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The National Association of Broadcasters has named the finalists for the 2026 NAB Marconi Radio Awards, which recognize U.S. radio stations, on-air personalities, managers and podcasts across 24 categories. NAB announced the shortlist during a livestream hosted by Toby Knapp and Chilli Amar, co-hosts of “Toby + Chilli in the Morning” on 97.1 WASH-FM in Washington, D.C.
NAB will reveal the winners during an awards dinner sponsored by Xperi on Oct. 20 at the Edison Ballroom in New York City. The event takes place the evening before NAB Show New York opens at the Javits Center for its Oct. 21–22 run.
Established in 1989, the awards take their name from Italian inventor and Nobel Prize winner Guglielmo Marconi, whose work helped establish practical long-distance radio communication. An independent group of broadcasters selects the finalists, according to NAB.
The 2026 finalists are:
- Legendary Station of the Year — KFI-AM, Los Angeles, CA; WCBS-FM, New York, NY; WIVK-FM, Knoxville, TN; WJR-AM, Detroit, MI; WLW-AM, Cincinnati, OH
- Legendary Radio Manager of the Year — Joey Cummings, South Seas Broadcasting Inc., Pago Pago, AS; Tery Garras, KXLY-FM, Spokane, WA; Julie Koehn, WLEN-FM, Adrian, MI; Mitch Rosen, WSCR-AM, Chicago, IL; David Yadgaroff, Audacy, Philadelphia, PA
- Network/Syndicated Personality of the Year — “Anna & Raven,” WEZN-FM, Cumulus, Metro Fairfield, CT; “El Free Guey Show,” TelevisaUnivision, Houston, TX; Ryan Fox, Westwood One, Dallas, TX; Ryan Seacrest, Premiere Radio Networks Inc., Los Angeles, CA; “The Bob & Sheri Show,” WKQC-FM, Beasley, Charlotte, NC
- Major Market Personality of the Year — “The Andie Summers Show,” WXTU-FM, Philadelphia, PA; Ellen K, KOST-FM, Los Angeles, CA; Patty Jackson, WDAS-FM, Philadelphia, PA; “Karson and Kennedy,” WBMX-FM, Boston, MA; “Riggs, Katelyn & Erica,” KKBQ-FM, Houston, TX
- Large Market Personality of the Year — Paul Castronovo, WBGG-FM, Miami, FL; Rebecca Cressman, KSFI-FM, Salt Lake City, UT; Karen Dalessandro, KSLX-FM, Phoenix, AZ; “Heather & Matty,” WWLI-FM, Providence, RI; “Justin, Scott and Spiegel,” WIYY-FM, Baltimore, MD
- Medium Market Personality of the Year — “The Blake Show with Kelly and Todd,” WMGX-FM, Portland, ME; Buzz Jackson, KIIM-FM, Tucson, AZ; “Joe & Tina Mornings,” WZSR-FM, Crystal Lake, IL; “Ron Olson and Karen Perrin,” WRVR-FM, Memphis, TN; “Ben Davis & Kelly K,” WDJX-FM, Louisville, KY
- Small Market Personality of the Year — “The Cosmo & Kat Show,” KTXY-FM, Columbia, MO; Chris Lawrence, WCHS-AM, Charleston, WV; Ian Rambo, KQRQ-FM, Rapid City, SD; “The Ryan Smetzer Show,” WIKZ-FM, Hagerstown, MD; “Stafford and Frigo,” KDXY-FM, Jonesboro, AR
- Major Market Station of the Year — WBEB-FM, Philadelphia, PA; WBMX-FM, Boston, MA; WCBS-FM, New York, NY; WSCR-AM, Chicago, IL; WTMX-FM, Chicago, IL
- Large Market Station of the Year — KTMY-FM, Saint Paul, MN; WALK-FM, Long Island, NY; WHQG-FM, Milwaukee, WI; WWRM-FM, Tampa, FL; WYXB-FM, Indianapolis, IN
- Medium Market Station of the Year — WBTJ-FM, Richmond, VA; WHBC-AM, Canton, OH; WMFS-FM, Memphis, TN; WPOR-FM, Portland, ME; WYCT-FM, Pensacola, FL
- Small Market Station of the Year — KBHP-FM, Bemidji, MN; KMMX-FM, Lubbock, TX; KNDE-FM, College Station, TX; WIOG-FM, Saginaw, MI; WYOT-FM, Rochelle, IL
- Adult Contemporary Station of the Year — KBIG-FM, Los Angeles, CA; KRWM-FM, Seattle, WA; KSTP-FM, Minneapolis-Saint Paul, MN; KUIC-FM, San Francisco, CA; WKJY-FM, Long Island, NY
- Best Radio Podcast of the Year — “Flying Through Fog: A Podcast for PANS/PANDAS Caregivers,” WTRC-FM, South Bend, IN; “Purple Daily,” KSTP-AM, Saint Paul, MN; “Supporting Sobriety,” WIBC-FM, Indianapolis, IN; “The Install with Greg Cosell,” WGFX-FM, Nashville, TN; “Uinta Triangle,” KSL-FM, Salt Lake City, UT
- CHR Station of the Year — KNDE-FM, College Station, TX; KQMV-FM, Seattle, WA; KRBE-FM, Houston, TX; KTXY-FM, Columbia, MO; WBLI-FM, Long Island, NY
- Classic Hits Station of the Year — KONO-FM, San Antonio, TX; KOOL-FM, Phoenix, AZ; WCBS-FM, New York, NY; WGTZ-FM, Dayton, OH; WSRV-FM, Atlanta, GA
- College Station of the Year — WHPC-FM, Nassau Community College, Garden City, NY; WMSC-FM, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ; WOLF Radio, University of West Georgia, Carrollton, GA; WRRC-FM, Rider University, Lawrenceville, NJ; WSOU-FM, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ
- Country Station of the Year — KCLR-FM, Columbia, MO; KFGE-FM, Lincoln, NE; KIKV-FM, Alexandria, MN; KKBQ-FM, Houston, TX; WUSY-FM, Chattanooga, TN
- News/Talk Station of the Year — KFI-AM, Los Angeles, CA; KXL-FM, Portland, OR; WHPT-FM, Tampa, FL; WLW-AM, Cincinnati, OH; WSB-AM, Atlanta, GA
- Religious Station of the Year — WFMV-AM, Columbia, SC; WGTS-FM, Washington, D.C.; WJOU-FM, Huntsville, AL; WLVU-FM, Nashville, TN; WMCA-AM, New York, NY
- Rock Station of the Year — WIIL-FM, Chicago, IL; WIYY-FM, Baltimore, MD; WNCX-FM, Cleveland, OH; WPLR-FM, New Haven, CT; WXTB-FM, Tampa, FL
- Spanish Language Station of the Year — KOVE-FM, Houston, TX; WAMR-FM, Miami, FL; WLZL-FM, Washington, D.C.; WZTU-FM, Miami, FL
- Sports Station of the Year — KTCK-FM, Dallas, TX; WEEI-FM, Boston, MA; WGFX-FM, Nashville, TN; WIP-FM, Philadelphia, PA; WJOX-FM, Birmingham, AL
- Urban Station of the Year — WCFB-FM, Orlando, FL; WDAS-FM, Philadelphia, PA; WDZZ-FM, Flint, MI; WEDR-FM, Miami, FL; WHQT-FM, Miami, FL
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