The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) announced the winners of its 2026 Marconi Radio Awards on Tuesday evening, recognizing outstanding radio stations, on-air personalities and industry executives during a ceremony at the Edison Ballroom in New York City.
The annual awards ceremony was held ahead of NAB Show New York, which opens Wednesday at the Javits Center.
Country station WIVK-FM (107.7 FM) in Knoxville, Tennessee received Legendary Station of the Year, while Julie Koehn of WLEN-FM (103.9 FM) in Adrian, Michigan was recognized as Legendary Radio Manager of the Year.
Boston’s WBMX-FM (104.1 FM) received two honors, winning Major Market Station of the Year and Major Market Personality of the Year for its morning radio personalities Karson and Kennedy.
Other station winners included WYXB-FM (105.7 FM) in Indianapolis for Large Market Station of the Year, WYCT-FM (98.7 FM) in Pensacola, Florida for Medium Market Station of the Year and KBHP-FM (101.1 FM) in Bemidji, Minnesota for Small Market Station of the Year.
“The Bob & Sheri Show,” associated with Beasley Media Group’s WKQC-FM (104.7 FM) in Charlotte, North Carolina received Network/Syndicated Personality of the Year.
Karen Dalessandro of KSLX-FM (100.7 FM) in Phoenix won Large Market Personality of the Year, while Ron Olson and Karen Perrin of WRVR-FM (104.5 FM) in Memphis received Medium Market Personality of the Year. Chris Lawrence of WCHS-AM (580 AM) in Charleston, West Virginia was named Small Market Personality of the Year.
The Marconi Awards also recognized stations across several programming formats: KBIG-FM (104.3 FM) in Los Angeles won Adult Contemporary Station of the Year, while KRBE-FM (104.1 FM) in Houston received Contemporary Hit Radio Station of the Year. WCBS-FM (101.1 FM) in New York was recognized as Classic Hits Station of the Year.
Other format winners included KKBQ-FM (92.9 FM) in Houston for Country Station of the Year, WSB-AM (750 AM) in Atlanta for News/Talk Station of the Year, WGTS-FM (91.9 FM) in Washington, D.C. for Religious Station of the Year and WIYY-FM (97.9 FM) in Baltimore for Rock Station of the Year.
KOVE-FM (106.5 FM) in Houston received Spanish Language Station of the Year, WEEI-FM (93.7 FM) in Boston won Sports Station of the Year and WHQT-FM (105.1 FM) in Miami received Urban Station of the Year.
WRRC-FM (107.7 FM) at Rider University in Lawrenceville, New Jersey won College Radio Station of the Year. Hubbard Broadcasting’s “Purple Daily,” associated with KSTP-AM (1500 AM) in St. Paul, Minnesota received Best Radio Podcast of the Year.
Separately, NAB presented its 2026 National Radio Award to Joel Oxley, the President and General Manager of Hubbard Radio Washington, D.C. Oxley was recognized for more than three decades of leadership in Washington-area radio, including his work developing WTOP and Federal News Network as local news and information services.
The ceremony was hosted by nationally syndicated radio personality Deja Vu of Compass Media Networks, with pre-recorded announcements provided by Philadelphia radio personality Matt Cord. Xperi served as title sponsor, with additional support from Quu and ENCO.
The full list of award winners is below:
AC Station of the Year
KBIG-FM, Los Angeles
Best Radio Podcast of the Year
“Purple Daily,” KSTP-AM, Hubbard Broadcasting, St. Paul, Minn.
CHR Station of the Year
KRBE-FM, Houston
Classic Hits Station of the Year
WCBS-FM, New York
College Radio Station of the Year
WRRC-FM, Rider University, Lawrenceville, N.J.
Country Station of the Year
KKBQ-FM, Houston
Large Market Personality of the Year
Karen Dalessandro, KSLX-FM, Phoenix
Large Market Station of the Year
WYXB-FM, Indianapolis
Legendary Radio Manager of the Year
Julie Koehn, WLEN-FM, Adrian, Mich.
Legendary Station of the Year
WIVK-FM, Knoxville, Tenn.
Major Market Personality of the Year
Karson and Kennedy, WBMX-FM, Boston
Major Market Station of the Year
WBMX-FM, Boston
Medium Market Personality of the Year
Ron Olson and Karen Perrin, WRVR-FM, Memphis, Tenn.
Medium Market Station of the Year
WYCT-FM, Pensacola, Fla.
Network/Syndicated Personality of the Year
The Bob & Sheri Show, WKQC-FM, Beasley Media Group, Charlotte, N.C.
News/Talk Station of the Year
WSB-AM, Atlanta
Religious Station of the Year
WGTS-FM, Washington, D.C.
Rock Station of the Year
WIYY-FM, Baltimore
Small Market Personality of the Year
Chris Lawrence, WCHS-AM, Charleston, W.Va.
Small Market Station of the Year
KBHP-FM, Bemidji, Minn.
Spanish Language Station of the Year
KOVE-FM, Houston
Sports Station of the Year
WEEI-FM, Boston
Urban Station of the Year
WHQT-FM, Miami
