Winners Announced At Radio Mercury Awards
• The best in radio and audio creative were honored Wednesday evening as winners of the 2026 Radio Mercury Awards were announced during the 35th annual awards presentation at New York’s Sony Hall.
Celebrating 35 years as the only major creative competition dedicated exclusively to radio and audio, the Radio Mercury Awards recognized excellence across broadcast radio, streaming audio, podcasts and integrated audio campaigns, honoring work that demonstrates the power of sound to move audiences, build brands and inspire creative innovation across the marketing landscape.
The 2026 competition was led by Chief Judge Danny Gonzalez, Co-Founder/Co-Chief Creative Officer of Bandits & Friends, alongside an accomplished panel of final-round judges representing top agencies, brands and creative leaders from across the industry.
The evening’s top honor, “Best of Show,” was awarded to Progressive Insurance/Arnold Worldwide for the “Truckers Unite the World” campaign. Best of Show Winners Sam Ike and Tom Kelly of Arnold Worldwide (center), bookended by Chief Judge Danny Gonzalez and RAB Pres./CEO Mike Hulvey.
In addition to honoring outstanding creative achievement, Liberty Mutual Insurance was recognized as the 2026 Radio Marketer of the Year, celebrating the company’s sustained commitment to radio as a lead advertising medium and its creation of one of advertising’s most iconic sonic brand assets — (sing it!) “Liberty, Liberty, Liberty, Liberty.”
On behalf of the radio industry, event emcee Angela Yee (left), host of the nationally syndicated Way Up with Angela Yee presented the Radio Marketer of the Year award to Jenna Lebel, Chief Marketing Officer of US Retail Markets, accepting the honor on behalf of Liberty Mutual.
Along with Yee, additional presenters included on-air personalities Shelley Wade, afternoon host, Audacy’s New York City’s 94.7 The Block, Erik Zachary, host of Skyview Networks’ XYZ with Erik Zachary, and Anna Zap, co-host of Connoisseur Media’s nationally syndicated The Anna and Raven Show.
This year’s sponsors included livestream sponsor Hubbard Radio, Bonneville International, Katz Radio Group, Nueva Network, Xperi, Audacy, Cox Media Group, iHeartMedia, Nielsen, Skyview Networks, Triton Digital, Urban One/Radio One, Zimmer Radio & Marketing Group, and Auditory FX.
Listen to all the winners posted HERE.
