World Radio Day 2026 will center on the theme “Radio and Artificial Intelligence,” with UNESCO inviting broadcasters and audio creators worldwide to reflect on how AI is reshaping radio production, distribution and editorial practice. The slogan for World Radio Day 2026 is “AI is a tool, not a voice.”
Observed annually on Feb. 13, World Radio Day has become a global moment for public, commercial and community broadcasters, as well as podcast and digital audio producers, to examine radio’s evolving role. For 2026, UNESCO said the emphasis on AI reflects the rapid integration of these technologies into everyday audio workflows.
According to the organizers, artificial intelligence is now used across multiple stages of radio operations — from content production and audience analysis to accessibility tools and automation — raising both opportunities and challenges for the sector. UNESCO said the 2026 theme is intended to encourage informed discussion around innovation while also addressing questions of editorial responsibility, transparency and ethics.
Supportive multilingual media kit
More than 170 countries are expected to take part in World Radio Day 2026, with hundreds of stations and organizations planning special programming, debates and local events. Nearly 750 initiatives have already been registered globally, ranging from on-air discussions to workshops and collaborative projects focused on AI’s role in radio and audio media.
As part of the international campaign, RedTech, named by UNESCO as World Radio Day 2026 coordinator, has contributed a multilingual media kit to support broadcasters and audio professionals preparing content for the 2026 theme. The kit includes presentation materials, official slogans, visual assets, a set of practical ideas for on-air and off-air activities and an AI-focused roadmap tailored to radio use cases. The resources are available in multiple languages to support participation across different markets.
UNESCO is encouraging all radio and audio outlets — including FM, DAB+, webradio, podcast and streaming services — to register their World Radio Day activities. Registered participants gain access to additional materials and may be featured in UNESCO’s global World Radio Day 2026 report.
World Radio Day 2026 is both a celebration of radio’s continued relevance and a forum for examining how artificial intelligence can be applied responsibly in audio media.
You can find more details and register your station’s participation on UNESCO’s World Radio Day platform, here.
These stories might interest you
UNESCO names RedTech coordinator for World Radio Day 2026
