INDIANAPOLIS – Minor League Baseball (MiLB) announced the Indianapolis Indians have been named the International League finalist for two of the 2026 MiLB End of Year Awards. The Indianapolis Indians will be recognized on Tuesday, October 13 at the 2026 MiLB End of Year Awards Show at the MiLB Business Summit in Louisville.
Driving Diversity Forward Award - The Indians built a season-long calendar that recognizes different cultures and communities, while creating opportunities for those communities to see themselves represented at Victory Field. The organization's approach was evident throughout the 2026 promotional calendar. Victory Field hosted a wide range of community celebrations, from heritage nights such as Negro Leagues Weekend, Jewish Community Night, Faith & Fellowship Night, Native American Heritage Night and Irish Community Night, to awareness nights focused on mental health, all abilities, youth sports, literacy and women in sports, as well as larger community group celebrations including Pride Night, Teacher Appreciation, Scout Nights and First Responders Night. The organization also participated in local Pride parade activations for the fourth consecutive year.
Golden Bobblehead: Local Partner Activation - From blue ribbons to baseball, the Indianapolis Indians' 2026 partnership with the Indiana State Fair represented one of the most ambitious and authentic local partner activations in Minor League Baseball. By serving as presenting sponsor of the 2026 Indiana State Fair, the Indians moved their brand beyond Victory Field and integrated themselves into one of Indiana's largest statewide traditions, creating a partnership that connected baseball, agriculture, entertainment, food and Hoosier culture. The 2026 Indiana State Fair adopted the theme "Always a Hit," creating a natural platform for the Indianapolis Indians to participate in the Fair experience. The partnership was announced at Victory Field during Opening Day festivities, immediately establishing a connection between the two organizations and their shared audiences. At the Fairgrounds, the Indians became part of the physical guest experience through an official Indianapolis Indians gift shop, baseball-themed entertainment and a wiffleball field for kids to play and take the opportunity to step up to the plate. These elements gave the more than 800,000 fairgoers multiple ways to interact with the Indians brand even when they were not attending an Indians game. The Indians also brought the State Fair experience back to Victory Field through State Fair Foods Week. During the August 4-9 homestand, fans could enjoy State Fair-inspired foods including pork tenderloin sandwiches, donut burgers, footlong corndogs and elephant ears. The promotion, presented by the Indiana Soybean Alliance, provided Indians fans with a taste of the Fair before or during their trip to the ballpark.