The Audio Academy announces nominees for the UK's leading audio and radio industry awards...
THE ARIAS 2026
Rylan announced as host of London’s Roundhouse ceremony taking place on Thursday 21st May
Nominees include:
Dig It with Jo Whiley and Zoe Ball, The Louis Theroux Podcast, Romesh Ranganathan, French & Saunders: Titting About, Greg James, Mel Giedroyc for Sony Podcasts, 1Xtra Breakfast with Nadia Jae, Beth Ditto, Chris and Rosie Ramsey’s Shagged, Married, Annoyed, Tyler West – alongside nominations for BBC Sounds, Bauer Media, Apple Music Radio, Fix Radio, Tortoise Media, Sky News, DMG Media, Prison Radio Association, Persephonica and more.
Wednesday 22nd April 2026, London UK – The Audio Academy today reveals the nominees for the 2026 ARIAS (Audio & Radio Industry Awards), with Rylan confirmed to return as host of this year’s ceremony.
Rylan says: “I’m back as the host of the ARIAS! This night is all about celebrating the best of radio and audio and how much it means to so many people around the country, including myself. Big congrats to everyone nominated today! I look forward to celebrating with you all and announcing our winners at the Roundhouse on 21st May”
2026 marks ten years of the ARIAS (formerly known as the Sony Radio Awards which date back to 1983), with the awards moving to iconic live venue Roundhouse in Camden for this milestone year. Under its famous circular roof, the UK audio community will gather on Thursday 21st May to celebrate the creativity and talent shaping the industry today.
The nominees were revealed this evening at the ARIAS nominations party at Spotify’s London HQ, judged by leading figures from across the industry, an ARIAS nomination is one of the highest accolades in UK audio.
There are 21 awards to be won with nominees spanning broadcasters including the BBC, Bauer Media and Fix Radio alongside independent producers and podcast networks such as Persephonica, Mindhouse Productions, Tortoise Media and the Prison Radio Association, as well as global platforms including Apple Music Radio, Audible and Sony Music Entertainment.
This year’s nominations highlight a wide range of work across audio, including The Louis Theroux Podcast and British Scandal, as well as comedy favourites including French & Saunders: Titting About, Sh*gged Married Annoyed and Where There’s A Will There’s A Wake with Mel Giedroyc.
Music and entertainment nominees include Romesh Ranganathan, Greg James, Nick Grimshaw, Tyler West and Nadia Jae, while Beth Ditto and Gok Wan are among those recognised in Best New Presenter.
The ARIAS, run by the Audio Academy (formerly The Radio Academy), are the UK’s leading audio and radio awards, recognising outstanding shows and the creative teams behind them.
Tickets for the ARIAS 2026 are on sale from Thursday 23rd April from HERE.
FULL LIST OF NOMINEES
Best New Presenter
Supported by Spotify
Anna Sinfield – Novel
Becky and Ben Saer – Becky & Ben’s Fertility Spotlight
Beth Ditto – BBC 6Music and BBC Sounds
Georgie Styles – Smoke Trail and Whistledown Productions for BBC Radio and BBC Sounds Audio Lab
Gok Wan – Magic Radio
Hugh Sheehan – BBC Sounds Audio Lab
James Chandler and George Butler – AI Haven’t a Clue
Louise Wener – Absolute Radio
Mia Thornton – BBC Sounds Audio Lab
Roxie Nafousi – Rise with Roxie, Bauer Media Audio UK
Siva Gold, BCFM – BCFM
Hattie Hasan and Steph Leese – Tradeswomen Together, Fix Radio
Best Music Breakfast Radio Show
1Xtra Breakfast with Nadia Jae – BBC Radio 1Xtra
Breakfast with Greg James – BBC Radio 1
Breakfast – BBC Radio 3
Boogie in the Morning – Forth 1
Bowie at Breakfast – Clyde 1
Magic Radio Breakfast with Gok Wan and Harriet Scott – Magic FM
Nick Grimshaw – BBC Radio 6 Music
The Bald Builders Breakfast – Fix Radio
