Dublin, Tuesday, 25 August 2026, 11am: The shortlist for the IMRO Radio Awards 2026 has been announced, following another exceptional year for radio across the island of Ireland.
The 2026 Awards have once again attracted one of the largest volumes of entries in the history of the event, underlining the continued strength, relevance and ambition of Irish radio. Entries came from across the full breadth of the sector, including national, regional, local, public service and commercial stations, with shortlisted work representing the range of voices, formats and communities that make radio such a powerful part of daily life.
From breaking news and current affairs to music, sport, speech, documentary, entertainment, digital innovation and community-focused broadcasting, this year’s shortlist reflects a sector that continues to evolve while staying deeply connected to its audiences.
The shortlisted entries were selected by an independent judging panel, who reviewed entries from across the island of Ireland. The variety of this year’s shortlist shows the depth of talent on air and behind the scenes, from established names and major networks to local stations delivering outstanding work for their communities.
The IMRO Radio Awards remain one of the most significant honours in Irish broadcasting, recognising excellence, creativity and impact across every part of the radio industry.
The winners will be announced at the IMRO Radio Awards 2026, taking place at the Lyrath Estate Hotel, Kilkenny, on Friday, 2 October 2026.
The full shortlist is below.
The Awards are proudly sponsored by IMRO, with the support of Coimisiún na Meán.
Media Contacts
Kathryn Mason | km@MASONRY.ie 087-2627977
Dee Ni Cheallaigh | dee@MASONRY.ie 086-2495323
For updates and additional information, please visit https://www.imroradioawards.ie/
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NOTES TO EDITORS:
IMRO Radio Awards Committee
The Radio Awards Committee comprises twelve members representing all sectors of licensed commercial and public radio on the island of Ireland – RTÉ, BBC NI, and the independent commercial radio sectors in both the Republic and Northern Ireland.
IMRO
IMRO administers the performing right in copyright music on behalf of its members (songwriters, composers, and music publishers) and on behalf of members of the international overseas societies affiliated with it. IMRO’s core function is to collect and distribute royalties from the public performance of copyright works. With a global scope, we represent creators along the chain of creation. At IMRO, we are committed to creators. We stand up for music and the people who make it and perform it. A community for creators, we listen, advocate, educate, invest, and engage to shape a culture of musical worth. We help music creators to adapt to change and receive a full and fair return for their work. See www.imro.ie
Coimisiún na Meán
Coimisiún na Meán is Ireland’s agency for developing and regulating a thriving, diverse, creative, safe and trusted media landscape.
Its responsibilities are to:
- Oversee the funding of and support the development of the wider media sector in Ireland.
- Oversee the regulation of broadcasting and video-on-demand services.
- Develop and enforce the Irish regulatory regime for online safety
