CALL FOR ENTRIES!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…time to announce the launch of the Commercial Radio News Awards 2026 in association with IRN and Sky News!
The awards recognise excellent journalism, production and presentation as millions of listeners continue to turn to commercial radio for their news and sport.
So, listen back through your best bulletins, interviews, special reports, and original journalism and check out which of the 13 categories best suits your selections.
For the first time if you work in a news hub but are a dedicated desk for a specific station or group of stations that together are under 1.5M TSA then you can enter the smaller team category.
In addition, for the first time students not enrolled on a BJTC course can enter the student category.
To enter, please visit www.irnawards.co.uk/how-to-enter, where you will find all the information you need.
News Team of the Year (hubs or stations over 1.5M TSA)
News Team of the Year (hubs or stations under 1.5M TSA)
Best News Story or Coverage
Best News Special or Campaign
Reporter of the Year (National)
Reporter of the Year (Regional)
Reporter of the Year (Specialist)
Newsreader of the Year (National)
Newsreader of the Year (Regional)
Best Interview
Best Sports Coverage
Newcomer of the Year
Student Journalist of the Year
The deadline for entries is Thursday 15th January 2026 at 5pm.
The ceremony will take place on Thursday 26th March 2026 at Sky.
We will also present the IRN Gold Award to someone in recognition of their outstanding contribution to news and/or sport in UK commercial radio. This category cannot be entered but suggestions for recipients can be emailed to [email protected].
The awards recognise excellent journalism, production and presentation as millions of listeners continue to turn to commercial radio for their news and sport.
So, listen back through your best bulletins, interviews, special reports, and original journalism and check out which of the 13 categories best suits your selections.
For the first time if you work in a news hub but are a dedicated desk for a specific station or group of stations that together are under 1.5M TSA then you can enter the smaller team category.
In addition, for the first time students not enrolled on a BJTC course can enter the student category.
To enter, please visit www.irnawards.co.uk/how-to-enter, where you will find all the information you need.
News Team of the Year (hubs or stations over 1.5M TSA)
News Team of the Year (hubs or stations under 1.5M TSA)
Best News Story or Coverage
Best News Special or Campaign
Reporter of the Year (National)
Reporter of the Year (Regional)
Reporter of the Year (Specialist)
Newsreader of the Year (National)
Newsreader of the Year (Regional)
Best Interview
Best Sports Coverage
Newcomer of the Year
Student Journalist of the Year
The deadline for entries is Thursday 15th January 2026 at 5pm.
The ceremony will take place on Thursday 26th March 2026 at Sky.
We will also present the IRN Gold Award to someone in recognition of their outstanding contribution to news and/or sport in UK commercial radio. This category cannot be entered but suggestions for recipients can be emailed to [email protected].
