NAB Announces 2026 Marconi Radio Award Winners

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) announced the winners of the 2026 NAB Marconi Radio Awards Tuesday evening during a ceremony at the Edison Ballroom in New York City, recognizing outstanding radio stations, personalities and industry leaders from across the country.

Held on the eve of NAB Show New York, the annual celebration brought together broadcasters and executives to honor excellence in radio programming, leadership and community service.

Among the evening’s top honors, WIVK-FM in Knoxville, ), was named Legendary Station of the Year, while Julie Koehn of WLEN-FM in Adrian, MI, received Legendary Radio Manager of the Year.

“The Bob & Sheri Show,” based at Beasley Media Group’s WKQC-FM in Charlotte, NC, earned Network/Syndicated Personality of the Year.

In the personality categories, Karson and Kennedy of WBMX-FM Boston won Major Market Personality of the Year. Karen Dalessandro of KSLX-FM Phoenix received Large Market Personality honors, while Ron Olson and Karen Perrin of WRVR-FM Memphis were recognized in the Medium Market category. Chris Lawrence of WCHS-AM Charleston, WV, earned Small Market Personality of the Year.

WBMX-FM Boston was named Major Market Station of the Year, giving the station two awards for the evening. WYXB-FM Indianapolis received Large Market Station honors, WYCT-FM Pensacola, FL, won Medium Market Station of the Year, and KBHP-FM Bemidji, MN, was named Small Market Station of the Year.

The Best Radio Podcast award went to “Purple Daily” from Hubbard Broadcasting’s KSTP-AM in St. Paul, MN.

In the format categories, KBIG-FM Los Angeles was named AC Station of the Year, while KRBE-FM Houston won CHR Station of the Year. WCBS-FM New York earned Classic Hits honors, and KKBQ-FM Houston was recognized as Country Station of the Year.

WSB-AM Atlanta received News/Talk Station of the Year, WGTS-FM Washington, DC, won Religious Station of the Year, and WIYY-FM Baltimore earned Rock Station of the Year.

Additional format winners included KOVE-FM Houston for Spanish Language Station of the Year, WEEI-FM Boston for Sports Station of the Year, and WHQT-FM Miami for Urban Station of the Year. WRRC-FM at Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ, received College Radio Station of the Year.

The ceremony also honored Joel Oxley, President and General Manager of Hubbard Radio Washington, DC, with the 2026 NAB National Radio Award. Oxley was recognized for more than three decades of leadership and his contributions to the development of WTOP and Federal News Network as major sources of news and information in the Washington region.

Nationally syndicated personality Deja Vu of Compass Media Networks hosted the event, while Philadelphia radio veteran and Philadelphia 76ers public address announcer Matt Cord provided prerecorded announcements.

This year’s NAB Marconi Radio Award winners are:

Legendary Station of the Year – WIVK-FM, Knoxville, TN

Legendary Radio Manager of the Year – Julie Koehn, WLEN-FM, Adrian, MI

Network/Syndicated Personality of the Year – The Bob & Sheri Show, WKQC-FM, Beasley Media Group, Charlotte, NC

Major Market Personality of the Year – Karson and Kennedy, WBMX-FM, Boston

Large Market Personality of the Year – Karen Dalessandro, KSLX-FM, Phoenix

Medium Market Personality of the Year – Ron Olson and Karen Perrin, WRVR-FM, Memphis, TN

Small Market Personality of the Year – Chris Lawrence, WCHS-AM, Charleston, WVA

Major Market Station of the Year – WBMX-FM, Boston

Large Market Station of the Year – WYXB-FM, Indianapolis

Medium Market Station of the Year – WYCT-FM, Pensacola, FL

Small Market Station of the Year – KBHP-FM, Bemidji, MN