Best of Show Winners, Arnold Worldwide
The best in radio and audio creative was honored at the 35th annual Radio Mercury Awards presentation at Sony Hall, where winners were recognized for excellence across broadcast radio, streaming audio, podcasts and integrated audio campaigns.
Celebrating 35 years as the only major creative competition dedicated exclusively to radio and audio, the awards honored work demonstrating the power of sound to move audiences, build brands and inspire creative innovation.
The evening’s top honor, Best of Show, went to Progressive Insurance/Arnold Worldwide for “Truckers Unite the World.”
“This evening is a celebration of the creativity, storytelling and innovation that continue to make radio and audio one of the most powerful mediums in advertising,” said Mike Hulvey, president and chief executive officer of RAB and chair of the Radio Creative Fund. “For 35 years, the Radio Mercury Awards have showcased the very best our industry has to offer — bold ideas, exceptional craft and creative work that proves the enduring ability of sound to connect with audiences in authentic, memorable ways. This year’s finalists and winners represent the very best in audio creativity.”
The 2026 competition was led by Chief Judge Danny Gonzalez, co-founder and co-chief creative officer of Bandits & Friends, and a panel of final-round judges representing agencies, brands and creative leaders from across the industry.
“This year’s judges were incredibly impressed by the caliber of the work,” Gonzalez said. “Across categories, the creativity was sharp, inventive and emotionally resonant, but what consistently stood apart was the writing — the craft of turning an idea into language that connects, compels and delivers. Great radio creative begins with great writing. It’s the foundation that gives sound its power, and it’s ultimately what made it clear to our final-round jury which work deserved to rise above the rest and earn Best of Show.”
Liberty Mutual Insurance was named 2026 Radio Marketer of the Year, recognizing the company’s long-term commitment to radio advertising and the creation of its well-known sonic brand asset, “Liberty, Liberty, Liberty, Liberty.”