New York Festivals Unveils 2026 Radio Awards Shortlist

RADIO ONLINE | Friday, March 27, 2026 | 4:58pm CT

New York Festivals Radio Awards

The New York Festivals (NYF) has announced the shortlist for its 2026 Radio Awards, recognizing standout audio storytelling from creators across more than 30 countries.

Entries were evaluated by the NYF Radio Awards Grand Jury, a panel of more than 100 industry professionals from 20 countries. The shortlisted work spans a wide range of categories, including audiobooks, podcasts, drama, documentary, news, entertainment, and music.

Among the entertainment finalists are productions from global outlets such as Sveriges Radio, Radio-Canada, SiriusXM, and SRF Swiss Radio and Television. Children's and young adult programming also earned recognition, with entries from organizations including Sveriges Radio and the Augustine Institute advancing.

Documentary storytelling was a strong category, with shortlisted entries from CBC, SBS Australia, Rai Radiotelevisione Italiana, and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, among others. Music documentaries featuring artists such as The Beatles, Phil Collins, and Herb Alpert also made the list.

Podcast entries continued to expand across genres including news, culture, investigative journalism, and technology. Finalists include productions from CBS News, BBC World Service, NPR, Bloomberg Podcasts, and Wondery. Sports podcast nominees include entries from ESPN and Meadowlark Media.

Audiobook publishers Bloomsbury, HarperCollins, and Penguin Random House UK led the shortlist with multiple entries advancing to the next round.

In news programming, finalists include entries from NPR News, CBC, Al Jazeera English, and Radio-Canada. The competition will also award the 2026 National Press Club Award to the highest-scoring entry in select news categories.

The NYF Radio Awards, now in their 69th year, recognize excellence in global audio content and continue to evolve alongside industry trends. Winners will be announced during the virtual Storytellers Gala on May 21.