New York Festivals opens 2027 Radio Awards with new podcast categories

New York Festivals has opened entries for its 2027 Radio Awards, which mark 70 years of audio storytelling recognition and add new Crime Drama Podcast and Kids & Family Podcast categories. The competition closes Jan. 31, 2027, and continues its National Press Club partnership to spotlight top news coverage and journalism podcasts.

Why it matters: - The 2027 Radio Awards expands recognition for audio creators as podcasting, digital audio and other formats keep reshaping the industry. - The competition also keeps a spotlight on news and journalism work through the National Press Club Award. - Winning entries will be featured in the Radio Awards Winners’ Showcase.

What happened: - New York Festivals opened entries for the 2027 Radio Awards on Sept. 9, 2026. - The competition celebrates 70 years of creative excellence in audio storytelling. - The awards program includes 14 category groups across news, documentaries, talk, on-air talent, craft, entertainment, digital, podcast, audio book, programming formats and promotion/open & ID. - New category groups for 2027 include Crime Drama Podcast and Kids & Family Podcast. - Updated categories include Kids & Family Audio Book and Kids & Family Program. - The entry deadline is Jan. 31, 2027. - Eligible entries must have been produced, released, screened, aired, published, issued or streamed between Jan. 1, 2026, and Jan. 31, 2027. - Entries cannot have won a trophy in the same category for the same episode in the 2026 Radio Awards.

The details: - The competition welcomes entries from radio stations, networks, independent producers, publishers and podcast creators in more than 30 countries. - Entries are judged on creativity, production quality, writing, direction, content presentation, effectiveness and audience relevance. - New York Festivals is inviting accomplished award-winning audio leaders from six continents to join the 2027 Grand Jury. - Jury invitations will be sent in the coming weeks. - The Radio Awards have honored work across genres and platforms since 1957. - The awards continue to recognize the ideas, talent and storytelling shaping the future of audio. - The company highlighted the 2026 Grand Tower Award winners: Sea of Lies from CBC / What’s the Story Sounds in Narrative/Documentary Podcast; Uncuffed Season 4 from KALW Public Media in Social Issues Documentary; and Wolf Valley from Almost Tangible in Entertainment: Drama Program. - The 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award went to Stephen Capus, president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and former president of NBC News. - Through its National Press Club partnership, New York Festivals recognizes the top-scoring news program in Breaking News Story Coverage, Continuing News Story Coverage, Nonfiction Series and News Podcast. - Dear Rachelle from News Corp Australia/True Crime Australia won the 2026 National Press Club Award for Investigative Journalism Podcast. - The 2026 Radio Awards winners were announced at the Storytellers Gala on May 21 at 6 p.m. EDT. - The virtual gala was anchored from Central Park in New York City. - More than 150 teams sent acceptances from around the world. - More information is available in the 2027 Radio Awards categories and the 2026 Storytellers Gala.

Between the lines: - The new category mix signals where audio competition is moving: toward serialized fiction, family programming and platform-specific podcast work. - The continued National Press Club partnership suggests New York Festivals wants to keep news credibility central even as entertainment formats grow. - The focus on worldwide entries and a six-continent jury underscores the competition’s global positioning.

What's next: - New York Festivals will send Grand Jury invitations in the coming weeks. - All winning 2027 entries will be added to the Winners’ Showcase after results are announced. - Creators have until Jan. 31, 2027, to submit eligible work through the competition site.