The Audio Academy announces winners for...
ARIAS 2026
INCLUDING
Hits Radio - UK Radio Station or Radio Network of the Year
Beth Ditto - Best New Presenter
BBC Sounds - Audio Brand of the Year
Radio 1 Breakfast with Greg James - Best Music Breakfast Show
Romesh Ranganathan - Best Music Entertainment
How To Fail with Elizabeth Day, Dove and Sony Music Podcasts - Best Commercial Partnership
––––––––
Plus, the 'Judges' Special Recognition Award 2026' for
Trevor Nelson
RED CARPET IMAGES AVAILABLE VIA GETTY, DAVE BENETT AND SHUTTERSTOCK
IMAGES OF WINNERS ARE AVAILABLE VIA GETTY
The Audio Academy ARIAS returned tonight at the iconic new venue, the Roundhouse, as Rylan took to the stage to host the most prestigious night in UK radio and audio. The winners of 21 awards were announced, including the highly anticipated UK Radio Station or Radio Network of the Year.
The night also held an unforgettable performances from Ezra Collective’s Femi Koleoso and Marisha Wallace, plus surprise celebrations with the presentation of the Judges' Special Recognition Award for 2026 to Trevor Nelson — celebrating his remarkable contributions to the industry.
Created by The Audio Academy, the charity championing talent across radio and audio industry, the ARIAS (formerly known as the Sony Radio Awards which date back to 1983) is the leading annual event showcasing the world-leading passion, creativity and voices across the UK audio industry.
This year’s ceremony attracted an impressive guest list from the world of radio, podcasting and music including Elizabeth Day, Dawn O'Porter, Remi Burgz, Nick Grimshaw, Vernon Kay, Dr Sian Williams, Ken Bruce, Gaby Roslin, Rob Rinder, Trevor Nelson, Craig David, Anna Haugh, June Sarpong, Stephen Libby, Mishal Husain and Sophie K amongst many more. Plus, Kiss FM's Tyler West, who hosted the red carpet and interviewed winners backstage.
Taking place at the Roundhouse, this year's celebration buzzed with energy as nominees took their seats at roundtables amongst their peers. This year also included standout performances from Ezra Collective's Femi Koleoso and West End superstar, Marisha Wallace.
Hits Radio claimed the highly coveted UK Radio Station or Radio Network of the Year Award, presented by Elizabeth Day, whilst BBC Radio Merseyside won John Myers Local Radio Station of the Year, presented by Gaby Roslin. Radio 1 Breakfast with Greg James struck Gold for Best Music Breakfast Show. Bloomberg's “Listen love, you're trying ever so hard” won the popular public-voted Radio Times Moment of the Year for Mishal Husain's interview with Nigel Farage which received huge reactions and commentary online, praising her composure and professionalism.
The floor was brought to their feet as acclaimed DJ and radio presenter Trevor Nelson was honoured with this year's Judges' Special Recognition Award presented by much-loved musician Craig David. Trevor, who recently celebrated 30 years at the BBC, was lauded for his cultural impact on the British music scene. After collecting his award, Trevor exclusively said: "You’ve stitched me right up! I cannot tell you how much this means. That young me who started at KISS in the 80’s just wouldn’t believe any of this. I’m very humbled and grateful."
Further wins across the evening included Dove and Sony Music Podcasts' How To Fail with Elizabeth Day for Best Commercial Partnership, singer-songwriter Beth Ditto was awarded Best New Presenter for her BBC Radio 6 Music show, BBC Sounds took home Audio Brand of the Year (previously won by Gary Lineker's Goalhanger).
Independent audio production company winners included TBI Media, who won Best Music Entertainment for the Romesh Ranganathan show on BBC Radio 2, Reduced Listening won Best Social Impact for their Criminally Queer Radio 4 series, Pomona Audio picked up gold for Best Music Award for 21st Century Folk series on BBC Radio 2 and Pozzitive took Best Drama or Fiction for BBC Radio 4's Four Gammons and a Unicorn.
