Community radio stations, presenters, volunteers and programme makers from across the UK have been recognised at the Community Radio Awards 2026 in Birmingham. Radio LaB was named Station of the Year as the awards marked their tenth anniversary, with Gold, Silver and Bronze honours presented across 20 categories.
Radio LaB has won Station of the Year at the Community Radio Awards 2026, held at Gas Street Central in Birmingham on Saturday 24 October. The ceremony celebrated the tenth anniversary of the awards, with 60 Gold, Silver and Bronze places awarded across 20 categories recognising broadcasting excellence, journalism, volunteering and community impact throughout the United Kingdom.
The awards brought together broadcasters, volunteers, presenters, producers and station representatives from across the country following the National Community Radio Conference, organised by the UK Community Radio Network.
Hosted by Priya Matharu and Stephen Higgs, the ceremony recognised the contribution of community radio stations to local news, entertainment, cultural representation, education and public service broadcasting.
Radio LaB received the evening’s leading honour, taking Gold for Station of the Year ahead of Silver winner RNIB Connect Radio and Bronze winner Express FM.
The results also highlighted the diversity of community broadcasting, with award-winning projects covering subjects ranging from disability inclusion and public health to elections, sport, music and local journalism.
A decade celebrating community broadcasting
The Community Radio Awards were established in 2016, with the first ceremony held in Birmingham.
Ten years later, the city again hosted the national event, bringing together people working in the community radio sector across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The awards recognise the contribution of not-for-profit and community-focused radio services, including the work of the volunteers who sustain many stations.
Unlike awards focused exclusively on presenters or programme production, the Community Radio Awards also recognise training, community engagement, social inclusion, journalism and initiatives that make a measurable difference to the people stations serve.
The 2026 shortlist comprised 99 finalist entries across 20 categories.
The awards’ chair, Rebecca Steers, acknowledged the dedication of volunteers, staff and judges, and the creativity and community commitment demonstrated across the sector.
Headline sponsorship for the awards was provided by Aiir.
Radio LaB wins Station of the Year
Radio LaB, based at the University of Bedfordshire, was named Station of the Year in one of the ceremony’s highest-profile categories.
RNIB Connect Radio, which provides programming for people living with sight loss, received Silver, while Portsmouth-based Express FM took Bronze.
Radio LaB also received Gold in the Voices of the Community category for The Coeliac Shack, while RNIB Connect Radio secured Gold for The Jazz Club and additional awards for its specialist programming.
Elsewhere, Bro Radio received Gold for its Community Impact Project, Bro Radio Academy, and for Newcomer of the Year, awarded to Charley Greatrix.
These results illustrate the range of achievements celebrated, from major station recognition to individual contributions and projects serving particular communities.
Community Radio Awards 2026: Complete results and finalists
The following is the complete list of the 20 categories, including all Gold, Silver and Bronze recipients and the other shortlisted finalists.
The medal results were reported by RadioToday on Sunday 25 October, with the full shortlist taken from the Community Radio Awards’ official finalists announcement.
