The latest RAJAR figures for Q2 2026 have been released. We’ve trawled through the data and analysed the results to give you our expert overview of how the networks, brands and stations performed in the second quarter of the year.
Here are the highlights:
- A record 51.1 million adults, or 87% of the adult UK population, tune into radio each week.
- Commercial Radio now has 9.3 million more listeners than the BBC and has increased its share again.
- It’s Commercial Radio’s second highest ever reach.
- Online listening reaches 30.3% of adults each week, compared with 24.5% for AM and FM
National Stations and Networks
In Q2, Global reached 29 million weekly listeners and delivered 283 million listening hours, giving the company a 27.5% share of the UK radio market. It added 321,000 listeners during the quarter and retained the three largest commercial radio brands through Heart, Capital and Smooth.
Listeners are still in love with the Heart Brand – weekly reach increased by2.6% from 12,505,000 to 12,826,000, compared to Q1 this year. Heart Brand UK also delivered average hours of 6.5 hours per listener with total hours up by 2.7% from 80,888,000 to 83,064,000.
Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden now has 4.2 million weekly listeners and remains UK’s biggest commercial breakfast show.
Over at Bauer Media – The Greatest Hits Network (exc Partners) has shown steady growth this quarter with reach up 1.2% to 6.9 million listeners, whist hours are up by 2.2% to 65.4 million listeners. Listeners now tune in for an impressive 9.5 hours on average per week.
Absolute Radio Network is absolutely on track, growing its reach by 2.3% quarter on quarter, now reaching 5,398,000 listeners each week.
The Hits Radio Network (exc Partners) is still a hit with listeners, maintaining reach quarter on quarter with 6.5 million listeners, and its total hours increasing by 3% from 39.0 million to 40.1 million. Average hours per listener have also increased slightly from 6.0 to 6.1 hours.
Classic FM is staying composed, with reach up 3% to 4.3 million and hours up 4% to 34.6 million each week, with each listener tuning in for 8.1 hours on average. The Classic FM Breakfast Show presented by Dan Walker has also seen an increase, now reaching 1.93 million weekly listeners, up from 1.86 million, compared to Q1 2026.
KISS Network also had a strong RAJAR in Q2, with total hours increasing by 14%, from 16,521,000 to 18,805,000, alongside a 12% increase in weekly reach, from 3,349,000 to 3,738,000 listeners.
The Magic Brand has pulled a few tricks out of the hat, with Magic Classical working its spell again this quarter, with weekly reach up 16.9% from 136,000 to 159,000 – the highest growth across the Magic portfolio this RAJAR. Total hours for Magic Classical are also up this quarter, from 1,014,000 to 1,035,000.
News and Talk stations
News and talk have always been one of the big strengths of Commercial Radio and Q2 2026 was no exception.
LBC News (UK) saw a growth in both reach and hours this quarter, growing by 10.5% and 7.8% respectively. Its weekly reach increased from 1,084,000 to 1,198,000 and its total hours grew from 2,995,000 to 3,230,000.
LBC Brand (UK) also had a good quarter on quarter performance, with increases across in both weekly reach and total hours. Weekly reach is up 4%, from 3,557,000 to 3,688,000 listeners, whilst total hours increasing by 2%, from 30,803,000 to 31,254,000.
GB News is still making RAJAR headlines – weekly reach is up 8% from 676,000 to 731,000 and total hours are up 24% to 5.4 million a week, now delivering 7.4 hours per listener on average, up from 6.4 hours in Q1.
Times Radio’s reach is a sign of the times – up by 9% quarter on quarter from 604,000 to 660,000 weekly listeners and hours are also up 19% to 5.9 million each week. On average, each listener is tuned in for 8.9 hours, up from 8.2 hours in Q1.
talkSPORT has increased its fan base with an uplift in reach this quarter 3,321,000, up from 3,288,000 in Q1.
Digital Listening and Digital Only Stations
Overall, 45 million adults aged 15+ are now tuning in to all radio via a digitally enabled platform (DAB, DTV, Website/App, or Smart Speaker) and 77% of the population tune in to digital radio every week. In an average week, digital listening accounts for 786 million hours, within which, DAB has a 57% share of digital listening hours, Smart speaker 25%, Website/Apps 15%, and DTV 3%.
In Q2 2026, there have been some impressive individual digital radio performances:
In Scotland, brand new DAB station STV Radio achieved a reach 139,000 weekly listeners and a healthy 9.3 hours per listener per week in its first ever RAJAR survey.
It’s time to pull on the checked shirt as we celebrate Smooth Country increasing its weekly reach in Q2 by 34%, from 375,000 listeners per week to 501,000 listeners per week. Total hours increased by a ye haa-ing 95% from 1.8 million weekly hours to 3.6 million weekly hours. That means average hours per person went from 4.9 to 7.1 – that’s worth a knee-slap and a half!
Smooth Chill was chillaxed with the news that it has increased its hours by a massive 40% quarter on quarter. Total hours rose from 1.7 million total weekly hours to 2.4 million total weekly hours. That means average hours increased from 4.3 hours per person per week to 6.5 hours on average, compared to the previous quarter.
