The New York Festivals 2026 Radio Awards, celebrating creative excellence in audio storytelling, is open for entries. And, the Radio Awards is “expanding its reach” with the introduction of a new Video Podcast category.
It’s a move NYF says is reflective of the growing role of visual storytelling in audio-driven media.
The New York Festivals Radio Awards provides a global platform to honor creative storytellers and dates to 1957. The 2026 Radio Awards welcomes entries across 14 category groups, offering recognition in a wide range of areas, from News Programs, Documentaries, and Talk Programs to On-Air Talent, Craft, and Entertainment. Specialized groups spotlight groundbreaking work in Digital, Podcast, and Audio Book content, while Programming Formats and Promotion/Open & ID celebrate the creative standards of radio.
“For nearly seven decades, NYF’s Radio Awards has championed the art of storytelling across every platform,” said Rose Anderson, EVP and Executive Director of the New York Festivals Radio Awards. “Each year we’re inspired by the creativity and innovation that push audio forward, and with the addition of new categories like Video Podcast, we’re proud to continue celebrating the evolving ways storytellers connect with audiences worldwide.”
Through its partnership with the National Press Club, New York Festivals honors audio journalists and reporters who use their craft to shine a light on the stories that matter most. Since its inception in 2023, the National Press Club Award has honored the top-scoring news program across the Breaking News Story Coverage, Continuing News Story Coverage, Nonfiction Series, and News Podcast categories.
Each year, the New York Festivals Radio Awards welcomes entries from radio stations, networks, independent producers, publishers, and podcast creators in over 30 countries, honoring the world’s most innovative audio storytellers.
The entry deadline for the 2026 Radio Awards competition is January 31, 2026. To enter the 2026 Radio Awards visit: HERE. For additional information on the 2026 competition visit: Rules and Regulations.
To be eligible for the 2026 competition, entries must have been produced, released, screened, aired, published, issued, or streamed from January 1, 2025, until the deadline of January 31, 2026, and were not awarded a trophy in the same category for the same episode in the 2025 Radio Awards.
