For 70 years, New York Festivals has been woven into the fabric of radio broadcasting’s award-winning history—celebrating the ideas, creativity, and people who have shaped our industry across generations.

From landmark audio such as The Hobbit, By J.R.R. Tolkien, Read by Andy Serkis  by HarperCollins Publishers, Macbeth  by Almost Tangible, World Cup 66 Live  by TBI Media, Sea of Lies  by CBC/What’s the Story Sounds, The Outlaw Ocean Podcast CBC/The LA Times, Bloodlines  by CBC Podcasts/BBC Asian Network/BBC Sounds, and Murder in Boston: The untold story of the Charles and Carol Stuart Shooting  by The Boston Globe/HBO, our international award-winning juries have guaranteed that New York Festivals maintains its place as a global stage for ideas that redefine what storytelling can be.

We have seen breakthrough storytelling in The Man Who Fell to Earth  by Bafflegab Productions, craft in Howlett Media Productions’ The Beatles' Legacy: Red and Blue, and Hamlet Noir  by Almost Tangible, cultural impact in Tested  by NPR/Bucket of Eels.  We have celebrated innovation in Uncuffed Season 4  by KALW Public Media, imagination in U.Me: The Musical  by Magnum Opus Broadcasting and enduring listener favorites such as 30 for 30 Podcasts  by ESPN and The Sounds of America  by Accompany Studios

These are not just programs. They are milestones in the evolution of our industry—work that has challenged conventions, shifted perspectives, and inspired generations of creatives world-wide.

While trends may come and go, excellence never goes out of style. Since 2011, we’ve recognized some of the driving forces in the broadcasting industry – hands-on leaders with a body of work that has made a lasting impression.  They include Ken Aagaard, Stephen Capus, Donna de Varona, David Hill, The Kalb Report, Greg MacGillivray, Geoffrey Mason, Albert Maysles, David Mazza, Seán McManus, The National Press Club, Tony Petitti, Connor Schell, Molly Solomon, Lesley Visser, and Susan Zirinsky. 

For the 2027 award season, we invite you and your organization to be part of that continuing history.

The audio landscape has changed dramatically. New platforms, new technologies, AI, new voices, and new ways of connecting with listeners are redefining what great audio storytelling sounds like. Yet one thing remains constant: great ideas deserve to be recognized.

New York Festivals was created to champion work that moves the industry forward—not simply the biggest names or biggest budgets, but the ideas that demonstrate originality, craft, courage, cultural relevance, and impact.

For seven decades, independent producers, stations, networks, production companies, innovators, and audio storytellers from around the world have entered their best work into New York Festivals. Their work has become part of our collective creative history.

We would like your work to be part of the next chapter.

If you believe that the work you and your teams are creating today deserves to be seen, debated, celebrated, and remembered, I hope you will participate in the 2027 New York Festivals Radio Awards.

The industry continues to evolve so does New York Festivals. Our commitment remains the same: to discover and celebrate the work that deserves to stand the test of time.

The 2027 competition is open now, and we invite you and your creative teams to join that continuing history.

We look forward to seeing what you create next.

Ellen Smyth
CEO
New York Festivals