New Awards for the Australian Audio Industry

A new awards event for the Australian Audio Industry has been launched. The Australian Audio Awards will include recognition for both radio and podcast talent.

Mumbrella, in partnership with industry trade publications Radioinfo and RadioToday, will run the awards competition and event ceremony. Supported by the Game Changers Radio podcast and the Radio Rubber Room facebook group, the Awards will begin a new era of recognition for Australia’s audio industries.

An awards ceremony will take place on the closing night of Mumbrella360 at Carriageworks in Sydney, on Thursday May 28th, 2026.

Radio entries will be open to commercial broadcasters and the public sector, including the ABC, SBS and community broadcasters.

Podcast entries will be open to broadcast companies that publish podcasts, corporate podcast publishers and independent producers in two categories, Major and Independent.

RadioToday’s previous podcast awards will now become part of the new expanded audio awards.

Entries open soon.

Radioinfo and RadioToday publisher Steve Ahern will lead jury curation. Ahern said: “This is an opportunity for all the radio and podcasters sectors to celebrate our vibrant Australian Audio Industry. We are working together to support our industry with these awards, which will recognise talent, encourage creativity and provide benchmarks for success. The audio industry in this country has been successful because we compete hard, but also work together for the benefit of the whole industry. This is one of those times for us to work together.”

Mumbrella publisher Tim Burrowes, who co-presents the MediaLand show on ABC Radio National, along with the Mumbrellacast and Unmade podcasts, said: “The audio sector is the media industry’s most collegiate community, which is why we’re so happy to be partnering with the team at Radioinfo and RadioToday in putting this event together. The industry deserves the chance to come together to celebrate its success.”

Also joining the event as media supporters are the Game Changers Radio podcast and the Radio Rubber Room facebook group. Game Changers Radio offers weekly analysis of the audio industry from radio stalwarts Craig Bruce, Wade Kingsley and Irene Hulme. The facebook group is a forum, curated by David Rogerson, for radio professionals to share information and discuss industry issues.

Judging will take place in person in Sydney next year on the campus of awards supporter AFTRS.

The launch of the Australian Audio Awards follows the decision of industry body Commercial Radio + Audio to end the long-running Australian Commercial Radio Awards, which has given the Audio Industry an opportunity to reset its approach to awards recognition.

Award categories are:

RADIO

1. Best Breakfast Show
2. Best Local Show
3. Best Networked Show
4. Best Newcomer On Air
5. Best Newcomer Off Air
6. Best Salesperson or Team
7. Best Agency Audio Campaign
8. Best Station Promotion
9. Best Audio Producer
10. Best News Presenter/Reporter
11. Best Australian Music Show and/or Music Programmer
12. Best Non-Commercial Program
13. Best Specialist Program

PODCASTS

1. Best Branded Podcast
2. Best Children’s Entertainment Podcast
3. Best Comedy Podcast
4. Best Crime Podcast
5. Best Health & Wellness Podcast
6. Best Interview Podcast
7. Best Investigative Journalism Podcast
8. Best Money & Business Podcast
9. Best News & Current Affairs Podcast
10. Best New Podcast
11. Best Podcast Producer
12. Best Podcast Host/Presenter
13. Best Society & Culture Podcast
14. Best Sport Podcast