1. Station of the Year
Sponsored by Aiir
- Gold: Radio LaB 97.1FM
- Silver: RNIB Connect Radio
- Bronze: Express FM
- Finalist: Switch Radio
- Finalist: GTFM
2. Community Impact Project of the Year
Sponsored by Be Broadcast
- Gold: Bro Radio Academy, Bro Radio
- Silver: Stronger Routes to Better Health, Wythenshawe FM
- Bronze: YouthSPACE, Radio Skye
- Finalist: Blood Solidarity, ALL FM
- Finalist: Myths, Ghosts and Scorpions, Sheppey FM
3. Championing and Supporting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Sponsored by UK Community Radio Network
- Gold: Championing and Supporting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Vectis Radio
- Silver: The Rainbow Road: Etta Helfrich Interview, ALL FM
- Bronze: African Vibe with Richy Bongo, CHBN Radio
- Finalist: The Out of Our Shell Show, ALL FM
- Finalist: Hate Crime Awareness Week: Too Great For Hate, Wythenshawe FM
4. Voices of the Community Award
Sponsored by PPL
- Gold: The Coeliac Shack, Radio LaB
- Silver: St. Neots’ Prostate Cancer Campaign, Black Cat Radio
- Bronze: Youth Club Radio, Sunny Govan Radio
- Finalist: The Folkestone Radio Church, Radio Folkestone
- Finalist: Life on the Edge, Radio Woking
5. Presenter of the Year: Woman
Sponsored by Xperi
- Gold: Siva Gold, BCfm
- Silver: Natasha Reneaux, BFBS Aldershot
- Bronze: Amy Gray, Cambridge Radio
- Finalist: Amy Boyd, Chelmsford Community Radio
- Finalist: Lashana Camille, The Beat London
6. Presenter of the Year: Man
Sponsored by Xperi
- Gold: Iain Meadows, Radio Wester Ross
- Silver: John Reen, Maritime Radio
- Bronze: Jonny Seabrook, Mix 92.6
- Finalist: Patrick Foster, Academy FM
- Finalist: Ben Ellis, Switch Radio
7. Live Event or Outside Broadcast of the Year
Sponsored by CreatorNODE from Broadcast Bionics
- Gold: Live At The Open Royal Portrush, River Radio
- Silver: 26.2 Hour Live Music Marathon, ALL FM
- Bronze: Short Breaks Across The Solent, Vectis Radio
- Finalist: Bring Durham Pride To Everyone, Pride Radio
- Finalist: The International Shanty Festival, SourceFM
8. Entertainment Show of the Year
Sponsored by Broadcast Radio
- Gold: Christmas with the Children of Hertfordshire, Mix 92.6
- Silver: Rise and Shine, Hive FM
- Bronze: Mix Brunch, Mix 92.6
- Finalist: Wednesday Drivetime, Academy FM
- Finalist: Zowie and Dai, MônFM
9. Specialist Music Show of the Year
Sponsored by Promo Only
- Gold: The Jazz Club, RNIB Connect Radio
- Silver: Additions To My Collection, BCfm
- Bronze: South Coast Music Show, Voice FM
- Finalist: Sonar: Fantazia Special, Radio Saltire
- Finalist: Future Favourites with Ben Swift, Salford City Radio
10. Specialist Content Show of the Year
Sponsored by Fix Radio
- Gold: The Departure Lounge, Academy FM
- Silver: Tech Talk, RNIB Connect Radio
- Bronze: Read On: The Audiobook Show, RNIB Connect Radio
- Finalist: The Coeliac Shack, Radio LaB
- Finalist: A Cultural Journey with Toby Davey: The Churchill War Rooms, RNIB Connect Radio
11. News, Journalism and Factual Storytelling of the Year
Sponsored by RadioToday
- Gold: We Don’t Do That Here, BCfm & Ujima Radio
- Silver: Jamie McDonald, Radio Skye
- Bronze: Women in Wargaming, BFBS Salisbury Plain
- Finalist: Month of the Military Child, BFBS Aldershot
- Finalist: Storm Goretti Coverage, Coast FM
12. Arts and Creative Radio of the Year
Sponsored by Devaweb
- Gold: The Wandsworth Way, Riverside Radio
- Silver: Club Plastique, Wythenshawe FM
- Bronze: Yacht Rock, Caroline Coastal FM
- Finalist: Christmas Advent Calendar, City Sound Radio
- Finalist: City Sound Radio Pantomime, City Sound Radio
13. Sports Show of the Year
Sponsored by Viamux
- Gold: Match Night Live, Drive 105
- Silver: Saturday Afternoon Sport, Mix 92.6
- Bronze: The Rapha Report, Radio Skye
- Finalist: Sportsweek, Coast FM
- Finalist: Switch Radio Sport, Switch Radio
14. Volunteer of the Year
Sponsored by Radioplayer
- Gold: Elfyn Pritchard, MônFM
- Silver: Michelle Durant, Chelmsford Community Radio
- Bronze: Dr Sarah Waqquas, Awaz FM
