions: Best Best &amp; Krieger LLP (BlueModus), Contact Energy (AKQA) </li></ul> <h4 id="education-&amp;-careers-">Education &amp; Careers </h4><ul><li>Winner: ROC van Amsterdam &amp; Flevoland (TrueLime)</li><li>Honorable Mentions: Join Blakes (E-Cubed Media Synthesis Inc), The Gordon Institute of TAFE (DDSN Interactive) </li></ul> <h4 id="entertainment,-hospitality-&amp;-tourism">Entertainment, Hospitality &amp; Tourism</h4><ul><li>Winner: Bob W. (IDHL)</li><li>Honorable Mentions: Aurora Expeditions (Devotion), LA Opera (iMedia) </li></ul> <h4 id="financial-services">Financial Services</h4><ul><li>Winner: Oppenheimer (Sagepath Reply)</li><li>Honorable Mentions: Atomic Credit Union (ZAG Interactive), United Federal Credit Union (SilverTech) </li></ul> <h4 id="government-&amp;-municipal">Government &amp; Municipal</h4><ul><li>Winner: Cleveland Metroparks (Americaneagle.com)</li><li>Honorable Mentions: Réseau de transport de Longueuil (Inorbital, Inc.), Great Parks (Synoptek) </li></ul> <h4 id="healthcare">Healthcare</h4><ul><li>Winner: LivaNova (BlueModus)</li><li>Honorable Mentions: Integris Group (BizStream), Hatch Private Maternity (Zeroseven) </li></ul> <h4 id="manufacturing">Manufacturing</h4><ul><li>Winner: Pierret (Delaware Consulting SCRL)</li><li>Honorable Mentions: Nichicon (EETech Group), Renson (Blastic) </li></ul> <h4 id="ngo-&amp;-associations">NGO &amp; Associations</h4><ul><li>Winner: American Society of Landscape Architects (BlueModus)</li><li>Honorable Mentions: National Association of Independent Schools (ByteMinds), Eat Pecans (Rise, a Quad Agency) </li></ul><h3 id="setting-new-standards-for-excellence">Setting new standards for excellence</h3>Each year, I’m asked to judge awards programs, so I’m accustomed to seeing amazing work. What I love about these competitions is that I’m always surprised, intrigued, and often floored by the creativity. If you’re embarking on a brand or digital transformation quest, finding the right agency partner is critical to success. But harnessing the right CMS or DXP at the foundation is equally as important – and awards programs like Kentico’s “Site of the Year” are a great place to window shop the possibilities. This 2025 crop is a testament to the full potential of Xperience by Kentico. It’s not just about breathtaking UX, it’s also about leveraging a future-ready digital ecosystem to power multi-channel experiences across devices, languages, locations, and more. From hybrid headless implementations to secure member portals and complex third-party integrations, organizations are using the platform to unify content, marketing, and commerce into a single solution. As Kentico continues to invest in a steady stream of innovation, its partners and clients will be the first beneficiaries to access new features. Case in point: Kentico’s new Agentic Marketing Suite is ushering in a new era of intelligent orchestration, helping marketers automate decisions, personalize journeys, and optimize campaigns at scale. Digital experiences are no longer static. They continue to evolve – and so do our expectations. Even as websites morph into agentic experiences that serve both humans and bots, only people can be inspired by a brand's imagination and storytelling.Kentico’s “Site of the Year” reminds us that websites still have this power and potential. That's why they still rock – and the most beautiful, magical, and innovative sites can really bring down the house.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.kentico.com/discover/kentico-awards-winners/site-of-the-year-2025">Read more about the winners here.</a> <hr /><h3 id="upcoming-events">Upcoming Events</h3> <img style="width:34.15%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2026/01/logo_jday_hor.png" /><h4 id="joomladay-usa-2026"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.jdayusa.com/">JoomlaDay USA 2026</a></h4>April 29 - May 2, 2026 – Delray Beach, FloridaBe part of the Joomla community in one of the most iconic cities in the world! JoomlaDay USA 2026 is coming to Delray Beach, and you can join us for a dynamic event packed with insights, workshops, and networking opportunities. Learn from top Joomla experts and developers offering valuable insights and real-world solutions. Participate in interactive workshops and sessions and enhance your skills in Joomla management, development, design, and more. And connect with fellow Joomla enthusiasts, developers, and professionals from across the world.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.jdayusa.com/"> Book your seats today.</a> <img style="width:30.06%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2026/01/cms-summit-26-logo.jpg" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-summit-26"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmssummit26">CMS Summit 26</a></h4>May 12-13, 2026 – Frankfurt, GermanyThe best conferences create space for honest, experience-based conversations. Not sales pitches. Not hype. Just thoughtful exchanges between people who spend their days designing, building, running, and evolving digital experiences. CMS Summit brings together people who share real stories from their work and platforms and who are interested in learning from each other on how to make things better. Over two days in Frankfurt, you can expect practitioner-led talks grounded in experience, conversations about trade-offs, constraints, and decisions, and time to compare notes with peers facing similar challenges. Space is limited for this exclusive event, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmssummit26/tickets">so book your seats today.</a> <img style="width:30.13%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/12/image-1765546475634.png" /><h4 id="umbraco-codegarden-2026"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://codegarden.umbraco.com/">Umbraco Codegarden 2026</a></h4>June 10–11, 2026 – Copenhagen, DKJoin us in Copenhagen (or online) for the biggest Umbraco conference in the world – two full days of learning, genuine conversations, and the kind of inspiration that brings business leaders, developers, and digital creators together. Codegarden 2026 is packed with both business and tech content, from deep-dive workshops and advanced sessions to real-world case studies and strategy talks. You’ll leave with ideas, strategies, and knowledge you can put into practice immediately. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://codegarden.umbraco.com/">Book your tickets today.</a> <img style="width:36.69%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2026/01/open-source-cms-26.jpg" /><h4 id="open-source-cms-26"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/opensourcecms26">Open Source CMS 26</a></h4>October 20–21, 2026 – Utrecht, NetherlandsJoin us for the first annual edition of our prestigious international conference dedicated to making open source CMS better. This event is already being called the “missing gathering place” for the open source CMS community – an international conference with confirmed participants from Europe and North America. Be part of a friendly mix of digital leaders from notable open source CMS projects, agencies, even a few industry analysts who get together to learn, network, and talk about what really matters when it comes to creating better open source CMS projects right now and for the foreseeable future. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/opensourcecms26/tickets">Book your tickets today.</a>

Websites Still Rock: Kentico’s 2025 ‘Site of the Year’ Winners Push the Boundaries of Digital Experience 

matt-garrepy

<hr /> No doubt about it: 2025 was a BIG year of change for CMS. Agentic AI raged across the digital experience stack, and context was front and center. Platforms transformed before our eyes, but one thing remained the same: the passion and creativity of practitioners. Every day, marketers, editors, and developers rely on the tools they love to get the job done. And, as every year, we take the opportunity to celebrate the continued innovation and hard-fought loyalty of CMS and DX vendors in supporting their customers, partners, and communities. With that in mind… You nominated some amazing platforms for our 14th Annual CMS Critic Awards!Once again, your participation was off the charts. We had some big names make the grade, but a few challengers stirred things up. We had loads of individual suggestions across all of our categories – from CMS to DXP, e-Commerce to CDP – and now YOU get to pick the winners from the top five contenders! Now's your chance: You have until February 27th, 2026 to cast your vote! So get out there and share the news! Activate your communities and bring the rain. Most of all, have fun celebrating the incredible contributions coming from all corners of our industry. Keep reading for the nominee list, or start picking your winners at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/vote">www.cmscritic.com/vote </a> <figure class="media"><div data-oembed-url="https://youtu.be/e2tAX1XiSro"><div style="position:relative;padding-bottom:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:56.2493%"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/e2tAX1XiSro" style="position:absolute;width:100%;height:100%;top:0;left:0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div></figure> <h3 id="the-nominees">The Nominees</h3>Raise the curtains…. <h4 id="best-free-cms">Best Free CMS</h4><ul><li>Joomla </li><li>Statamic </li><li>TYPO3 </li><li>Umbraco </li><li>Wagtail </li></ul> <h4 id="best-enterprise-cms">Best Enterprise CMS</h4><ul><li>Joomla </li><li>Sitecore </li><li>Storyblok </li><li>TYPO3 </li><li>Umbraco </li></ul> <h4 id="best-headless-cms">Best Headless CMS</h4><ul><li>Contentstack </li><li>Sitecore </li><li>Statamic </li><li>Storyblok </li><li>Umbraco </li></ul> <h4 id="best-open-source-cms">Best Open Source CMS</h4><ul><li>Joomla </li><li>Statamic </li><li>TYPO3 </li><li>Umbraco </li><li>Wagtail </li></ul><h4 id="-"> </h4><h4 id="best-flat-file-cms">Best Flat File CMS</h4><ul><li>11ty </li><li>Grav </li><li>Hugo </li><li>Kirby </li><li>Statamic </li></ul> <h4 id="best-enterprise-content-management-(ecm)">Best Enterprise Content Management (ECM)</h4><ul><li>Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) </li><li>Alfresco </li><li>Box </li><li>Microsoft SharePoint </li><li>OpenText </li></ul> <h4 id="best-digital-experience-platform-(dxp)">Best Digital Experience Platform (DXP)</h4><ul><li>Contentstack </li><li>Kentico </li><li>Optimizely </li><li>Sitecore </li><li>Umbraco  </li></ul> <h4 id="best-website-builder">Best Website Builder</h4><ul><li>SP Page Builder </li><li>uSkinned </li><li>Webflow </li><li>Wix </li><li>YOOtheme </li></ul> <h4 id="best-content-marketing-platform-(cmp)">Best Content Marketing Platform (CMP)</h4><ul><li>Contentstack </li><li>HubSpot </li><li>Optimizely </li><li>Sitecore </li><li>Umbraco </li></ul> <h4 id="best-digital-asset-management-(dam)-system">Best Digital Asset Management (DAM) System</h4><ul><li>Cloudinary </li><li>Contentstack </li><li>Optimizely </li><li>Sitecore </li><li>Umbraco </li></ul> <h4 id="best-product-information-management-(pim)-system">Best Product Information Management (PIM) System</h4><ul><li>Akeneo </li><li>DynamicWeb </li><li>Optimizely </li><li>Pimcore </li><li>Struct </li></ul> <h4 id="best-customer-data-platform-(cdp)">Best Customer Data Platform (CDP)</h4><ul><li>Contentstack </li><li>Microsoft Dynamics 365</li><li>Optimizely </li><li>Segment </li><li>Sitecore </li></ul> <h4 id="best-e-commerce-solution">Best e-Commerce Solution</h4><ul><li>HikaShop </li><li>Shopify </li><li>Sitecore </li><li>Umbraco </li><li>VirtueMart </li></ul> <h4 id="best-development/hosting-platform">Best Development/Hosting Platform</h4><ul><li>Azure </li><li>e-Base </li><li>Laravel Forge </li><li>Netlify </li><li>Vercel </li></ul> <h4 id="best-ai-solution">Best AI Solution</h4><ul><li>Contentstack</li><li>Optimizely </li><li>Sitecore</li><li>Storyblok</li><li>Umbraco</li></ul><h3 id="ready-to-vote-your-heart-out?-">Ready to vote your heart out? </h3>It's you voice, your choice! Tell us which platforms you really love – and who should take home the prize. Remember, you have until February 27th to get your votes in!Do it today at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/vote">www.cmscritic.com/vote </a> <hr /><h3 id="upcoming-events">Upcoming Events</h3> <img style="width:34.15%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2026/01/logo_jday_hor.png" /><h4 id="joomladay-usa-2026"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.jdayusa.com/">JoomlaDay USA 2026</a></h4>April 29 - May 2, 2026 – Delray Beach, FloridaBe part of the Joomla community in one of the most iconic cities in the world! JoomlaDay USA 2026 is coming to Delray Beach, and you can join us for a dynamic event packed with insights, workshops, and networking opportunities. Learn from top Joomla experts and developers offering valuable insights and real-world solutions. Participate in interactive workshops and sessions and enhance your skills in Joomla management, development, design, and more. And connect with fellow Joomla enthusiasts, developers, and professionals from across the world.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.jdayusa.com/"> Book your seats today.</a> <img style="width:30.06%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2026/01/cms-summit-26-logo.jpg" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-summit-26"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmssummit26">CMS Summit 26</a></h4>May 12-13, 2026 – Frankfurt, GermanyThe best conferences create space for honest, experience-based conversations. Not sales pitches. Not hype. Just thoughtful exchanges between people who spend their days designing, building, running, and evolving digital experiences. CMS Summit brings together people who share real stories from their work and platforms and who are interested in learning from each other on how to make things better. Over two days in Frankfurt, you can expect practitioner-led talks grounded in experience, conversations about trade-offs, constraints, and decisions, and time to compare notes with peers facing similar challenges. Space is limited for this exclusive event, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmssummit26/tickets">so book your seats today.</a> <img style="width:30.13%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/12/image-1765546475634.png" /><h4 id="umbraco-codegarden-2026"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://codegarden.umbraco.com/">Umbraco Codegarden 2026</a></h4>June 10–11, 2026 – Copenhagen, DKJoin us in Copenhagen (or online) for the biggest Umbraco conference in the world – two full days of learning, genuine conversations, and the kind of inspiration that brings business leaders, developers, and digital creators together. Codegarden 2026 is packed with both business and tech content, from deep-dive workshops and advanced sessions to real-world case studies and strategy talks. You’ll leave with ideas, strategies, and knowledge you can put into practice immediately. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://codegarden.umbraco.com/">Book your tickets today.</a> <img style="width:36.69%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2026/01/open-source-cms-26.jpg" /><h4 id="open-source-cms-26"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/opensourcecms26">Open Source CMS 26</a></h4>October 20–21, 2026 – Utrecht, NetherlandsJoin us for the first annual edition of our prestigious international conference dedicated to making open source CMS better. This event is already being called the “missing gathering place” for the open source CMS community – an international conference with confirmed participants from Europe and North America. Be part of a friendly mix of digital leaders from notable open source CMS projects, agencies, even a few industry analysts who get together to learn, network, and talk about what really matters when it comes to creating better open source CMS projects right now and for the foreseeable future. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/opensourcecms26/tickets">Book your tickets today.</a>

