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2026 in British radio

This is a list of events taking place in 2026 relating to radio in the United Kingdom.

Events

January

  • 1 January –
    • BBC Radio 4 celebrates the 75th anniversary of The Archers with a day of programmes and drama dedicated to the rural soap.[1] It includes a re-enactment of the opening scene of the first episode broadcast on 1 January 1951, the original episode having been lost.[2]
    • Radio X listeners have voted the Wolf Alice single "The Sofa" as their Record of the Year for 2025 in the station's annual poll of music for the year.[3]
  • 2 January – Tiffany Calver presents her final edition of BBC Radio 1Xtra's The Rap Show after seven years as its host.[4]
  • 6 January –
  • 12 January – Comedian Josh James joins Fix Radio as drivetime presenter. Previous hosts Rich and Trev move to Saturdays as part of changes to the weekend schedule.[9]
  • 15 January – Amol Rajan announces he is leaving his role as presenter of BBC Radio 4's The Today Programme to start his own company.[10]
  • 17 January – Daryl Robinson joins Fix Radio to present a Saturday morning programme.[11]
  • 19 January – Magic Radio hires Claire Sturgess to present the breakfast show on Mellow Magic, and announces that current presenter Jen Thomas will move to afternoons on Magic Musicals.[12]
  • 23 January – Cheshire's Mix 56 partners with Cadent Gas Distribution Network to promote its programme of community engagement across Cheshire.[13]
  • 24 January – Jazz FM presenter Helen Mayhew announces her retirement from broadcasting, with her final show airing on 30 January.[14]
  • 26 January –
    • BBC Radio 5 Live appoints Steffan Powell as permanent Breakfast co-presenter on Fridays and Sundays, and Rima Ahmed as co-presenter on Fridays.[15]
    • Magic unveils a new weekend schedule, which includes Rich Clarke presenting Saturday Breakfast.[16]
  • 29 January – It is announced that Alun Thomas has been hired by BBC Radio Cymru to present Post Prynhawn from Tuesdays to Fridays.[17]
  • 31 January – BBC Radio 2 repeats its 2022 programme Wogan: In His Own Words to mark the 10th anniversary of Sir Terry Wogan's death.[18]

February

  • 2 February – The Radio 2 Piano Room returns throughout February, beginning with Pulp on 2 February and ending with Jessie J on 26 February.[19]
  • 3 February – BBC Radio 6 Music announces plans to launch a streaming service on BBC Sounds dedicated to indie music from the 1980s to the 2010s.[20]
  • 4 February – Times Radio confirms a schedule refresh beginning later in February, which includes the addition of Jane Mulkerrins on Saturday afternoons and Ryan Tubridy on Sunday afternoons. They will replace Chloe Tilley and Alexis Conran.[21]
  • 5 February – Release of the RAJAR figures for the final quarter of 2025, which indicate that 50 million people in the UK are listening to radio on a weekly basis.[22]
  • 9 February –
    • Ofcom finds LBC in breach of its rules after broadcaster James O'Brien failed to properly contextualise an email from a listener during a discussion about the Gaza war in July 2025.[23]
    • Ofcom finds talkRADIO in breach of its regulations after a caller used the C-word during a mid-morning programme in September 2025.[24]
  • 10 February – Bauer Media Audio UK secures a three-month sponsorship deal with PG Tips for the brand to sponsor PopMaster on Greatest Hits Radio from the end of February.[25]
  • 12 February – The UK government begins a review of radio broadcasting beyond 2030 should the decision be made to switch off FM transmissions.[26]

Unknown

Station debuts

Terrestrial

Online

  • 31 January – 80s Heaven[28]

Small-scale multiplex switch-ons

  • 2 February – Bournemouth and Boscombe[29]
  • 3 February – Ayrshire and West Renfrewshire[30]

Closing this year

Programme debuts

  • 1 January – Tony Blackburn's Sounds of Soul on BBC Radio 2.[31]
  • 6 February – Classical Love Themes with Dawn O'Porter, a four-part series looking at love through classical music, on Classic FM.[32]
  • 12 February – Catholic Celebs, a monthly series presented by Edward Adoo, on Radio Maria England.[33]

Podcast debuts

Continuing radio programmes

These programmes are still running as of 2026. They are listed by the year they were first broadcast.

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

  • Frank Skinner's Poetry Podcast (started 2020)
  • Newscast (started 2020)
  • Sounds of the 90s (started 2020)
  • Life Changes (started 2021)
  • Romesh Ranganathan: For The Love of Hip Hop (started 2021)
  • The News Agents (started 2022)
  • Ten to the Top (started 2023)
  • Love Songs with Michael Ball (started 2024)
  • Radio 2's The Week-est Link (started 2024)

Ending this year

  • 28 February – America's Greatest Hits (2020)[38]