- Finalist: Stephen Pendlebury, Salford City Radio
- Finalist: Zoe Gold, Sheppey FM
15. Young Person or People of the Year (Under 25)
Sponsored by Aiir
- Gold: Amy Boyd, Chelmsford Community Radio
- Silver: Josh Holmes-Bright, Caroline Coastal FM
- Bronze: Albert Lutkin, Humber Wave Radio
- Finalist: Steffan Huw, MônFM
- Finalist: YouthSPACE, Radio Skye
16. Sage Person of the Year (Over 60)
Sponsored by Hippynet
- Gold: Moz Walsh, ALL FM
- Silver: Ian Rothwell, Salford City Radio
- Bronze: Steve Whitley, Radio Tyneside
- Finalist: Paul James, Academy FM
- Finalist: Ian Day, Academy FM
17. Newcomer of the Year
Sponsored by Be Broadcast
- Gold: Charley Greatrix, Bro Radio
- Silver: Paul Glenn, Erewash Sound
- Bronze: Val Isaacs, Erewash Sound
- Finalist: Evan Harmes, Chelmsford Community Radio
- Finalist: Razvan Soare, Ujima Radio
18. Digital Content of the Year
Sponsored by Optimux
- Gold: Hope FM Player, Hope FM
- Silver: Radio Skye Facebook, Radio Skye
- Bronze: Digital Storytelling, BFBS Brize Norton
- Finalist: Daily Digital Footprint, Rutland & Stamford Sound
- Finalist: Pioneering Digital Content, Ujima Radio
19. Celebrating and Championing Community Radio of the Year
Sponsored by Community Radio Week
- Gold: Celebrating their 5th Birthday, Rutland & Stamford Sound
- Silver: Every Day is Local Radio Day, K107FM
- Bronze: 25 Years of WFM Documentary, Wythenshawe FM
- Finalist: Community Radio Day, CHAOS Radio
- Finalist: Making Sheppey Proud, Sheppey FM
20. Elections and Political Coverage of the Year
Sponsored by Radio NewsHub
- Gold: Wales Community Radio Network Election Coverage, WCRN & Bro Radio
- Silver: Stalemate Reforming Control of Oldham Council, Oldham Community Radio
- Bronze: No Overall Control at Huntingdonshire District Council, Black Cat Radio
- Finalist: Interview With St Albans MP Daisy Cooper, Mix 92.6
Special Honours Awards 2026
In addition to the competitive award categories, three people received Community Radio Awards Honours recognition in 2026.
- David Treharne
- Jenny Campbell
- Ali Beg
The Honours Awards recognise contributions to the community radio sector beyond the annual programme and presenter categories.
The importance of community radio
The 2026 finalists demonstrate the breadth of community radio in Britain, with nominations recognising programming for specialist audiences alongside news reporting, political coverage and local initiatives.
Projects dealing with public health, disability, community participation and young people featured alongside programmes covering music, sport and entertainment.
The results also underline the importance of volunteers, new broadcasters and experienced contributors.
With individual categories dedicated to newcomers, younger people, older presenters and volunteers, the awards recognise the people who sustain stations as well as the programmes they produce.
Community radio can provide opportunities for people to develop broadcasting skills, participate in local discussions and share stories that might otherwise receive little attention from larger broadcasters.
The annual awards offer national recognition for that work.
Community Radio Awards return in 2027
The organisers have confirmed that the Community Radio Awards will return to Birmingham on Saturday 23 October 2027.
The announcement follows the 2026 tenth-anniversary ceremony, which brought the event back to the city where the awards were first established.
Further information on future awards, categories and nominations will be available through the official Community Radio Awards website.
For the presenters, programme makers, volunteers and stations recognised this year, the 2026 results provide a national record of the contribution community broadcasters continue to make throughout the United Kingdom.
Watch: Community Radio Awards 2026 ceremony
The ceremony was broadcast live from Birmingham on Saturday 24 October 2026. The event recording can be watched below.