Vote your heart out! Pick the winners for the 14th Annual CMS Critic Awards

cms-critic-staff

<hr /> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Battle_After_Another">One Battle After Another</a> is already garnering buzz as an Oscar contender. But there’s another battle brewing for the top spots in the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/cms-critic-awards">14th Annual CMS Critic Awards</a> – and you get to nominate the contenders!As usual, we’re not the Academy. During this contest, we put you in the judge’s seat, so you can tell us what CMS and related tools really blew your mind in 2025.Keep scrolling for more background and the house rules, but here's how it works in a nutshell: Make your nominations at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/nominate">www.cmscritic.com/nominate.</a> We take the top five contenders across a range of categories, open that up to general voting, and announce the victors in late February.DiCaprio might steal the show on screen, but he doesn’t hold a candle to agentic workflows. Content is the real star of this action flick, and the CMS Critic Awards are an opportunity for you to sing the praises of the platforms that power your digital experiences.<h3 id="celebrating-the-content-community">Celebrating the content community</h3>If you’re not familiar, the CMS Critic Awards are an institution in the content management and digital experience industries. It unites rabid fans across the globe to rally around the tools they love – no small feat in today’s fleeting technology landscape. With well-established enterprise vendors and a plethora of open source platforms, CMS enjoys some of the most loyal user communities in the tech pantheon. That’s why we’ve had such incredible participation over the past 13 years, making ours one of the longest-running awards programs in our industry (you can check out<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/cms-critic-awards"> all the previous winners here</a>).While CMS is our North Star, we also make space for the expanded ecosystem of products. Over the last decade, we've seen the rapid rise of digital experience technologies, from pure-play to fully integrated. To that end, we include categories for e-commerce, digital asset management, and even product information management. If it's a system that manages content, we want to celebrate it.In a world where using technology can feel like fighting one battle after another, the CMS Critic Awards is proof that loyalty still lives – and people make all the difference.<h3 id="2025:-the-agents-cometh…">2025: The agents cometh…</h3>…and they’re still coming. Without a doubt, this was the year when AI shifted to an agentic gear, with nearly every CMS, DXP, and adjacent platform touting its advancements with agents (and in some cases, “super agents”). It was a rapid-fire news cycle infused with innovative announcements – and we covered some of the biggest shifts throughout the year.We traversed the world in 2025, from San Francisco to Hamburg, connecting with communities and following the rattle and hum of the content world. With hundreds of articles published over the last 12 months, there’s too much to cover – but here are a few highlights:<ul><li>Platforms made big moves this year, from <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/">Contentstack’s acquisition of Lytics</a> to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/seasons-of-love-sitecore-symposium-2025-sings-putting-ai-and-marketers-in-the-spotlight">Sitecore’s launch of its new Sitecore AI.</a> We attended both conferences, reporting from the ground with exclusive interviews. </li><li>At every event – from <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/joy-to-the-content-world-storyblok-brings-ai-innovation-and-human-connection-to-joyconf-2025">Storyblok’s inaugural JoyConf</a> to the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/the-deep-dish-on-composable-6-tasty-takeaways-from-the-mach-alliances-2025-conference">MACH Alliance’s “The Composable Conference” </a>– agentic AI was a constant undercurrent, manifesting in a wide range of applications, use cases, features, and partnerships. </li><li>Analyst grids were rife with change as enterprise vendors like <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/optimizely-opal-fuels-marketers-with-powerful-ai-agents-via-googles-gemini-enterprise">Optimizely made headlines</a> with AI advancements and GEO-ready CMS capabilities. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/rush-to-geo-adobe-to-acquire-semrush-for-19b-to-enhance-ai-search">Adobe’s acquisition of SEO darling Semrush</a> was big news, Progress shook things up with its new <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/progress-powers-its-vision-for-generative-cms-with-agentic-rag-and-a-legacy-of-innovation">Progress Agentic RAG offering</a>, and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/fight-the-cognitive-overload-brightspot-lights-the-way-to-productivity-with-its-evolutionary-cms-release">Brightspot launched</a> a game-changing release of its CMS.</li><li>Meanwhile, headless CMS players continued to drive innovation, from <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/the-headless-holodeck-joel-varty-of-agility-cms-on-warp-speed-demos-ai-and-the-next-generation-of-cms">Agility</a> to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/agentic-cms-why-kontentais-vision-for-the-future-of-content-management-is-inspiring">Kontent.ai</a> to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/hygraph-studio-sets-sail-with-increased-content-velocity-and-new-asset-management-capabilities">Hygraph</a>, leveraging their native composability to accelerate new AI and agentic capabilities and a host of dynamite enhancements.</li><li>Open source was also a big part of the conversation. In the wake of last year’s <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/wp-engine-wins-an-injunction-against-automattic-is-the-wordpress-scorched-earth-campaign-over">“WordPress Debacle,”</a> we broke the news about the new <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/alls-fair-in-love-and-war-new-fair-package-manager-aims-to-bring-peace-to-the-wordpress-ecosystem">FAIR Package introduced at Alt Ctrl Org,</a> helping to shape a healing path forward. During our coverage of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/sowing-the-seeds-of-love-umbracos-codegarden-2025-celebrates-20-years-of-community-and-innovation">Umbraco’s Codegarden event,</a> we saw notable traction in areas like orchestration, MCP, and more. And we were honored to help judge <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://t3con.typo3.com/awards">the TYPO3 Awards,</a> which featured some inspiring and ambitious entries.    </li><li>Along with our coverage of pure play DAM platforms like <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/cloudinary">Cloudinary</a>, customer data was on our radar. From <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/hightouch-launches-high-performance-agents-to-help-marketers-move-10x-faster">Hightouch</a> to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/treasure-data-brings-ai-marketing-cloud-and-super-agent-capabilities-to-aws-marketplace">Treasure Data</a>, we saw incredible use cases for AI and evolving roadmaps for agents at scale. More to come on that in 2026. </li><li>We featured lots of great research on a range of topics, from <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/agentic-panic-new-study-finds-ai-agents-in-production-face-infrastructure-and-reliability-challenges">agent system performance</a> to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/put-on-a-happy-cms-face-storybloks-facial-coding-experiment-reveals-how-ai-is-sparking-joy">facial coding experiments.</a> We also tracked some innovative new tools in areas like <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/one-ux-to-rule-them-all-auxia-powers-customer-journeys-with-ai-agents-in-new-unified-experience">customer journey orchestration</a> while continuing to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/the-complete-wordpress-accessibility-checklist-for-2026">shine a light on accessibility</a> and more exotic topics like <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/what-i-mean-to-say-a-practitioner-perspective-on-ai-semantics-and-content-evolution">semantics and content evolution.</a>  </li></ul>Much like last year, traditional category lines are blurring, and new monikers are entering the lexicon. Platforms now offer a wide range of tools and capabilities, particularly in the case of DXPs. But we're focusing on clear, well-established lanes – and as always, if you feel a single vendor can live in more than one category, it’s your choice to nominate it. <h3 id="be-kind-–-your-mother-might-be-watching">Be kind – your mother might be watching</h3>The CMS Critic Awards are intended to be fun and friendly. But they do, at times, get a little intense. Every year, we receive thousands of ballots. Users come together like wolfpacks, championing the platforms they love. We also intercept a number of, shall we say, “passionate” pleas, demanding to know why certain platforms were in a specific category, or why their tool wasn’t in the running. As always, we try to operate in a space of respect and integrity. Obviously, if a platform isn’t truly open source, it won’t be considered for “Best Open Source CMS.” But now more than ever, we're blurring the proverbial lines – and let’s face it, the analysts are also compounding the problem. So, our editorial team endeavors to stay out of the nominating process. As a reminder, we only take the top five in each category by nomination count, so anything below that won’t be featured in the final voting in February.To the victors go the spoils! Winners receive official badging, shout-outs on social media, and one month of upgraded status in our highly-trafficked <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/products">Product Directory.</a> <h3 id="how-to-make-your-nominations-">How to make your nominations </h3>The good news is that it’s easy – and fun. Here’s how you can participate:<ul><li>Visit <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.cmscritic.com/nominate">www.cmscritic.com/nominate</a></li><li>Fill out the required fields and enter the names of your nominees in each category. You don't have to include a nomination for every category – only complete the fields that you care about, and your ballot will be counted. Remember that you can nominate the same vendor in multiple categories.</li><li>Once completed, click the “Submit” button at the bottom of the form. </li><li>You can only nominate once, and companies or brands that offer incentives of any kind will be disqualified.</li><li>Spread the word! Remember to share and encourage others to participate, especially across your social channels.</li><li>Nominations close on January 25, 2026, so get out there and rally your communities! Once we tabulate the results, we’ll announce the top five for general voting in early February via email and social. </li></ul>We might call this a battle, but it’s really a lovefest for CMS – and you call the shots. So make your nominations today! <hr /><h3 id="upcoming-events">Upcoming Events</h3> <img style="width:31.44%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/08/cms-kickoff-2026-logo.png" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-kickoff-2026"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff26">CMS Kickoff 2026</a></h4>January 13-14, 2026 – St. Petersburg, FLMeet industry leaders at our fourth annual CMS Kickoff – the industry's premier global CMS event. Similar to a traditional kickoff, we reflect on recent trends and share stories from the frontlines. Additionally, we will delve into the current happenings and shed light on the future. Prepare for an unparalleled in-person CMS conference experience that will equip you to move things forward. This is an exclusive event – space is limited, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff26">so secure your tickets today.</a> <img style="width:30.13%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/12/image-1765546475634.png" /><h4 id="umbraco-codegarden-2026"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://codegarden.umbraco.com/">Umbraco Codegarden 2026</a></h4>June 10–11, 2026 – Copenhagen, DKJoin us in Copenhagen (or online) for the biggest Umbraco conference in the world – two full days of learning, genuine conversations, and the kind of inspiration that brings business leaders, developers, and digital creators together. Codegarden 2026 is packed with both business and tech content, from deep-dive workshops and advanced sessions to real-world case studies and strategy talks. You’ll leave with ideas, strategies, and knowledge you can put into practice immediately. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://codegarden.umbraco.com/">Book your tickets today.</a>

