Irish radio advertising revenue increased by 4.3% in the third quarter of 2026, marking a strong performance for the sector, according to the latest figures released by Radiocentre Ireland.
The positive third-quarter performance brings total advertising revenue for January to September 2026 to €118.1 million, an increase of 1.5% compared with the same period in 2025.
The results highlight growing momentum across Irish radio, with both media agency and direct advertiser revenues increasing, alongside continued strong growth in digital audio and branded content.
Digital audio continues impressive growth
Digital audio remains the fastest-growing revenue category for Irish radio broadcasters, increasing by 28.1% to €7.3 million during the first nine months of 2026.
Revenue from digital audio advertising placed through media agencies increased by 26.0%, while direct digital audio revenue grew by 36.1%.
The figures demonstrate the growing commercial importance of digital audio as Irish radio broadcasters continue to expand their advertising opportunities across broadcast and digital platforms.
Digital audio figures relate exclusively to revenue generated by Irish radio broadcasters and exclude global audio platforms.
Branded content and direct advertising also perform strongly
Branded content, including sponsorships, partnerships and integrated content solutions, increased by 4.7% to €23.3 million, with agency investment in branded content growing by 7.5%.
Direct advertiser revenue increased by 3.6% to €34.8 million, while media agency revenue grew by 0.7% to €83.4 million.
Spot advertising revenue totalled €87.6 million, down 1.0% year-on-year, an improvement on the 2.1% decline recorded in the first six months of 2026.
Ciarán Cunningham, CEO of RadiocentreIreland, said:
"The strong growth in the third quarter is a very encouraging result for Irish radio and demonstrates the positive momentum building across the sector.
"Revenue increased by 4.3% in Q3, with both agency and direct advertiser revenues contributing to the overall growth.
"Digital audio continues to be a particularly exciting growth area, with revenue increasing by over 28% this year. We're also seeing continued growth in branded content, demonstrating that advertisers are increasingly taking advantage of the range of creative and commercial opportunities available across radio and digital audio.
"Radio offers advertisers a powerful combination of mass reach, trusted content and proven advertising effectiveness. The continued investment in the medium, particularly across digital audio and branded content, is a positive indication of its importance to advertisers.
"While the wider advertising market remains competitive, these results provide encouraging momentum for Irish radio as we move into the final quarter of 2026."
Key figures – January to September 2026
Source: Radiocentre Ireland Revenue Pulse, January–September2026. Figures relate to revenue generated by participating Irish radiobroadcasters.
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