Global affairs, arts and science take centre stage on ABC Radio National in 2026

ABC Radio National will offer additional episodes of the acclaimed Global Roaming program in 2026, along with a refreshed schedule and regular appointment listening blocks for arts and science content.

In the new year, Global Roaming will welcome author and journalist Latika M Bourke and foreign affairs journalist Kylie Morris, who will join existing presenters Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald every weekday.

Bourke says “The world order is changing before our eyes and understanding Australia’s place in this turmoil has never been more important.”

In 2026, Radio National will double down on its commitment to the arts with a new and live, weekday Radio National Arts Hour airing from 10–11am. The hour will be anchored by an arts presenter from Monday to Thursday. The program will then lead into a daily specialist arts program covering books, design, food, and film including:

• The Screen Show with Jason di Rosso
• Every Bite with Jonathan Green
• The Book Show with Claire Nichols
• And a new architecture and design program, Anthony Burke’s By Design, presented by the host of ABC TV’s Grand Designs Australia.

On Friday, the hour will be dedicated to The Bookshelf, hosted by Kate Evans and Cassie McCullagh.

Following the decisions of presenters Daniel Browning and Michael Cathcart to step away from their roles, ABC Radio National will retire The Art Show and The Stage Show and Arts in 30.

The Top 100 Books countdown will return for another year.

Radio National’s science programming will feature each weekday with 1.30-2pm becoming the daily home for All In The Mind, What the Duck, Science Friction and the Science Show.

On Saturdays, The Science Show continues as a full-hour program, with Robyn Williams welcoming a co-presenter for the first time in the show’s history. After five decades of solo hosting, Robyn will be joined by award-winning science journalist Belinda Smith.

In January 2026, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki will co-present a new six-part series, The Challenger Legacy, alongside Walkley-nominated science reporter Fiona Pepper. The series explores the lessons of the 1986 Challenger Space Shuttle disaster, its impact on space exploration, and the big questions that still resonate as NASA prepares to launch astronauts back to the moon early next year.

“The Challenger disaster was a tragedy, but it also reshaped how we think about engineering and risk. This series takes a deep look at the science behind the fateful mission and asks what NASA – and all of us – have learned from the disaster,” Dr Karl said.

Schedule changes in the new year see ABC Radio National Breakfast with Sally Sara shift to a 6am start.

News coverage will still begin at 5.30am with a mix of ABC News Daily and highlights from The Radio National Hour.

The Radio National Hour with Fran Kelly continues at 6pm each weeknight.

On weekends, The Music Show will move from the morning to afternoons.

The full Radio National schedule for 2026 can be found here.