The ‘Battle Royale’ Begins: Nominations are OPEN for the 14th Annual CMS Critic Awards!

<hr /> The Oscars might have <a target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conclave_(film)">Conclave</a>, but we have content. And Demi Moore can have <a target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Substance">The Substance</a> – because we've got the schema. Sure, it would be great for Conan O'Brien to host the 13th edition of our world-famous <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/cms-critic-awards">CMS Critic Awards</a>, but we've got something even better than the Academy: You.That's right. YOU.You activated your communities and rallied the vote. You brought enthusiasm for these platforms, showing up to support your favorite tools. You inspire us – and for that, our cup runneth over. While our little awards program has a streak of competitiveness, it's all about celebrating our industry and the continued innovation we see from all corners. From the vendor's perspective, it's an opportunity to highlight the power of your users – from marketers to developers – and let their voices sing. Most of all, the CMS Critic Awards is a chance to have some fun in our fast-paced, nose-to-the-grindstone world. It reminds us that people, not platforms, are at the heart of this content game. From all of us at CMS Critic, thank you for participating. Keep carrying a torch for the tools you love. <h3 id="the-envelope,-please…">The Envelope, Please…</h3> <figure class="media"><div data-oembed-url="https://youtu.be/QVcEwG_3Vw8"><div style="position:relative;padding-bottom:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:56.2493%"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QVcEwG_3Vw8" style="position:absolute;width:100%;height:100%;top:0;left:0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div></figure> Dramatic pause: Before we break the seal, we have a few notes on this year's list of champions:As you'll see, a couple of vendors showed up in a big way, owning more than one category. Still, several newcomers popped up in our nominations wave – no one we would call <a target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Complete_Unknown">A Complete Unknown</a>, but some smaller solutions that managed to make the cutoff. Congrats to all of you, and bring the thunder again next year. Because you never know what can happen.Here are your winners in the 13th Annual CMS Critic Awards: <hr /> - Best Enterprise CMS: Umbraco  - Best DXP: Sitecore  - Best Free CMS: Umbraco  - Best Headless CMS: Umbraco  - Best Open Source CMS: Joomla  - Best ECM: Microsoft SharePoint  - Best Flat File CMS: Statamic  - Best Website Builder: uSkinned  - Best Static Site Generator: Statamic  - Best DAM: Sitecore  - Best PIM: Pimcore  - Best e-Commerce Solution: Shopify  - Best Headless Commerce Solution: Shopify  - Best Composable Solution: Umbraco  - Best AI Solution in a CMS or DXP: Umbraco  - Best Development/Hosting Platform: Azure <h3 id="congratulations-to-this-year's-winners!">Congratulations to this year's winners!</h3>What can we say? We’re thrilled to have such a passionate community of readers, and we’re already looking forward to next year’s Awards. Given the shifting landscape of categories, we'll be making some changes for our 14th annual program, and even expanding a few things (don't worry, CMS is still closest to our heart). Remember to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cmscritic.com/signup">sign up for alerts</a> about additional events this year, and check below for some upcoming conferences that we'll be attending and speaking at.       Vendor Marketing Departments: Looking to promote the good news? Email us at <a href="mailto:info@cmscritic.com">info@cmscritic.com</a> to request your exclusive badges and claim your 30 day Product Directory upgrade.  <hr /><h3 id="upcoming-events">Upcoming Events</h3> <img style="width:30.46%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/11/cms-summit-25.png" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-summit-25"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmssummit25">CMS Summit 25</a></h4>May 13-14, 2025 – Frankfurt, GermanyDon't miss the first European edition of our prestigious international conference dedicated to the global content management community! CMS Summit 25 will bring together top-notch speakers, our renowned learning format, and engaging social events. Hear from leading practitioners like Deutsche Bahn, Dr. Oetker, and more – and join customers, agencies, and CMS vendors as we discuss current trends and what's ahead for the content and digital experience fields. Connect and network at the only vendor-neutral, in-person conference focused on CMS. Space is limited for this exclusive event, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmssummit25">so book your seats today.</a> <img style="width:31.83%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/01/cms-connect-2025-logo.png" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-connect-25"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmsconnect25">CMS Connect 25</a></h4>August 5-6, 2025 – Montreal, CanadaWe are delighted to present the second annual summer edition of our signature global conference dedicated to the content management community! CMS Connect will be held again in beautiful Montreal, Canada, and feature a unique blend of masterclasses, insightful talks, interactive discussions, impactful learning sessions, and authentic networking opportunities. Join vendors, agencies, and customers from across our industry as we engage and collaborate around the future of content management – and hear from the top thought leaders at the only vendor-neutral, in-person conference exclusively focused on CMS. Space is limited for this event, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmsconnect25">so book your seats today.</a>

The Envelope, Please: We Proudly Present the Winners of the 13th Annual CMS Critic Awards