Best Speech Breakfast Radio Show
5 Live Breakfast – BBC Radio 5 Live
Bloomberg Daybreak Europe – Bloomberg Radio
Good Morning Ulster – BBC Radio Ulster
Joe Sims’ ‘Proper Bristol Breakfast’ – BBC Radio Bristol
Sophie Law – BBC Radio Oxford
The Graham Liver Breakfast Show – BBC Radio Lancashire
Best Music Entertainment
Supported by PPL & PRS for Music
ChillDaBeats with Phil Taggart – Slack Panda Productions
Garry Spence – Clyde 1
Haroon Rashid – BBC Asian Network
Hometime with Bush and Richie – Absolute Radio
Justin Dealey – BBC Three Counties Radio
Oh Gatekeeper with Joe Talbot – Slack Panda Productions
Remi Burgz – BBC Radio 1Xtra
Romesh Ranganathan – TBI Media for BBC Radio 2
Shaun Keaveny's Community Garden Radio – Burning Bright Productions
Tyler West – Kiss
Best Speech Entertainment
Supported by TYX Studios
British Scandal – Audible and Samizdat Audio
Dig It with Jo Whiley and Zoe Ball – Persephonica
Fame Under Fire – BBC Sounds
Matt Chorley – BBC Radio 5 Live
Mistresses with Jameela Jamil & Dr Kate Lister – Audible and Mags Creative
Out of Doors – BBC Radio Scotland
NPR Talk – Prison Radio Association
Read On - The Audiobook Show from RNIB – RNIB Connect Radio
Rylan: How To Be In Love – Mindhouse Productions for BBC Sounds
The Louis Theroux Podcast – Mindhouse Productions
Best Music Award
20th Century Radicals – Reduced Listening for BBC Radio 3
21st Century Folk – Pomona Audio for BBC Radio 2
The Dance Music Archive with Andi Durrant – KISSTORY
Elton John’s Rocket Hour – Apple Music Radio
Facing The Music – Overcoat Media for BBC Radio 3
Folk on Foot
Jim Salveson – Freshly Squeezed: A New Music Podcast
Q Year’s Day – Jazz FM
Radio 1's New Music Show with Jack Saunders – BBC Radio 1
So Hear Me Out – Reduced Listening for Southbank Centre
Best Comedy
Supported by Comedy UK
French & Saunders: Titting About – Listen and Audible
From The Oasthouse: The Alan Partridge Podcast – Baby Cow and Audible
It’s a Fair Cop – BBC Studios Audio for BBC Radio 4
IM1 – Manx Radio
Scott Bennett: Blood Sugar Baby – DLT Entertainment for BBC Radio 4
Shagged, Married, Annoyed – Avalon
The Jon Richardson Show – Absolute Radio
The Matt Forde Focus Group – Avalon for BBC Radio 4
The Skewer – Unusual for BBC Radio 4
Where There’s A Will There’s A Wake – Sony Music Entertainment
Best Factual Single Episode
Coldplay: Off The Record – Hits Radio
In Pieces – Reduced Listening for BBC Radio 4
Locked Up – BBC Radio 4
Lost in Lullabies – Sound and Bones for BBC Radio 4
No Contact, when adult children estrange – The Economist
Paul Simon's Political Storm – Peanut & Crumb for BBC Radio 4
Pete Wicks' Man Made - Prime Minister Keir Starmer – Bauer Media Audio UK
The Last Boat – The Economist
The Pop Legacy of Quincy Jones – Jazz FM and Greatest Hits Radio
Best Factual Series Award
Adrift – Blanchard House
Assume Nothing: Creation of a Teenage Satanist – BBC Sounds
Missing in the Amazon – The Guardian
My Stalker Moved in Next Door – Hits Radio
Pipeline: Left to Die – Daily Mail
The House at Number 48 – BBC Radio 4
The Spy Who – Audible
The Smuggler – BBC Radio 4
The Toxic Waste Scandal – BBC Radio Northampton
Best Drama or Fiction
Supported by Audible
Behind the Scenes at the Museum – BBC Studios Audio for BBC Radio 4
Doctor Who - Hooklight – Big Finish Productions
Four Gammons and a Unicorn – Pozzitive for BBC Radio 4
Lyra – BBC Studios Audio for BBC Radio 4
Ranger Rae And The Wildlifers – Fun Kids for National Trust
Shirley’s Party – Hooley Productions for BBC Radio 4
Shorts – Ben Burrell
Best News
Assisted dying, the debate beyond the bill – The Economist
Electoral Dysfunction – Sky News
From Glory to Horror: The Liverpool Title Parade – Hits Radio Liverpool
Hits and Headlines – Hits Radio
Hurricane Melissa: Jamaica's Recovery – BBC Radio 1Xtra Newsbeat