Radio X 90s Manchester pulled out the beany hats this RAJAR and increased its total hours by 19% – from 368,000 hours in Q1 to 437,000 hours in Q2.
Across the Absolute Radio portfolio, Absolute Radio 80s and Absolute Radio 70s delivered the strongest growth in listening hours. After a strong Q1, Absolute Radio 80s performed even better in Q2, increasing total hours by 11.7% from 8,178,000 to 9,132,000. Absolute Radio 70s also grew total hours by 8.9%, from 732,000 to 797,000.
KISS Xtra is the strongest performer in terms of total hours growth within the Kiss brand, achieving a 31% increase from 563,000 to 737,000 total hours compared to Q1 2026. Weekly reach also grew in Q2 – up by 5%, increasing from 236,000 to 248,000 weekly listeners.
KISS Dance busted some moves on the radio dance floor and was the standout performer for weekly reach growth across the KISS portfolio in Q2. It delivered a 31% increase from 59,000 to 77,000 weekly listeners. Total hours are also up by 7%, from 238,000 to 254,000.
All of the Heart decade stations bar one has shown growth in reach in Q2 – the standout station being Heart 90’s with a 20% uplift in weekly reach, climbing from 959,000 to 1,149,000 plus a 28% growth in total hours quarter on quarter – that’s 937,000 hours added, giving it an impressive 4,261,000 total hours.
London
Our capital city is where many of the battle of the radio brands take place and there have been some strong performances again in Q2 2026.
Heart London keeps the lead in reach this quarter with 1.9 million weekly listeners, while LBC also maintains its number one spot in total hours at a massive 15.3 million.
But the star of the show this quarter is National Radio London (Digital). Both its reach and hours have grown by over 20%, with its weekly reach increasing by 22.7%, from 88,000 to 108,000 listeners, and its total hours growing by 29.6% from 199,000 to 258,000.
Bauer’s continued investment in Greatest Hits Radio is delivering great numbers. Greatest Hits Radio London’s total hours have increased by 28.9%, from 3,982,000 in Q1 to 5,131,000 in Q2. Its weekly reach has also increased from 644,000 to 651,000 listeners.
Hits Radio London also had a strong survey period in Q2 with its hours increasing by 19.8%, growing by 314,000 to 1,899,000.
Gold Radio London’s reach is golden – it’s risen by 9% in Q2 compared to Q1. In terms of total listening hours, the station hours remained steady.
Top 5 London Stations – Weekly Reach
| Station | Q2 Total Reach |
| Heart London | 1,851,000 |
| Capita London | 1,613,000 |
| LBC London | 1,400,000 |
| Magic London | 981,000 |
| Smooth London | 895,000 |
Top 5 London Stations – Total Listening Hours
| Station | Q2 Total Hours |
| LBC London | 15,277,000 |
| Heart London | 9,619,000 |
| Capital London | 8,268,000 |
| GHR (London) | 5,131,000 |
| Magic (London) | 4,317,000 |
The Local Picture
There have been some strong performances this quarter by stations locally, across the UK.
Global’s Heart Cambridgeshire is punting above its weight. Hours are up in Q2 by 42% adding just shy of half a million, up from 1,166 million to 1,652 million, fuelled by growth in average hours, up 28% from 5.7 to 7.3 average hours per week per listener.
Smooth North West and Wales has had a great result in Q2, increasing its weekly reach by 36%, from 73,000 listeners per week to 99,000 listeners per week. This is on top of increasing its total weekly hours by 40% from 527,000 total weekly hours to 738,000. Each listener is now tuning in for an average of 7.4 hours per week.
Meanwhile, Bauer has had some real success locally too. The prize for most improved station goes to Hits Radio Swindon with a 100% increase in reach quarter on quarter and a 120% increase in total listening hours. Reach increased from 4,000 to 8,000 weekly listeners and total hours increased from 15,000 to 33,000 with average hours per listener increasing from 3.7 to 4.3.
There’s a special mention for Hits Radio North Yorkshire which saw a 90% increase in reach and 87% increase in total listening hours compared to Q1 2026. Total reach increased from 19,000 to 36,000 weekly listeners and total hours increased from 53,000 to 99,000.
Hits Radio Lancashire has cooked up a real hot pot in Q2 with ingredients that include a 74% increase in total hours from 452,000 to 786,000 quarter on quarter, with average listening hours increasing from 3.0 to 4.3 per listener.
And we complete the local picture with Greatest Hits Radio Peterborough Stamford & Rutland which added 40.9% more listeners in Q2 to now reach 62,000 weekly listeners – up from 44,000 in Q1 2026. Its total hours also increased by a massive 87.3%, growing from 205,000 to 384,000.
Summary
Overall, Q2 2026 was another solid period for Commercial Radio.
Listeners are staying engaged, thanks to a genuine breadth of programming. From news, talk and sport to a huge range of music styles and eras, Commercial Radio continues to evolve, attracting new audiences by giving people the content they want while building trust and loyalty.
Now’s the time to tap into these audiences and create radio advertising that delivers real value.
If you’d like to know more about the Q2 2026 RAJAR results or any other aspects of radio and digital audio advertising, please get in touch.