<a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/critics/mattmcqueeny">Matthew McQueeny</a> is a North American Peer Group Leader for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/boye-co/posts/?feedView=all">Boye &amp; Company</a>, Head of Relationships at <a target="_blank" href="https://konabos.com/">Konabos,</a> and a CMS Critic contributor. <hr /> Last week, <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/sitecore">Sitecore</a> unveiled its 2025 class of <a target="_blank" href="https://mvp.sitecore.com/">Most Valuable Professionals</a>, known across the industry as “Sitecore MVPs.” This hallowed tradition, now in its nineteenth year, celebrates individuals who display outstanding engagement and support of the Sitecore community worldwide.The latest cohort includes 241 Sitecore experts, featuring 61 Ambassadors, 34 Strategy members, 145 Technology members, and one Honorary member. Of these, 43 were welcomed as new Sitecore MVPs.Earning my third Sitecore MVP is an honor that carries deep meaning for me. When I joined <a target="_blank" href="https://konabos.com/">Konabos</a> nearly four years ago, Sitecore was already a platform this team was renowned for. Led by several multi-time MVPs, the company had a strong reputation in the digital experience space. My own history with Sitecore had been more distant. I knew it as a powerful <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/what-is-a-content-management-system-cms">enterprise CMS (Content Management System)</a> and DXP (Digital Experience Platform), but my previous agency primarily worked with <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/wordpress">WordPress</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/kentico">Kentico</a>. While that agency’s own website was built on Sitecore, there was little exposure to its customer base or the broader Sitecore community. Konabos, however, provided a gateway into an ecosystem I hadn’t fully explored. It’s funny to think back to how it all started—through Konabos co-founder <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/akshaysura/">Akshay Sura</a>, who I worked with at that previous agency many years ago when we originally launched that Sitecore site. It all makes sense now!<h3 id="starting-my-sitecore-mvp-journey">Starting my Sitecore MVP journey</h3>In my first year at Konabos, I gained more hands-on experience with Sitecore as many of our customers were deeply embedded in the platform. I took a shot at earning my first MVP title but quickly realized I hadn’t yet contributed enough to the community to warrant the distinction. The following year, I made a deliberate shift—not just in learning the technology, but in engaging with the Sitecore community at a deeper level. Through <a target="_blank" href="https://konaverse.konabos.com/ ">Konabos’ Konaverse podcast,</a> I interviewed executives, MVPs, and practitioners. I attended Sitecore events that felt as high-level and exclusive as major tech conferences. More importantly, I shared my insights through articles, webinars, social media posts, and podcasts, focusing on Sitecore’s value from a business perspective. That year, I earned my first MVP, and with it came access to an inner circle of thought leaders and innovators. Suddenly, I was having meaningful discussions—both recorded and unrecorded—with Sitecore leaders like CEO <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/big-shift-at-sitecore-dave-oflanagan-takes-the-helm-as-interim-ceo">Dave O’Flanagan</a> and Chief Product Officer <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rogerconnolly/">Roger Connolly</a>, as well as agency leaders like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sureshdevanan/">Suresh Devanan</a>, Founder and CEO of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/nish-tech-inc./">Nishtech</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rolandvillemoes/">Roland Villemoes</a>, CTO of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/alpha-solutions-usa/">Alpha Solutions</a>, who, coincidentally, lives only 30 minutes away from me in New Jersey by way of Denmark.<h3 id="globetrotting-with-the-mvp-crew">Globetrotting with the MVP crew</h3>It's crazy to think that the Sitecore MVP program has been an institution for almost two decades, celebrating the efforts of amazing builders, architects, strategists, and visionaries from around the world. In fact, six MVPs are celebrating their ten-year anniversaries in 2025, including <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/baslijten/">Bas Lijten</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/robhabraken/">Rob Habraken</a> of the Netherlands, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonmwilkerson/">Jason Wilkerson</a> of the USA, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohammedsyam/">Mohammed Syam</a> of Jordan, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodrigopeplau/">Rodrigo Peplau</a> of Brazil, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/troyouttram/">Troy Outtram</a> of Australia.Becoming an MVP opened doors I hadn’t anticipated. It provided direct access to Sitecore’s roadmap through NDA-level discussions, private Slack channels, and MVP Summits. It also took me across the world—from reporting at <a target="_blank" href="https://community.sitecore.com/community?id=community_event&amp;sys_id=05403a571b74e19038a46421b24bcb37">SUGCON Europe 2023</a> from a rooftop overlooking the stunning Alboran Sea to pub-hopping along the River Thames with my newfound friend – and, of course, another Sitecore MVP—<a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-clisby-sitecore/">Peter Clisby</a>.  <figure class="image image-style-align-center image_resized" style="width:75.94%"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/02/matt-mcqueeny-sitecore-mvp-photo-2.jpg" alt="" /></figure>At SUGCON Europe 2023 on a rooftop in Malaga, Spain. Source: Matthew McQueeny There were so many memorable moments, like experiencing the awe-inspiring Croke Park in Dublin for <a target="_blank" href="https://community.sitecore.com/community?id=community_event&amp;sys_id=25403e571bbf791038a46421b24bcbec">SUGCON Europe 2024</a>, belting out songs at MVP karaoke nights, and collaborating from 4,000 miles away with Rodrigo Peplau on our own rendition of Pride (In The Name of Love) by U2, with me on guitar and bass and him on vocals. And, of course, all those nights along Broadway in Nashville and at Opryland for the impressive <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/sitecore-rocks-and-rolls-in-music-city-the-top-5-tracks-from-symposium-2024">Sitecore Symposium 2024.</a> <figure class="image image-style-align-center image_resized" style="width:72.63%"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/02/matt-mcqueeny-sitecore-mvp-photo-3.jpg" alt="" /></figure>At SUGCON Europe 2024 at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland. Source: Matthew McQueeny It wasn’t just the destinations that made the journey meaningful—it was the people. The MVP badge comes with pride, but it’s the relationships built within this community that are the real reward. Whether it was devouring a Juicy Lucy burger on a food tour organized by Sitecore MVP <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/chesterpotvin/">Chet Potvin</a> during Sitecore’s North American 2023 event in Minneapolis, exploring the massive Mall of America, or working alongside an extraordinary group of Sitecore MVPs at Konabos—who have collectively amassed over 60 MVP awards—I’ve felt deeply embedded in this ecosystem.  <figure class="image image-style-align-center image_resized" style="width:72.52%"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/02/matt-mcqueeny-sitecore-mvp-photo-1.jpg" alt="" /></figure>Sitecore North American event in Minneapolis, USA. Source: Matthew McQueeny Special mention goes to Konabos founder <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamruzjaman/">Kamruz Jaman</a>, who just notched his thirteenth MVP, and co-founder Akshay Sura, who has an incredible nine. Through their leadership and the camaraderie of this group, I’ve gained a global perspective on enterprise technology.Of course, none of this would be possible without the man behind the Sitecore MVP curtain, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/vargat/">Tamas Varga</a>. He is a “lifer” who truly devotes himself to leading and advocating for this MVP community from within Sitecore. This program would not be what it is without him.<h3 id="standing-on-the-shoulders-of-giants">Standing on the shoulders of giants</h3>Even with three MVP titles to my name, I still sometimes feel like an impostor in a room full of brilliant technical minds. Yet, I remind myself that my value lies in my unique perspective—bringing visibility to the community and Sitecore’s positioning within the composable DXP landscape. As an Ambassador MVP, I use my strengths in storytelling, strategic insight, and relationship-building to highlight the platform’s evolution and foster connections within the industry. This program has given me opportunities beyond what I could have imagined—traveling, collaborating, and learning from some of the most talented professionals in the field. Through it all, one thing remains clear: this isn’t just about technology. It’s about community.And I’m grateful to be a part of it. <hr /><h3 id="upcoming-events">Upcoming Events</h3> <img style="width:30.46%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/11/cms-summit-25.png" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-summit-25"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmssummit25">CMS Summit 25</a></h4>May 13-14, 2025 – Frankfurt, GermanyDon't miss the first European edition of our prestigious international conference dedicated to the global content management community! CMS Summit 25 will bring together top-notch speakers, our renowned learning format, and engaging social events. Hear from leading practitioners like Deutsche Bahn, Dr. Oetker, and more – and join customers, agencies, and CMS vendors as we discuss current trends and what's ahead for the content and digital experience fields. Connect and network at the only vendor-neutral, in-person conference focused on CMS. Space is limited for this exclusive event, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmssummit25">so book your seats today.</a> <img style="width:31.83%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/01/cms-connect-2025-logo.png" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-connect-25"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmsconnect25">CMS Connect 25</a></h4>August 5-6, 2025 – Montreal, CanadaWe are delighted to present the second annual summer edition of our signature global conference dedicated to the content management community! CMS Connect will be held again in beautiful Montreal, Canada, and feature a unique blend of masterclasses, insightful talks, interactive discussions, impactful learning sessions, and authentic networking opportunities. Join vendors, agencies, and customers from across our industry as we engage and collaborate around the future of content management – and hear from the top thought leaders at the only vendor-neutral, in-person conference exclusively focused on CMS. Space is limited for this event, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmsconnect25">so book your seats today.</a>

