UK radio audience hits record 51 million in Q2 2026

RAJAR’s Q2 2026 survey (April 6 – June 28) shows weekly radio listenership in the United Kingdom reached an unprecedented 51.1 million adults, up by more than two million since 2022. The rise was driven by digital launches and spin‑off stations, with Times Radio attracting a record 660 000 weekly listeners (up 9 %) and GB News drawing 731 000 (up 8 %). TalkSPORT maintained its position as the leading sports network with 3.7 million listeners, while Virgin Radio UK logged 1.8 million weekly listeners. BBC Radio 2 remained the most popular station overall. New digital spin‑offs such as Radio 1 Dance, Radio 1 Anthems and Radio 3 Unwind also posted significant audience gains, reflecting a broader shift toward multi‑platform audio consumption.

The data underscores a robust growth period for UK radio, highlighting the success of both public‑service and commercial broadcasters in expanding their reach across traditional and digital platforms.