Triple honour for Aussie true crime podcast Dear Rachelle at New York Festivals Radio Awards

Australian true crime podcast Dear Rachelle has claimed three awards at the 2026 New York Festivals Radio Awards, including the prestigious National Press Club Award.

Presented by New York Festivals in partnership with the National Press Club, the honour is awarded to the highest-scoring news programme across the Best Coverage of Breaking News Story, Best Coverage of Ongoing News Story, Best Nonfiction Series and News Podcast categories.

Dear Rachelle also took home the Gold Tower Award in the Investigative Journalism Podcast category, competing against global heavyweights including Bloomberg, CBS, RNZ and Wondery.

The podcast went on to claim the Silver Tower award in the Narrative and Documentary Podcast category from a field of 23 finalists including ABC, CBC, ESPN and Channel 9.

Australian entries claimed more than a dozen honours at this year’s instalment of the New York Festivals Awards, including the Hold The Moment podcast, co-hosted by Hamish Macdonald. You can view them all here.

Dear Rachelle investigates the murder of Rachelle Childs, a 23-year-old woman from Bargo, south-west of Sydney, who disappeared after work in June 2001. Her body was found dumped by the side of a remote highway, 100km from where she was last seen.

Dear Rachelle Host Ashlea Hansen said “For our team, and for Rachelle’s family, to be recognised in this way on a global stage is deeply humbling. We’re proud our podcast demonstrates the power of journalism and podcasting. None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support and trust of Rachelle’s family. We are enormously grateful to them and all of our loyal listeners.”

The New York Festivals wins follow Dear Rachelle’s recognition earlier this month at the INMA Global Media Awards in Berlin where the podcast took second place in the Best Use of Audio (National) category.

The podcast also claimed Gold at New York’s Signal Awards in October last year.

The series continues to draw listeners from around the world with more than 5.5 million downloads to date.

For more information visit dearrachelle.com.au. Full list of New York Festivals Radio Award winners here.

At the upcoming Radioinfo, Radio Today and Mumbrella 2026 Australian Audio Awards which will be held next Thursday May 28 at Carriageworks Sydney, Dear Rachelle is heavily featured among the finalists:

Dear Rachelle for Best New Podcast – Major

Ashlea Hansen for Best Podcast Host – Major

Rhys Gunter in the same category for Dear Rachelle

Dear Rachelle for Best Crime Podcast – Major

Dear Rachelle for Best Investigative Podcast – Major

And they will also be in the running for the People’s Vote.

These podcasts are also shortlisted:

Erin Parke for Expanse: Nowhere Man

Best Podcast Producer – Major

Matty White and Alva Beach

Best Podcast Producer – Independent

Liam Riordan for Hold the Moment with Deadset Studios

Best Branded Podcast

Hold the Moment – Dementia Australia with Deadset Studios 

Best Crime Podcast – Major

The Saints

Unravel: Huntsman

Best Health and Wellness podcast

Hold the Moment with Deadset Studios and Dementia Australia

Best Investigative Podcast – Major

Expanse: Nowhere Man

Best Society and Culture podcast – Major

Corked – Marc Fennell and Audible

And they will also be in the running for the People’s Vote.

The full New York Festivals Award winners are here.

Tickets are still available for the inaugural Australian Audio Awards here.

Images supplied.