Reflections on a Third Sitecore MVP: A Community That Opens Doors

mattmcqueeny

<hr /> AI might be stealing the spotlight these days, but CMS is still the star on our stage – and you nominated some amazing platforms for our 13th Annual CMS Critic "People's Choice" Awards!Once again, your performance wowed us. We had some heavy hitters make the cut, but a few challengers really brought the rain – from <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/wagtail">Wagtail</a> to <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/hamstercms">HamsterCMS</a>.We received a metric ton of individual suggestions across all 16 of our categories – from CMS to DXP, e-Commerce to DAM – and now YOU get to pick the winners! Like last year, we had a huge turnout, so we’re including the top 6 nominees in each category! Winners will receive exclusive badging and a free listing upgrade in our Product Directory for one month.Who will take home the trophy? You have until February 24th, 2025 to vote! So get out there and share the good word! Engage and enroll your communities like <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/sitecore">Sitecore</a> did. Shout it from the mountaintops and make some noise. Most of all, have fun celebrating the innovation coming from all corners of our industry. Keep reading for the nominee list, or start picking your winners at <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/vote">www.cmscritic.com/vote </a> <figure class="media"><div data-oembed-url="https://youtu.be/gkZOXlyEPDk"><div style="position:relative;padding-bottom:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:56.2493%"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gkZOXlyEPDk" style="position:absolute;width:100%;height:100%;top:0;left:0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div></figure> <h3 id="the-nominees">The Nominees</h3>Drum roll, please…. <h4 id="best-free-cms">Best Free CMS</h4><ul><li>Grav</li><li>Joomla</li><li>Statamic</li><li>TYPO3</li><li>Umbraco</li><li>Wagtail</li></ul> <h4 id="best-enterprise-cms">Best Enterprise CMS</h4><ul><li>Joomla</li><li>Optimizely</li><li>Statamic</li><li>TYPO3</li><li>Umbraco</li><li>Wagtail</li></ul> <h4 id="best-headless-cms">Best Headless CMS</h4><ul><li>Agility</li><li>Directus</li><li>Optimizely</li><li>TYPO3</li><li>Umbraco</li><li>Wagtail</li></ul> <h4 id="best-flat-file-cms">Best Flat File CMS</h4><ul><li>Bludit</li><li>Grav</li><li>HamsterCMS</li><li>Kirby</li><li>Statamic</li><li>Typemill</li></ul> <h4 id="best-open-source-cms">Best Open Source CMS</h4><ul><li>Grav</li><li>Joomla</li><li>Statamic</li><li>TYPO3</li><li>Umbraco</li><li>Wagtail</li></ul> <h4 id="best-dxp">Best DXP</h4><ul><li>Adobe Experience Manager</li><li>Contentstack</li><li>Kentico</li><li>Optimizely</li><li>Sitecore</li><li>Umbraco</li></ul> <h4 id="best-static-site-generator">Best Static Site Generator</h4><ul><li>Astro</li><li>Eleventy</li><li>Grav</li><li>Hugo</li><li>Jekyll</li><li>Statamic</li></ul> <h4 id="best-website-builder">Best Website Builder</h4><ul><li>Optimizely</li><li>Squarespace</li><li>uSkinned</li><li>Webflow</li><li>Wix</li><li>YOOtheme</li></ul> <h4 id="best-dam-(digital-asset-management)">Best DAM (Digital Asset Management)</h4><ul><li>Bynder</li><li>Canto</li><li>Cloudinary</li><li>Directus</li><li>Optimizely</li><li>Sitecore</li></ul> <h4 id="best-pim-(product-information-management)">Best PIM (Product Information Management)</h4><ul><li>Akeneo</li><li>Directus</li><li>DynamicWeb</li><li>inriver</li><li>Pimcore</li><li>Struct</li></ul> <h4 id="best-ecm-(enterprise-content-management)">Best ECM (Enterprise Content Management)</h4><ul><li>Alfresco</li><li>Dokmee</li><li>Laserfiche</li><li>Notion</li><li>OpenText</li><li>SharePoint</li></ul> <h4 id="best-e-commerce-solution">Best e-Commerce Solution</h4><ul><li>DynamicWeb</li><li>HikaShop</li><li>Optimizely</li><li>Shopify</li><li>Umbraco</li><li>VirtueMart</li></ul> <h4 id="best-headless-commerce-solution">Best Headless Commerce Solution</h4><ul><li>commercetools</li><li>Directus</li><li>DynamicWeb</li><li>Optimizely</li><li>Shopify</li><li>Umbraco</li></ul> <h4 id="best-development/hosting-platform">Best Development/Hosting Platform</h4><ul><li>AWS</li><li>Azure</li><li>Hetzner</li><li>Hostinger</li><li>Laravel Forge</li><li>Vercel</li></ul> <h4 id="best-composable-solution">Best Composable Solution</h4><ul><li>Agility</li><li>Directus</li><li>DynamicWeb</li><li>Statamic</li><li>Umbraco</li><li>Uniform</li></ul> <h4 id="best-ai-solution-in-a-cms-or-dxp">Best AI Solution in a CMS or DXP</h4><ul><li>Kajoo</li><li>Kontent.ai</li><li>Optimizely</li><li>Sitecore</li><li>Statamic</li><li>Umbraco</li></ul><h3 id="ready-to-rock-the-vote?-">Ready to rock the vote? </h3>Get the word out and rally your community! Tell us which platforms you really love – and who should take home the prize. Remember, you have until February 24th!Rock the vote today at <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/vote">www.cmscritic.com/vote </a> <hr /><h3 id="upcoming-events">Upcoming Events</h3> <img style="width:30.46%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/11/cms-summit-25.png" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-summit-25"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmssummit25">CMS Summit 25</a></h4>May 13-14, 2025 – Frankfurt, GermanyDon't miss the first European edition of our prestigious international conference dedicated to the global content management community! CMS Summit 25 will bring together top-notch speakers, our renowned learning format, and engaging social events. Hear from leading practitioners like Deutsche Bahn, Dr. Oetker, and more – and join customers, agencies, and CMS vendors as we discuss current trends and what's ahead for the content and digital experience fields. Connect and network at the only vendor-neutral, in-person conference focused on CMS. Space is limited for this exclusive event, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmssummit25">so book your seats today.</a> <img style="width:31.83%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/01/cms-connect-2025-logo.png" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-connect-25"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmsconnect25">CMS Connect 25</a></h4>August 5-6, 2025 – Montreal, CanadaWe are delighted to present the second annual summer edition of our signature global conference dedicated to the content management community! CMS Connect will be held again in beautiful Montreal, Canada, and feature a unique blend of masterclasses, insightful talks, interactive discussions, impactful learning sessions, and authentic networking opportunities. Join vendors, agencies, and customers from across our industry as we engage and collaborate around the future of content management – and hear from the top thought leaders at the only vendor-neutral, in-person conference exclusively focused on CMS. Space is limited for this event, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmsconnect25">so book your seats today.</a>

