With 2026 comes another round of finalist announcements for the CBAA Community Broadcasting Awards, this year taking place at the CBAA Conference awards gala in Geelong on Saturday 24 October.
We’ll be posting finalist announcements on the CBAA Facebook page throughout next week according to the schedule below, and we’ll post a full list of finalists on our website on Friday 4 September, noting that the following three categories will be announced on the night:
- Community Broadcasting Honour Roll
- Tony Staley Award
- Michael Law Award
If you’re attending the conference make sure you’re registered for the Gala Dinner to see the awards in person, it’s a separate registration and cost so check in with ICMS at cbaaconf@icms.com.au if you didn’t opt in during registration.
And whether you’re among the finalists or not we’d like to thank you for your entry and wish you all the best for future awards seasons!
| Day | Category | Time (AEDT) |
| Monday 31/08/26 | Best Program: Music | 10am |
| Best Program: New | 12pm | |
| Best Program: News & Current Affairs | 2pm | |
| Best Program: Talks | 4pm | |
| Tuesday 1/09/26 | Excellence in Special Events & Outside Broadcasting | 10am |
| Excellence in Fundraising | 12pm | |
| Small Station of the Year | 2pm | |
| Excellence in Production | 4pm | |
| Wednesday 2/09/26 | Excellence in Australian Music | 10am |
| Excellence in Community Engagement | 12pm | |
| Excellence in Disability Content & Engagement | 2pm | |
| Excellence in Sponsorship | 4pm | |
| Thursday 3/09/26 | Excellence in Indigenous Content & Engagement | 10am |
| Excellence in Multicultural Content & Engagement | 12pm | |
| Outstanding Presenter | 2pm | |
| Outstanding Presenter News & Current Affairs | 4pm | |
| The Troy Garner Award – Best Program: Sports | 6pm | |
| Friday 04/09/26 | Outstanding Technical Contribution | 10am |
| The Jane Brownrigg Award – Outstanding Volunteer Contribution | 12pm | |
| Outstanding Youth Contribution | 2pm | |
| Outstanding Station Leadership | 4pm |