Sitrep – BFBS
Teen Summit – BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Bitesize
The Bicester Fire – BBC Radio Oxford
The Mishal Husain Show – Bloomberg
The Smuggler – BBC Radio 4
Today in Focus – The Guardian
Trump100 – Sky News
Best Sports
F1 Explains – Formula 1 and Audioboom
Fighting Talk – World’s End for BBC Radio 5 Live
Not by the Playbook – BBC World Service
The Fast And The Curious
The Ryder Cup – BBC Radio 5 Live
The Women in Sport Podcast
Total Sport Merseyside – BBC Radio Merseyside
Best Event Coverage
Supported by Aiir
BBC Proms 2025 – BBC Radio 3
Donald Trump's State Visit - Electoral Dysfunction and Trump100 – Sky News
Live Aid Relived – Greatest Hits Radio
The King's Trust Carol Concert – Magic Classical
The Oasis Reunion – Absolute Radio
The Shipping Forecast Day – BBC Radio 4
Tool Theft Rally – Fix Radio
Train Tracks – Tandem Productions for BBC Radio 3
Vernon Kay At The Oasis Homecoming Concert – BBC Radio 2
Best Sonic Branding
Supported by TM Studios
Absolute Radio
BBC Asian Network
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 6 Music
Superscoreboard – Clyde 1
Live Aid Relived – Greatest Hits Radio
Magic Radio
Best Commercial Partnership
Christmas saved for 318,767 children thanks to B&M – Cash for Kids and Hits Radio
Comedians Chatting Cancer – Cancer Research UK and Acast
Historic Scotland Podcast – Think Publishing and Historic Scotland
How To Fail – Dove and Sony Music Podcasts
The Citroën Apprentice Driving Force – Fix Radio and Citroën
Staying Relevant in Vegas with Avios – Acast and Staying Relevant Productions
The 'Altogether Different' Start to the Day with KISS Breakfast – Channel 4
Wickes – Bauer Media Audio UK
Best Social Impact
Supported by BBC Sounds
Bantam of The Opera – BBC Radio Leeds
Black Girls and Sport: A Break-up Story – Women in Sport
Criminally Queer – Reduced Listening for BBC Sounds Audio Lab
Fix Radio on mental health
Fun Kids Windrush
Kids Live at 5 – Cheshire’s MIX56
Life After Prison – Prison Radio Association
Lost Souls – Hits Radio
Pipeline: Left to Die – Daily Mail
Stop a Stroke – BBC Radio Manchester
The Grave Robbers – BBC Studios Audio for BBC Radio 4
The Scars – Story Publishing
Best Technical Innovation Award
Supported by Xperi
Illuminated: The Organ Symphony – Loftus Media for BBC Radio 4
Radio Essentials PrepPad® – Essentials Digital Media Ltd
The 2005 Ashes: Settling the Score – BBC Radio 5 Live
The Wargame – Sky News and Tortoise
Train Tracks – Tandem Productions for BBC Radio 3
Voice Notes Suck
John Myers Local Station of the Year
Supported by RCS
BBC Radio Manchester
BBC Radio Merseyside
BBC Radio Sheffield
BBC Radio Ulster
Clyde 1
Forth 1
Lyca Radio
Original 106
Audio Brand of the Year
Supported by Carver PR
Apple Music Radio
Audio Always Originals
BBC Sounds
Rayo
Sony Music Podcasts
UK Radio Station or Network of the Year
Supported by Arqiva
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 4
Fix Radio
Greatest Hits Radio
Hits Radio
Jazz FM
Radio Times Moment of the Year
Supported by Radio Times
BBC Radio 3 Breakfast: 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz
Chelsey Ward shares her lived experience of racist abuse in Yorkshire – BBC Radio Sheffield
Comedian Dan Skinner swims with the Blue Tits Chill Swimmers off the Pembrokeshire coast – Think Publishing and Great Western Railway
I Don't Like Cricket, I Love It – BBC Three Counties Radio
“Listen love, you're trying ever so hard” – Bloomberg
Live Aid Relived – Greatest Hits Radio
Sarah Speaks: The Southport Attacks – BBC Radio Merseyside
Scotland V Denmark World Cup Qualifier – BBC Radio Scotland
The Human Cost: How Tool Theft Pushed One Listener to the Brink of Suicide – Fix Radio
The King's Music Room – Apple Music