Ready to vote? Here are the nominees for the 13th Annual CMS Critic Awards

<hr /> There's no denying that 2024's Wicked is an Oscar-worthy flick. In fact, it's already been <a target="_blank" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2024/12/17/oscars-shortlists-announced-emilia-prez-and-wicked-lead/">shortlisted for multiple categories.</a>But hey, we think CMS is pretty wicked, too. And there are a few platforms that might be spellbinding enough for a trophy or two. Of course, it’s not up to us – at least not during the annual <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/cms-critic-awards">CMS Critic Awards</a>. During this contest, we put you in the judge’s seat, so you can tell us what CMS and related DX tools really defied gravity in 2024.Keep scrolling for more background and the house rules, but here's how it works: Make your nominations at <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/nominate">www.cmscritic.com/nominate.</a> We take the top five contenders across a range of categories, open that up to general voting, and announce the victors in late February.Hollywood can have its glam and glitz, but it doesn’t hold a candle to schema and workflows. Content is the real star of this musical, and the CMS Critic Awards is an opportunity for you to sing the praises of the platforms that power your digital experiences. <figure class="media"><div data-oembed-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ew02JL1FcZg"><div style="position:relative;padding-bottom:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:56.2493%"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ew02JL1FcZg" style="position:absolute;width:100%;height:100%;top:0;left:0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div></figure><h3 id="it's-all-about-community">It's all about community</h3>If you’re not familiar, the CMS Critic Awards is an institution in the content management industry. It unites rabid fans across the globe to rally around the tools they love – no small feat in today’s fleeting technology landscape. But CMS is its own sort of bewitching ecosystem. With well-established enterprise vendors and a plethora of open source platforms, CMS enjoys some of the most loyal user communities in the tech pantheon. That’s why we’ve had such incredible participation over the past 12 years, making ours one of the longest-running awards programs in our industry (you can check out<a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/cms-critic-awards"> all the previous winners here</a>).While CMS is our Emerald City, we also make space for the expanded ecosystem of products. Over the last decade, we've seen the tornadic rise of digital experience technologies, from pure-play to fully integrated. To that end, we include categories for e-commerce, digital asset management, and even product information management. If it's a system that manages content, we want to celebrate it.In a land where technology can feel like it’s riding a broomstick, the CMS Critic Awards is proof that loyalty still lives – and people make all the difference.<h3 id="what-to-expect-with-this-year’s-categories">What to expect with this year’s categories</h3>2024. Man, what a whirlwind. This was the year <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/wp-engine-wins-an-injunction-against-automattic-is-the-wordpress-scorched-earth-campaign-over">WordPress turned open source upside down</a>. The drama surrounding Matt Mullenweg’s contentious and public battle with <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/wp-engine">WP Engine</a> took the tech world by storm, and the future feels decidedly unsettled. That said, WordPress still represents a crucial part of the market, and we want to know what your favorite tools are in this category, from <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/drupal">Drupal</a> to proprietary platforms with free and open source versions of their software.This was also the year that many platforms “moved to the middle.” Traditionally headless players like Contentstack <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/seeing-in-a-headless-world-contentstack-introduces-new-visual-building-capabilities-for-marketers">introduced visual builders</a> and preview capabilities, evolving into composable CMSes and DXPs. Meanwhile, pre-composed DXPs continued adding <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/optimizely-introduces-new-saas-cms-with-visual-builder-for-marketers">headless capabilities and SaaS options</a> to become… well, more composable. From a category perspective, 2024 was a critical tipping point – and one that created more features and greater flexibility for buyers and customers. What does this mean for this year’s Awards categories? When nominating, the spectrum for “Best Headless CMS” can certainly be applied to more than just the pure play platforms – and likewise, a DXP can be inclusive of previous headless players that have advanced their feature sets. Tell us what you think.There were also a lot of moves in the DAM world, with <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/canto-pim-unites-dam-and-product-information-management-streamlining-asset-and-data-workflows">Canto gobbling up Image Relay</a> and Cloudinary adding <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/cloudinary-assets-brings-new-ai-powered-features-to-its-api-first-intelligent-dam">more AI-powered capabilities</a>. Still, there are DXPs with built-in DAMs that can hold their own – and now with greater composable flexibility (think <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/acquia-widens-its-dxp-stack-with-widen-acquires-dam-and-pim-capabilities">Acquia’s acquisition of Widen</a>). To that end, you can nominate your favorite pure play or composed solution. And we’ve even made space for your top PIM picks, whether they’re part of a combined DAM/PIM solution or a standalone product. CMS and DXP platforms offer multiple features and capabilities. As always, if you feel a single vendor can live in more than one category, it’s your choice to nominate it. During last year's CMS Critic Awards, we had a huge showing in our “Best Composable Solution” and “Best AI Solution” categories. They're back again, so feel free to nominate any vendor in our space that delivered the most innovative composable or generative AI experience. <h3 id="a-note-about-integrity">A note about integrity</h3>The CMS Critic Awards are intended to be fun and friendly. But they do, at times, get a little fiery. Every year, we receive thousands of ballots. Users come together like wolfpacks, championing the platforms they love. We also intercept a number of, shall we say, “passionate” pleas, demanding to know why certain platforms were in a specific category, or why their tool wasn’t in the running. As always, we try to operate in a space of respect and integrity. Obviously, if a platform isn’t truly open source, it won’t be considered for “Best Open Source CMS.” But now more than ever, we're blurring the proverbial lines – and let’s face it, the analysts are also compounding the problem. So, our editorial team endeavors to stay out of the nominating process. As a reminder, we only take the top five in each category by nomination count, so anything below that won’t be featured in the final voting. <h3 id="how-to-make-your-nominations-for-the-2024-cms-critic-awards-">How to make your nominations for the 2024 CMS Critic Awards </h3>Drum roll… nominations for the 2024 CMS Critic Awards are officially open! Here’s how you can participate:<ol><li>Visit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cmscritic.com/nominate">www.cmscritic.com/nominate</a></li><li>Fill out the required fields and enter the names of your nominees in each category. You don't have to include a nomination for every category – only complete the fields that you care about, and your ballot will be counted. Remember that you can nominate the same vendor in multiple categories.</li><li>Once completed, click the “Submit” button at the bottom of the form. </li><li>You can only nominate once, and companies or brands that offer incentives of any kind will be disqualified.</li><li>Spread the word! Remember to share and encourage others to participate, especially across your social channels.</li></ol>Nominations close on January 24, 2025, so get out there and rally your communities! Once we tabulate the results, we’ll announce the top five for general voting in early February via email and social. Don’t be green with envy. Show us how wicked your communities really are – and make your nominations today! <hr /><h3 id="upcoming-events">Upcoming Events</h3> <img style="width:29.58%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/01/cms-kickoff-2025-logo.png" /><h4 id="cms-kickoff-2025"><a href=" https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff25">CMS Kickoff 2025</a></h4>January 14-15, 2025 – St. Petersburg, FloridaJoin industry leaders at our third annual CMS Kickoff – the industry's premier global CMS event. Similar to a traditional kickoff, we reflect on recent trends and share stories from the frontlines. Additionally, we will delve into the current happenings and shed light on the future. Prepare for an unparalleled in-person CMS conference experience that will equip you to move things forward. This is an exclusive event – space is limited, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff25/tickets">so secure your tickets today.</a> <img style="width:30.46%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/11/cms-summit-25.png" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-summit-25"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmssummit25">CMS Summit 25</a></h4>May 13-14, 2025 – Frankfurt, GermanyDon't miss the first European edition of our prestigious international conference dedicated to the global content management community! CMS Summit 25 will bring together top-notch speakers, our renowned learning format, and engaging social events. Hear from leading practitioners like Deutsche Bahn, Dr. Oetker, and more – and join customers, agencies, and CMS vendors as we discuss current trends and what's ahead for the content and digital experience fields. Connect and network at the only vendor-neutral, in-person conference focused on CMS. Space is limited for this exclusive event, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmssummit25">so book your seats today.</a>

Your Voice, Your Choice: Nominations are Open for the 2024 CMS Critic Awards

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