The 2026 Marconi Radio Awards will be presented Tuesday night at New York’s Edison Ballroom, serving as the unofficial kickoff for NAB Show New York, a two-day conference that begins Oct. 21 at the Javits Center.
The event draws leaders from broadcasting, sports, streaming, technology and the creator economy for discussions centered on the business of media and the technologies shaping its future. The National Association of Broadcasters positions the gathering as a radio-focused meeting place following the end of its annual co-produced Radio Show with the Radio Advertising Bureau. This year’s edition again emphasizes technology and a broader, non-traditional approach to radio.
NAB Executive Vice President of Global Connections and Events Karen Chupka said attendees should leave with practical takeaways. “We want people to leave with more than a view of what’s changing,” she said. “They should understand where businesses are finding growth, which technologies can help them work smarter and who they need to connect with to move forward.”
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Sports programming also features prominently, reflecting the industry’s push to highlight over-the-air television as the preferred home for live play-by-play rather than subscription streaming services. Scheduled participants include FanDuel President Christian Genetski, New York Islanders co-owner Jon Ledecky and sports commentator Clay Travis, who will appear in conversation with NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt.
Organizers are positioning the event as a complement to the association’s larger spring NAB Show in Las Vegas, which continues to draw roughly half its pre-COVID attendance.