The National Radio Festival 2026 contributes to promoting innovation.

The organizing committee presented the gold prize in the category of “Live Radio Broadcast” at the ceremony. During the event, the organizing committee awarded 23 gold prizes, 37 silver prizes, 71 bronze prizes, 60 consolation prizes, and 29 special prizes to winning authors in various competition categories, including live radio broadcasts, documentaries, investigative reports, thematic radio broadcasts, ethnic language radio broadcasts, and podcasts.

The festival, held from April 11 to 13, saw enthusiastic participation from 34 newspapers and radio stations and television stations across the country, two major press centers (the Military Radio and Television Center and the Department of Public Security Communication), 17 media units of the Voice of Vietnam, and eight major media units participating in the podcast competition.

The organizing committee received a total of 345 entries, including: 26 live radio broadcasts, 97 podcasts, 84 news and investigative reports, 49 ethnic language broadcasts, 40 thematic broadcasts, 28 award-winning vocal works, and 21 nominations for outstanding technicians. This year also marked the first appearance of podcasts as an official category at the 17th National Radio Festival in Quang Ninh 2026, a significant advancement for radio in the digital transformation of journalism. Not only does this enrich the genre, but it also reflects the evolving modes of communication with the public, whose information needs are increasingly flexible, personalized, and linked to digital platforms.

Andrew Davies, Director of Broadcasting at the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union and a jury member, praised the importance given to airing the voices of people with real-life experiences rather than just experts. This focus on life and people’s experiences is a key feature of podcasts compared to other media forms. Ngo Thieu Phong, Editor-in-Chief of VOV Online, the Vietnamese public radio, stated that the digital infrastructure is well-suited for radio broadcasting in the current context. The flexibility and appeal of podcasts to young audiences are clear, aligning with research showing their effectiveness in meeting the demands for radio content dissemination.

The festival offered a variety of engaging activities reflecting the unique identity of the region. For the first time, the opening ceremony was held outdoors, alongside the artistic program “Sounds of a New Era” on October 30 Square, attracting around 50,000 spectators. The closing ceremony and award presentation took place at the Provincial Planning, Exhibition, and Fair Center, as part of the OCOP Fair and the Provincial Gastronomic Festival of Quang Ninh. A photo and video competition themed “Quang Ninh: The Ambition to Rise with the Nation” and an exhibition showcasing the history of Vietnamese radio and journalism in Quang Ninh added to the festival’s vibrancy.

At the festival, newspapers, radio stations, and television stations from Hai Phong participated with 6 works in various genres such as live radio broadcasts, podcasts, documentaries, and competed in additional categories: “Golden Voice” and “Outstanding Technician.” As a result, the unit won four awards, including a gold medal for the show “Redefining Leadership Quality for the New Era” (live broadcast), a silver medal for the show “Hai Phong: Building a Society for the People” (special broadcast), and two bronze medals for the shows “Stolen Sleep” (news podcast) and “A Revolution is Necessary to Say No to Dangerous Food” (reporting, investigation). Additionally, journalist Huu Quynh (Editorial Department Secretary) received the award for best live radio presenter.

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/lien-hoan-phat-thanh-toan-quoc-2026-gop-phan-thuc-day-doi-moi-sang-tao-540429.html

Context: The article discusses the winners and highlights of the 17th National Radio Festival in Vietnam, emphasizing the growing importance of podcasts in the digital transformation of journalism. Fact Check: The content has been translated accurately, maintaining a neutral tone and focusing on the key details presented in the original article.