2026 Radio Mercury Awards Winners Announced at 35th Annual Celebration

Liberty Mutual Insurance Recognized as 2026 Radio Marketer of the Year

NEW YORK, June 3, 2026 - The best in radio and audio creative was honored tonight as winners of the 2026 Radio Mercury Awards were announced during the 35th annual awards presentation at 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 evening's top honor, Best of Show, was awarded to Progressive Insurance/Arnold Worldwide for "Truckers Unite the World."


Best of Show Winners Sam Ike and Tom Kelly, Arnold Worldwide (Click for highres version)

"This evening is a celebration of the creativity, storytelling and innovation that continue to make radio and audio one of the most powerful mediums in advertising," said Mike Hulvey, president and chief executive officer of RAB and chair of the Radio Creative Fund. "For 35 years, the Radio Mercury Awards have showcased the very best our industry has to offer — bold ideas, exceptional craft and creative work that proves the enduring ability of sound to connect with audiences in authentic, memorable ways. This year's finalists and winners represent the very best in audio creativity."

The 2026 competition was led by Chief Judge Danny Gonzalez, co-founder and 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.

"This year's judges were incredibly impressed by the caliber of the work," Gonzalez said. "Across categories, the creativity was sharp, inventive and emotionally resonant, but what consistently stood apart was the writing — the craft of turning an idea into language that connects, compels and delivers. Great radio creative begins with great writing. It's the foundation that gives sound its power, and it's ultimately what made it clear to our final-round jury which work deserved to rise above the rest and earn Best of Show."

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 — "Liberty, Liberty, Liberty, Liberty."


Angela Yee and Jenna Lebel, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Marketer of the Year (Click for highres version)

On behalf of the radio industry, event emcee — nationally syndicated personality and host of 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 Radio - Radio One, Zimmer Radio and Marketing Group and Auditory FX.

Below is the list of the winning works. To listen to all the winners at tonight's ceremony, go to https://www.radiomercuryawards.com.

2026 Radio Mercury Awards Winners

Best of Show
Truckers Unite the World
Progressive Insurance
Arnold Worldwide


Single Spot: Promotional - Radio Station/Group/Network
WCCO_Deep State Fair
WCCO
Audacy Studios

Single Spot: Promotional - Radio Station/Group/Network
Swampazookeedooks
iHeartMedia
iHeartMedia Studio55

Single Spot: Locally Produced - Radio Station/Group/Network
Neighbor
Yutka Fence
Milwaukee Media Group

Single Spot: Radio Station/Group/Network
Kaitlyn Imani Whitaker
Virgin Voyages
iHeartMedia Studio55

Single Spot: Radio Station/Group/Network
Mulligan's
End of the World
Momentum Broadcasting

Campaign: Radio Station/Group/Network
Kid Free Sailing
Virgin Voyages
iHeartMedia Studio55

Campaign: Radio Station/Group/Network
Play It or Plunge It
Brian Wear Plumbing
Zimmer Communications

Student-Produced Script
Love Radio
Mercury Radio Awards
University of Kentucky

Single Spot: PSA/Purpose-Driven - Agency/Production Company/ Audio Company/Advertiser, Radio Station/Group/Network
Child Rescue Coalition: Letters from a Predator
Child Rescue Coalition
D&G

Single Spot: Locally Produced - Agency/Production Company/ Audio Company/Advertiser
All-Powerful Winner
Naskila Casino
Love Advertising

Single Spot: Agency/Production Company/Audio Company/Advertiser
Bench Press
Progressive Insurance
Arnold Worldwide

Single Spot: Agency/Production Company/Audio Company/Advertiser
Save the Everyday: Laura vs. Fruit Flies
Amazon
Amazon XCM

Campaign: Agency/Production Company/Audio Company/Advertiser
Bad Team Protection
Progressive Insurance
Arnold Worldwide

Campaign: Agency/Production Company/Audio Company/Advertiser
Imagine
Kimberly-Clark – Huggies
Mischief @ No Fixed Address

Single Spot: Spanish-Language - Agency/Production Company/ Audio Company/Advertiser
Insulin-Free Song
Avocados from Mexico
BeautifulBeast

Multi-Platform Campaign: Agency/Production Company/ Audio Company/Advertiser
It's The Dog Park
Progressive Insurance
Arnold Worldwide

Use of Radio/Audio Technology (Single Work): Agency/Production Company/Audio Company/Advertiser
Half Speed Radio
Rinse
Bandits & Friends

Use of Humor (Single Spot): Agency/Production Company/ Audio Company/Advertiser, Radio Station/Group/Network
Save The Everyday: Laura vs. Fruit Flies
Amazon
Amazon XCM

Use of Humor (Single Spot): Agency/Production Company/ Audio Company/Advertiser, Radio Station/Group/Network
French Press
Progressive Insurance
Arnold Worldwide

Use of Directing & Performance (Single Spot): Agency/ Production Company/Audio Company/Advertiser, Radio Station/ Group/Network
Duke's Country Song
Duke's Mayo
Familiar Creatures

Use of Songs or Music Use (Single Spot): Agency/Production Company/ Audio Company/Advertiser, Radio Station/Group/Network
Insulin-Free Song
Avocados from Mexico
BeautifulBeast

Use of Sound Design (Single Spot): Agency/Production Company/ Audio Company/Advertiser, Radio Station/Group/Network
Stay Awake Audio
Liberty Mutual Insurance
Bandits & Friends


To hear the winning work, visit Radio Mercury Awards.

About the Radio Mercury Awards
The Radio Mercury Awards, the only competition exclusively devoted to radio and audio, was established in 1992 to encourage and reward the development of effective and creative radio commercials. The annual Radio Mercury Awards competition draws entries from advertising agencies, production houses, radio stations and educational institutions across the country. Approximately 21,000 commercials have competed in the Radio Mercury Awards and close to $3.5 million in prizes have been awarded over the past 34 years. The Radio Creative Fund (RCF), a nonprofit corporation funded by the radio industry, governs the Radio Mercury Awards. RAB produces the Radio Mercury Awards.

Media Contact:
Press@RAB.com
Mercury@rab.com