Thursday, January 1, 2026

Cal Poly’s Float Wins 2026 Rose Parade Sweepstakes Trophy as Tournament of Roses Announces Awards

The Pasadena Tournament of Roses announced 23 official float award recipients Wednesday for the 137th Rose Parade presented by Honda, highlighting the event’s deep local ties and longstanding role as one of Pasadena’s signature traditions. The announcement came in a Tournament of Roses statement released minutes before 7 a.m. on Jan. 1.

Cal Poly Universities received the 2026 Sweepstakes Trophy, the parade’s top honor, recognizing the most beautiful entry based on float design, floral presentation and entertainment. According to the Tournament of Roses, it marks the first Sweepstakes win for Cal Poly Universities and the seventh time a self-built float has earned the award since the category was established in 1924.

Judges Doris Hardoon, Cathy Hillen-Rulloda and Chaz Perea evaluated each float during decorating-stage sessions before the parade. Their scoring considered creative design, floral craftsmanship, artistic merit, computerized animation, thematic interpretation, floral and color presentation, and dramatic impact. The judges’ scores determined the trophy recipients.

Award-winning floats will be accompanied in the parade by banners carried by members of the Tournament of Roses Troop, which includes Gold Award Girl Scouts and Eagle Scouts, the organization said.

FTD®, the official floral partner of the Tournament of Roses for more than 60 years, sponsors the Rose Parade Float Awards. The company provides floral design for the antique cars that carry Rose Parade VIPs along Colorado Boulevard, including the Grand Marshal, Tournament of Roses President, Mayor of Pasadena and Rose Bowl Hall of Fame inductees, according to the Tournament’s statement.

Here is the full list of award-winning floats in the 2026 Rose Parade: