UK radio listening has reached a new record in RAJAR Q3 2026, with 51 million people listening each week, up 2% year on year, according to RadioToday. Global puts the all-time high at 51.2 million adults a week, or 87% of the population, with listeners tuning in for more than 20 hours a week on average.
Digital listening continued to rise in RAJAR Q3 2026. Online listening increased to 30.8% of total listening, up from 29.7% in Q3 2025, ahead of AM/FM listening at 23.6%. Smart speakers accounted for 18.7% of all radio listening.
Radiocentre chief executive Matt Payton said: “Radio’s record-breaking reach proves that audio remains an essential part of daily life for millions of people across the UK.” The BBC’s combined market share fell from 42.6% to 41.9%, although its weekly audience remained broadly stable at just over 31 million.
RAJAR Q3 2026 at a glance
| Measure | RAJAR Q3 2026 | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Total weekly listeners | 51 million (51.2 million adults, Global) | Up 2% year on year; a record |
| Online share of listening | 30.8% | Up from 29.7% in Q3 2025 |
| AM/FM share of listening | 23.6% | Below online listening |
| Smart-speaker share | 18.7% | Of all radio listening |
| BBC combined share | 41.9% | Down from 42.6% |
| Commercial radio share | 56% | Up 1.1 percentage points quarter on quarter |
BBC stations in RAJAR Q3 2026
BBC Radio 2 remains the UK’s most listened-to individual radio station, with 12.7 million weekly listeners, up 2% on the quarter. Vernon Kay continues to host the UK’s most listened-to radio programme, on BBC Radio 2, reaching 6.8 million weekly listeners, while Sara Cox’s new Radio 2 Breakfast Show, which launched during the survey period, reaches 6.4 million listeners.
BBC Radio 1 has 8.23 million listeners across the brand, with Greg James attracting 4.12 million for Radio 1’s Breakfast Show. BBC Radio 4 remains the UK’s most listened-to speech radio station, with 8.7 million weekly listeners, while the Today programme reaches 5.5 million. BBC Radio 3 has increased its audience by 9% year on year to almost two million weekly listeners, and BBC Radio 6 Music reaches 2.6 million weekly listeners, with Nick Grimshaw’s Breakfast Show attracting 1.3 million.
BBC Local Radio in England saw weekly reach decline from 4.690 million to 4.425 million, a fall of 5.7%, although total listening hours increased slightly from 32.5 million to 32.6 million.
Commercial radio: Global and Bauer
Global reported record listening hours, with its portfolio reaching 29.1 million weekly listeners and 289 million listening hours, and a market share of 28%. Heart remains the UK’s biggest radio brand, with more than 13 million weekly listeners, 355,000 ahead of BBC Radio 2. Capital has increased its audience to 9.1 million, more than 1.5 million ahead of the BBC Radio 1 brand, and Smooth reaches 7.5 million listeners nationally.
Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden remains the UK’s biggest commercial breakfast show, with four million weekly listeners, while Capital Breakfast with Jordan, Chris and Sian reaches 2.7 million. LBC News has increased its weekly reach by 7.2% year on year to 1.1 million.
Bauer Media Audio UK reported a combined weekly audience of 22.9 million across its stations and partners. The Hits Radio Portfolio reaches 12.2 million weekly listeners, rising to 14.5 million with partner stations, while Greatest Hits Radio has an audience of 6.8 million. KISS has recorded a 29% year-on-year increase in weekly reach following its relaunch, taking its audience to 1.7 million.
Nation Broadcasting grew from 1.268 million to 1.748 million weekly listeners, with total listening hours increasing 29% to 9.3 million. News Broadcasting reported 6.5 million weekly listeners across its portfolio, generating 43.8 million listening hours, with the talkSPORT Network recording its highest-ever listening hours after its coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The RAJAR Q3 2026 result comes on a day when other UK economic data also pointed to recovery, including UK vehicle production in September 2026, which jumped as factories rebounded from a cyber-hit year.
Frequently asked questions about RAJAR Q3 2026
How many people listen to UK radio each week in RAJAR Q3 2026?
Total weekly listening stood at 51 million people, up 2% year on year, setting a new record for the medium. Global reports 51.2 million adults a week, or 87% of the population.
What is the most listened-to radio station in the UK?
BBC Radio 2, with 12.7 million weekly listeners in RAJAR Q3 2026. Heart is the biggest radio brand overall, with more than 13 million weekly listeners.
How much radio listening is digital?
Online listening was 30.8% of total listening in RAJAR Q3 2026, up from 29.7% in Q3 2025, while smart speakers accounted for 18.7% of all radio listening.
