Fifty nominees are on the ballot. Twenty will earn induction into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026.
What We Know: Voting opened Friday, July 24, and runs through midnight on August 10, 2026. Eligible voting members cast their ballots at TRHOF.net. This year’s field includes two newer recognition categories — Small Markets, Big Voices and Lone Star Legacies — both of which drew strong nominations. The induction ceremony takes place November 7 at the Texas Broadcast Museum in Kilgore.
What’s at Stake: Over 160 broadcast professionals with Texas radio ties entered the nomination process. An internal review committee narrowed that field to 50 finalists. Voting members now determine who among those 50 earns permanent recognition. The stakes are real — Hall of Fame status carries lasting legacy in a state with one of the country’s most storied radio traditions.
What Remains Unclear: No inductee announcement date has been confirmed beyond the November 7 ceremony. Additionally, the organization has not yet disclosed whether the Lone Star Legacies category carries a separate cap on inductees versus the broader 20-person class.
What It Means: The expanded nominee categories signal a conscious effort to broaden the Hall’s reach beyond major Texas markets. Smaller-market broadcasters are gaining visibility they haven’t historically received. That shift matters — it reframes what Hall of Fame recognition looks like in a state as diverse as Texas radio itself.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
David Hill serves as a Music Radio Editor, Columnist and Features writer for Barrett Media. A radio lifer with more than 30 years behind the mic, in the control room, and in the program director’s chair, David’s career spans influential stops at brands such as WIYY 98 Rock, WBAL-AM, and 99X. He has worked across multiple formats and ownership groups, including iHeartMedia and Cumulus Media, developing talent, breaking music, and navigating every major industry shift from diary to PPM and terrestrial dominance to streaming disruption. When he’s not writing or analyzing the industry, Dave runs The Tune Farm, a marketing firm built to help artists and brands grow audience the same way great radio always has—by creating connection, not just impressions. He can be reached at David@BarrettMedia.com.