The full list of winners can be found below.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS
BEST NEW PRESENTER
Supported by Spotify
GOLD WINNER
Beth Ditto
BBC Audio for BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Sounds
SILVER
Georgie Styles
Smoke Trail and Whistledown Productions for BBC Radio and BBC Sounds Audio Lab
BRONZE
Hugh Sheehan
BBC Sounds Audio Lab
BEST MUSIC BREAKFAST SHOW
Supported by TM Studios
GOLD WINNER
Radio 1 Breakfast with Greg James
BBC Audio for BBC Radio 1
SILVER
The Bald Builders Breakfast
Fix Radio
BRONZE
Boogie in the Morning
Forth 1
BEST SPEECH BREAKFAST SHOW
Supported by Radioplayer
GOLD WINNER
Joe Sims’ ‘Proper Bristol Breakfast’
BBC Radio Bristol
SILVER
Good Morning Ulster
BBC Radio Ulster
BRONZE
Sophie Law
BBC Radio Oxford
BEST MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Supported by PPL & PRS for Music
GOLD WINNER
Romesh Ranganathan
TBI Media for BBC Radio 2
SILVER
Tyler West
KISS
BRONZE
Justin Dealey
BBC Three Counties Radio
BEST SPEECH ENTERTAINMENT
Supported by TYX Studios
GOLD WINNER
Fame Under Fire
BBC Sounds
SILVER
Dig It with Jo Whiley and Zoe Ball
Persephonica
BRONZE
British Scandal
Audible and Samizdat Audio
BEST MUSIC
Supported by High Left Music
GOLD WINNER
21st Century Folk
Pomona Audio for BBC Radio 2
SILVER
Radio 1's New Music Show with Jack Saunders
BBC Audio for BBC Radio 1
BRONZE
So Hear Me Out
Reduced Listening for Southbank Centre
BEST COMEDY
Supported by Comedy UK
GOLD WINNER
It’s a Fair Cop
BBC Studios Audio for BBC Radio 4
SILVER
The Skewer
Unusual for BBC Radio 4
BRONZE
Shagged, Married, Annoyed
Avalon
BEST FACTUAL SINGLE EPISODE
Supported by Dolby
GOLD WINNER
Locked Up
BBC Radio 4
SILVER
Lost in Lullabies
Sound and Bones, BBC Radio 4
BRONZE
Pete Wicks' Man Made - Prime Minister Keir Starmer
Bauer Media Audio UK
BEST FACTUAL SERIES
Supported by Audio UK
GOLD WINNER
My Stalker Moved in Next Door
Hits Radio
SILVER
Pipeline: Left to Die
Daily Mail
BRONZE
The House at Number 48
BBC Radio 4
BEST DRAMA OR FICTION
Supported by Audible
GOLD WINNER
Four Gammons and a Unicorn
Pozzitive for BBC Radio 4
SILVER
Behind the Scenes at the Museum
BBC Studios Audio for BBC Radio 4
BRONZE
Shirley’s Party
Hooley Productions for BBC Radio 4
BEST NEWS
Supported by IRN
GOLD WINNER
Hits and Headlines
Hits Radio
SILVER
The Mishal Husain Show
Bloomberg
BRONZE
Hurricane Melissa: Jamaica's Recovery
BBC Radio 1XTRA Newsbeat
BEST SPORTS
Supported by Transmission Roundhouse
GOLD WINNER
The Ryder Cup
BBC Radio 5 Live
SILVER
Total Sport Merseyside
BBC Radio Merseyside
BRONZE
Not by the Playbook
BBC World Service
BEST EVENT COVERAGE
Supported by Aiir
GOLD WINNER
Train Tracks
Tandem Productions for BBC Radio 3
SILVER
The Shipping Forecast Day
BBC Radio 4
BRONZE
Live Aid Relived
Greatest Hits Radio
BEST SONIC BRANDING
Supported by Beats Bakery
GOLD WINNER
Superscoreboard
Clyde 1
SILVER
BBC Radio 2
BRONZE
BBC Asian Network
BEST COMMERCIAL PARTNERSHIP
Supported by Rayo
GOLD WINNER
How To Fail
Dove and Sony Music Podcasts
SILVER
Comedians Chatting Cancer
Cancer Research UK and Acast
BRONZE
Wickes and Bauer Media Audio UK
BEST SOCIAL IMPACT
Supported by BBC Sounds
GOLD WINNER
Criminally Queer
Reduced Listening for BBC Sounds Audio Lab
SILVER
Pipeline: Left to Die
Daily Mail
BRONZE
Stop a Stroke
BBC Radio Manchester
BEST TECHNICAL INNOVATION
Supported by Xperi
GOLD WINNER
The 2005 Ashes: Settling the Score
BBC Radio 5 Live
SILVER
The Wargame
Sky News and Tortoise
BRONZE
Train Tracks
Tandem Productions for BBC Radio 3
JOHN MYERS LOCAL RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR
Supported by RCS
GOLD WINNER
BBC Radio Merseyside
SILVER
Forth 1
BRONZE
Clyde 1
AUDIO BRAND OF THE YEAR
Supported by Carver PR
GOLD WINNER
BBC Sounds
SILVER
Rayo
BRONZE
Audio Always Originals
UK RADIO STATION OR RADIO NETWORK OF THE YEAR
Supported by Arqiva
GOLD WINNER
Hits Radio
SILVER
BBC Radio 2
BRONZE
Fix Radio
RADIO TIMES MOMENT OF THE YEAR
Supported by Radio Times
GOLD WINNER
“Listen love, you're trying ever so hard”
Bloomberg
SILVER
Scotland V Denmark World Cup Qualifier
BBC Radio Scotland
BRONZE
Chelsey Ward shares her lived experience of racist abuse in Yorkshire
BBC Radio Sheffield
2026 JUDGES' SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD
Trevor Nelson
ABOUT THE AUDIO ACADEMY
The Audio Academy is the UK radio and audio industry charity, established in 1983. We are dedicated to the celebration and promotion of excellence in radio and audio.
We aim to bring together people from across the sector, breaking down barriers to provide opportunities for debate, networking, sharing and celebration. We welcome members from all areas of audio, including broadcasting, podcasting, streaming, production, technology and academia.
We present an extensive calendar of national and regional events, accessible to all – some highlights of our year are The ARIAS, The Audio Academy Festival, 30 Under 30, Audio Academy Mentoring and Foot in the Door. We are supported in our endeavours by individual memberships, donations and corporate patronage.
ABOUT SPONSORS
Each year, the ARIAS are generously supported by our partners working across the UK radio and audio industry. This year they include Arqiva, Audible, BBC Sounds, Carver PR, PPL, PRS for Music, Radio Times, RCS, Spotify and Xperi.
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FOR ALL PRESS ENQUIRIES CONTACT
Eliza.Elliott@carverpr.co.uk