The latest RAJAR figures for Q3 2026 have been released. We’ve been crunching the numbers and analysing the results to give you our expert overview of how the networks, brands and stations performed in the third quarter of this year.
Here are the highlights:
- A record 51.2 million adults, or 87% of the adult UK population, tune into radio each week – a 2% year on year increase and a new record high.
- Commercial Radio now has 8.9 million more listeners than the BBC.
- 30.8% of total listening is Online – up from 29.7% in Q3 2025, significantly ahead of AM/FM listening.
National Stations and Networks
The UK is still in love with Heart, as it remains the most listened to commercial radio brand in the UK, with an 8.2% share of all radio listening. The main network reaches 9.4 million listeners each week and the brand overall has a weekly reach of 13 million, up 1.5% since Q2 2026, that’s 22% of the UK population.
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 Siân reaches 2.7 million and has increased its reach, hours and share, year on year.
The Capital Network saw 4.1% and 2.4% increases in reach and hours respectively. Reach went up from 6,512,000 to 6,776,000 and total hours went from 34,175,000 to 34,981,000, compared to Q2 2026.
The other Global brands performed well too:
Smooth Brand (UK)’s weekly reach increased by 1.6% from Q2 2026, rising from 7,374,000 to 7,491,000 weekly listeners.
Classic FM remains composed with over 4 million listeners and average hours per listeners increased from 8.1 to 8.6, compared to Q2 2026.
It’s solid Gold at Gold Radio Network as its total listening hours rose by 13% quarter on quarter, to 12.5 million. The station’s reach remained steady with a 5% increase, compared to Q2 2026, now reaching 1.6 million listeners.
Bauer Media has also had a good set of results in Q3 2026:
The Absolute Network absolutely continues to engage listeners, with weekly reach up 1.9%, compared with Q2 2026. The network now attracts 5.5 million listeners each week and boasts 35.8 million total listening hours.
Ken Bruce and Zoe Ball have helped Greatest Hits Radio’s total hours to remain steady in Q3, with listeners now tuning in for a total of 56,938,000 hours each week.
Meanwhile, KISS has planted a smacker, recording a 29% year on year increase in weekly reach following its relaunch earlier this year, taking its audience to 1.7 million weekly listeners and 3.9 million listeners across the KISS Network.
The Magic Network is delivering some spellbinding results across the portfolio. The network is up 5.9% in hours, quarter on quarter, up from 17,901,000 in Q2 to 18,956,000 in Q3 2026. The national station is also up 4% in reach compared to the previous quarter, from 2,215,000 to 2,309,000 weekly listeners.
Elsewhere, the nation is calling and people are listening – Nation Broadcasting Group has experienced a strong quarter, with total listening hours jumping from 7,218,000 to 9,327,000, a 29.2% increase, quarter on quarter. Reach also climbed 37.9%, from 1,268,000 to 1,748,000 weekly listeners, compared to Q2 2026.
News and Talk stations
With so much going on in the world right now, news and talk stations have seen a positive uplift and people are listening for longer.
LBC Brand (UK) recorded a 2% increase in total hours, quarter on quarter, rising from 31,254,000 to 31,746,000. LBC (UK) also recorded a 3% increase in total hours this quarter, from 28,025,000 to 28,727,000.
Meanwhile, GB News has increased Great British average hours per listener from 7.4 to 8.7, compared to the survey in Q2 2026.
talkSPORT Network recorded its highest ever listening hours following its coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, achieving 24.9 million hours, up 8.4% year on year. Reach was also up by 4% to 3.4 million, compared to Q2 2026.
Digital Listening and Digital Only Stations
Online listening reached a record 30.8% of all radio listening in Q3 2026, up 1.1% year on year.
The rise in Smart Speakers accounted for 18.7% of listening, while websites and apps grew to 12.2% in Q3 2026.
Commercial Radio’s online listening share also increased, rising 0.6 % year on year to 34.1%, driven by growth in listening via websites and apps.
But how does all these translate to individual digital brands and stations?
The Heart Brand’s biggest success was Heart Love, reporting a 20% increase in listeners, compared to Q2 2026, up from 244,000 to 294,000, but there was also a massive 120% increase in total hours, quarter on quarter.
Heart Musicals is hitting the high notes with its show tunes – up 36% in total hours compared to the previous quarter, thanks to a jump in average listening hours from 2.0 to 3.2.
Of the decade’s stations, Heart 80s is the most popular with a weekly reach of 1.8 million, up 2% from Q2 2026. Average listening hours are also longer, giving the station a 5% increase in total hours, quarter on quarter.
Meanwhile, Capital XTRA Reloaded saw a 33.5% increase in total hours listened, up from 1,580,000 to 2,110,000 and a 7.8% increase in reach, from 527,000 to 568,000, compared to Q2 2026.