Deaths

See also

References

  1. ^ Martin, Roy (1 January 2026). "The Archers turns 75 with Radio 4 celebrations". Radio Today. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  2. ^ McIntosh, Steven (1 January 2026). "The Archers: Radio 4 drama's cast recreate first episode for 75th anniversary". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  3. ^ "Wolf Alice named Radio X record winner". Radio Today. 1 January 2026. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  4. ^ Gillibrand, Peter (2 January 2026). "Radio 1Xtra's first female Rap Show host leaves the station". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  5. ^ Jackson, Lucy (23 December 2025). "'We are angry': STV staff to go on strike in New Year over cuts and job losses". The National. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  6. ^ Martin, Roy (18 December 2025). "STV Radio confirms January launch and schedule". Radio Today. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  7. ^ Martin, Roy (6 January 2026). "STV promised a radio miracle in Scotland.. and delivered". Radio Today. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  8. ^ Martin, Roy (6 January 2026). "Bauer adds local news to Hits Radio UK in Scotland". Radio Today. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  9. ^ Martin, Roy (17 December 2025). "Fix Radio appoints Josh James for drive show". Radio Today. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  10. ^ McIntosh, Steven (15 January 2026). "Amol Rajan to leave Radio 4's Today programme to launch his own company". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  11. ^ Martin, Roy (4 December 2025). "Fix Radio adds Daryl Robinson as Saturday morning host". Radio Today. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  12. ^ Collins, Steve (19 January 2026). "Claire Sturgess to host weekday Mellow Magic Breakfast show". Radio Today. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  13. ^ Collins, Steve (23 January 2026). "Cheshire's Mix 56 partners with UK's largest gas distribution network". Radio Today. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  14. ^ D'Souza, Joe (24 January 2026). "Helen Mayhew to retire from Jazz FM". Rayo. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  15. ^ Martin, Roy (26 January 2026). "Permanent shows for Steffan Powell and Rima Ahmed at 5 Live". Radio Today. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  16. ^ Martin, Roy (26 January 2026). "Rich Clarke gets Saturday Breakfast at Magic". Radio Today. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  17. ^ Martin, Roy (29 January 2026). "Alun Thomas gets BBC Radio Cymru afternoon slot". Radio Today. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  18. ^ Collins, Steve (20 January 2026). "BBC Radio 2 to repeat Wogan tribute marking ten years since his death". Radio Today. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  19. ^ Martin, Roy (13 January 2026). "Radio 2 Piano Room month confirmed with 16 acts". Radio Today. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  20. ^ Martin, Roy (3 February 2026). "BBC announces plans for BBC Radio 6 Music "Indie"". Radio Today. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  21. ^ Martin, Roy (4 February 2026). "Times Radio shows for Jane Mulkerrins and Ryan Tubridy". Radio Today. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  22. ^ Martin, Roy (5 February 2026). "RAJAR Q4 2025 observations – 50 million are listening". Radio Today. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  23. ^ Martin, Roy (9 February 2026). "Ofcom resolves LBC issue over listener text message". Radio Today. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  24. ^ Martin, Roy (9 February 2026). "Talk in breach after radio guest drops a C-bomb before lunch". Radio Today. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  25. ^ Martin, Roy (10 February 2026). "PG Tips sponsors PopMaster on Greatest Hits Radio". Radio Today. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  26. ^ Martin, Roy (12 February 2026). "Future of FM radio to be reviewed again by Government". Radio Today. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  27. ^ "Britische Langwelle bleibt bis zum September 2026". www.radioeins.de (in German). Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  28. ^ Martin, Roy (14 January 2026). "New 80's Heaven station set for launch by Shaun Tilley". Radio Today. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  29. ^ Collins, Steve (2 February 2026). "Bournemouth small-scale DAB radio mux goes live". Radio Today. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  30. ^ Collins, Steve (3 February 2026). "North Ayrshire DAB network launches local multiplex". Radio Today. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  31. ^ Collins, Steve (27 November 2025). "Tony Blackburn launches new weekly soul show on BBC Sounds". Radio Today. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  32. ^ Martin, Roy (29 January 2026). "Classic FM launches Dawn O'Porter love series". Radio Today. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  33. ^ Martin, Roy (9 February 2026). "Catholic Celebs series launches on Radio Maria!". Radio Today. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  34. ^ Martin, Roy (6 February 2026). "Radio presenter Gemma Oaten hosts new podcast on a train". Radio Today. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  35. ^ Martin, Roy (5 February 2026). "BBC Studios launches tech podcast The Interface". Radio Today. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  36. ^ Martin, Roy (4 February 2026). "Alan Davies fronts new BBC Radio 4 podcast series". Radio Today. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  37. ^ Martin, Roy (9 February 2026). "Global launches twice weekly Formula 1 podcast". Radio Today. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  38. ^ Collins, Steve (3 February 2026). "Paul Gambaccini to finish America's Greatest Hits". Radio Today. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  39. ^ Bird, Daniel; Mutch, James (2 January 2026). "BBC Radio Merseyside founding member dies as tributes paid". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  40. ^ Whitehead, Andrew (25 January 2026). "Sir Mark Tully, the BBC's 'voice of India', dies aged 90". BBC News. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  41. ^ Bird, Daniel (29 January 2026). "BBC Radio 2 legend dies 'suddenly' as heartbroken friends issue tributes". The Mirror. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  42. ^ Martin, Roy (3 February 2026). "Former BBC and BFBS radio presenter Richard Nankivell dies". Radio Today. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  43. ^ Martin, Roy (6 February 2026). "Jersey radio presenter Phil Taylor dies at 62". Radio Today. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
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