IMRO Radio Awards 2026 Winners: Today FM and RTÉ Lead the Field

RTÉ Radio 1 secured 24 accolades at the IMRO Radio Awards 2026, leading all broadcast networks at the annual ceremony held at the Lyrath Estate Hotel in Co Kilkenny, rte.ie reported. The station claimed seven gold, nine silver, and eight bronze awards during the event, which was hosted by presenter Dermot Whelan and evaluated by a 12-member Radio Awards Committee representing sectors across the country. Today FM claimed the title of National Station of the Year while collecting 11 total awards across the 42 categories presented on the night, rte.ie reported. Shannonside Northern Sound captured Local Station of the Year, and SPIN 1038 was named Music Station of the Year. In contrast to RTÉ Radio 1’s sweep of speech and news categories, regional and independent networks secured top honors in targeted music and local programming fields. Regional Stations and Nominees Compete Across Categories

Radio Kerry entered the ceremony with 12 nominations, representing the highest tally for any local or regional broadcaster at the 2026 event, radiokerry.ie reported. The station’s nominated entries included Kaya Flynn’s Travels Through a Kingdom: Forever 19 and Joe McGill’s The Saturday Supplement: Courage in the Magazine Programme category, alongside coverage of the Kerry CAMHS Scandal by Radio Kerry News in the News Story category. South East Radio secured Gold in the Best Current Affairs Programme (Local/Regional) category for Morning Mix, presented by Alan Corcoran and produced by Lucinda Kelly, southeastradio.ie reported. The Wexford-based programme triumphed after receiving four total nominations, which also covered the Specialist Speech Programme, Podcast, and Magazine Programme categories. Individual Broadcasters and Specialty Programming Recognized

Justin McCarthy of RTÉ Radio 1 won News Broadcaster of the Year, rte.ie reported, followed by BBC Radio Ulster’s Richard Morgan taking silver and RTÉ’s Sarah McInerney securing bronze. RTÉ Radio 1 also swept the News Reporter of the Year category, where Brian O’Connell placed first ahead of his colleague Barry Lenihan. Drivetime won Current Affairs Programme of the Year for RTÉ Radio 1, while Brenda Fricker’s appearance on the Brendan O’Connor programme was voted Radio Moment of the Year. SPIN 1038’s Emma Nolan was named Music and Entertainment Presenter of the Year, and 98FM’s Leanne Hanafin received Radio DJ of the Year, according to rte.ie. Newstalk claimed multiple honors, including John Duggan taking gold for Sports Broadcaster of the Year and Off the Ball winning gold in the Sports Programme category. Dublin’s Q102 took the Local/Regional sports programme award for Dublin Sport Today. Additional winners included Midlands 103’s Breakfast at the Ploughing for Breakfast Show of the Year, iRadio’s Mícheál, Shane & Ella for General Music Programme, East Coast FM’s Jamie Ryan as Newcomer of the Year, and Clare FM’s The Hidden Disability for Documentary. Four Broadcasters Inducted Into Hall of Fame

Marty Whelan of RTÉ Lyric FM, Michael Crawley of LMFM, Teena Gates of Bauer Media Ireland, and Helen Ní Shé of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta were inducted into the IMRO Radio Awards Hall of Fame, receiving a rousing welcome from attendees at the Kilkenny venue, rte.ie reported. Meanwhile, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta secured three gold awards in the Drama, Craoltóireacht Le Gaeilge, and Specialist Music Broadcaster of the Year categories. RTÉ Lyric FM and RTÉ 2FM each collected one gold, one silver, and one bronze award.