Classic FM Calm has remained as serene as a swan in Q3, increasing its reach by 30% to 0.47 million weekly listeners and hours were up 34%, compared to the previous quarter.
Mellow Magic is turning up the feel-good factor (this is a Heart tagline so we shouldn’t use it for Magic). The station’s reach soared by 14.3% from 406,000 to 464,000, quarter on quarter and total hours climbed by 15.5% from 1,591,000 to 1,837,000.
Absolute Radio’s main station and Absolute Radio 90s stood out for growth in total listening hours, quarter on quarter. Absolute Radio recorded a 10.7% increase, from 11,638,000 to 12,888,000 total hours, while Absolute Radio 90s grew by 13.1%, from 3,064,000 to 3,465,000 total hours, compared to Q2 2026.
Smooth Soul has really been connecting with listeners as its weekly reach increased by 39.7%, rising from 199,000 to 278,000 listeners – an increase of 79,000, quarter on quarter.
KISS Xtra had a strong quarter, achieving a 21% increase in weekly reach, from 248,000 to 301,000. Total hours also increased by 14%, going up from 737,000 to 843,000, compared to Q2 2026.
Finally for digital – out of all Radio X stations, Radio X Chilled saw the most significant growth in reach and hours. The station’s reach increased by 46% and total listening hours rose by an amazing 316% – up from 98,000 hours to 408,000 hours, quarter on quarter.
London
In our Capital city, Heart London still has the most weekly listeners at 1.8 million, and total listening hours are up 8% since the last survey.
London has 5 commercial stations that regularly deliver over a million listeners. The biggest increases in reach in Q3 were seen by Smooth London – up 13% to 1.0 million weekly listeners. Greatest Hits Radio London increased its reach in this quarter too – up 9% to 0.7 million. Hits Radio London is also a big hitter in the city, increasing its reach to 0.7 million, up 6% on the quarter and 26% year on year.
LBC London still has the highest overall listening share in London at 8% of listening with average hours per listener up to 11.9 per week from 10.9 in Q2 2026.
The biggest increases in listening hours came from Smooth Radio London, up 23% quarter on quarter with average hours per listener up to 5.1 per week from 4.7.
Magic London is still pulling it out of the hat – total hours are up 19% quarter on quarter, with average hours per listener also up from 4.7 to 5.1 per week.
Top 5 London Stations – Weekly Reach
| Station | Total Reach |
| Heart London | 1,833,000 |
| Capital London | 1,584,000 |
| LBC London | 1,325,000 |
| Smooth London | 1,015,000 |
| Magic London | 1,014,000 |
Top 5 London Stations – Total Listening Hours
| Station | Total Hours |
| LBC London | 15,773,000 |
| Heart London | 10,397,000 |
| Capital London | 7,779,000 |
| GHR (London) | 5,855,000 |
| Smooth (London) | 5,184,000 |
The Local Picture
Across the UK, there have been some strong local performances in Q3.
Hits Radio (Cornwall) really hit the spot this RAJAR with a huge increase in listening hours quarter on quarter, from 102,000 to 184,000 hours – that’s a pasty-popping 80% increase. Average hours listened per person also saw a big increase, almost doubling from 3.6 to 6.1 hours, compared to the previous quarter.
Going further North, the people of Black Country and Shropshire love their throwback hits! Greatest Hits Radio Black Country & Shropshire’s total hours rose by an outstanding 79% in Q3, increasing from 457,000 to 818,000.
It’s sister station, Greatest Hits Radio Peterborough Stamford & Rutland saw its total hours grow by 46.1% in Q3, increasing by 177,000 to 561,000.
Meanwhile, back in the South, Smooth Radio Solent’s weekly reach rose 26.0%, adding another 19,000 listeners – up from 73,000 to 92,000 weekly listeners, compared to Q2 2026. Total listening hours also grew 57.1%, from 338,000 to 531,000 – an increase of 193,000 hours, quarter on quarter.
In the East, Heart Cambridgeshire reported strong growth in Q2 2026 and has continued its success in Q3, with both reach and average hours higher. There was a 47% increase in total hours quarter on quarter, and the station now has 254,000 listeners tuning in for an average of 9.6 hours per week.
Capital Lancashire also had good results, with a 44.7% quarter on quarter increase in total hours listened, up from 584,000 to 845,000, and an 8.7% rise in reach from 104,000 to 113,000 weekly listeners, compared to Q2 2026.
Summary
The results from Q3 2026 show that listeners love commercial radio.
The entire radio industry continues to work hard to create engaging content that informs and entertains, whilst providing company to listeners.
This means that agencies and their advertisers have access to over 40 million pairs of ears each week to help them communicate both brand and direct response messages.
When the world is facing challenging times on all fronts, people turn to radio to stay in touch, so right now, there’s never been a better time for advertisers to use radio.
If you’d like to know more about the Q3 2026 RAJAR results or any other aspects of radio and digital audio advertising, please get in touch.
