With the broadcast and automotive sectors undergoing rapid transformation, WorldDAB will bring industry leaders together in Frankfurt on 11 June for WorldDAB Automotive 2026. Taking place at a pivotal moment for radio’s position in the connected car, the event will feature the first presentation of significant new international research into in-car radio listening.
The 2026 multi market Car Buyer’s Research, conducted by Fifty5Blue (formerly Kantar), provides a detailed look at how drivers use audio in the car, what they expect from radio, and how prominence, defaults and user experience shape listening behaviour. The findings offer robust evidence to support decision making across the automotive, broadcast and regulatory communities.
A high-level panel featuring senior representatives from the automotive sector, the European Broadcasting Union, the Association of European Radios and WorldDAB will respond to the research and explore its implications for prominence, discoverability and genuine consumer choice in the connected dashboard. The programme also includes an update from the Radio Ready initiative, presented by Tomas Granryd, Coordinator, Radio Ready, and Tobias Nielsen, Senior Vice President Digital, Bauer Media Group, highlighting progress on cross-industry alignment.
WorldDAB President Jacqueline Bierhorst will outline the continued global growth of DAB+, with further sessions examining developments in key markets including Germany, Australia and Spain. David Fernández Quijada, Research Director, South 180, will introduce WorldDAB’s new Public Policy Toolbox, demonstrating why broadcast radio remains essential even in highly connected environments, why governments continue to prioritise broadcast, and how policy frameworks underpin media plurality, safety and universal access.
The importance of sustained investment in broadcast infrastructure, and its role in ensuring long term stability for the automotive ecosystem, will be explored by a panel of experts led by Hanns Wolter, Chair of WorldDAB’s Spectrum and Network Implementation Committee.
Jacqueline Bierhorst, President, WorldDAB, said: “Radio’s role as a trusted, accessible and immediate medium is more important than ever. Broadcast radio remains central to resilient, free to air communication, including in the car. I’m delighted that WorldDAB will be unveiling significant new research that provides robust evidence for the automotive and policy communities on the continuing relevance of broadcast radio, and I look forward to discussing the findings in Frankfurt.”
With limited places remaining, there is still time to register for WorldDAB Automotive 2026, which is free to attend in person. The event offers unparalleled opportunities to network with senior executives from across the automotive, broadcast, regulatory and manufacturing sectors. Attendees are also invited to an exclusive networking dinner on the evening before the event at Gerbermühle Restaurant, set within a riverside park on the banks of the River Main.
The event is supported by sponsors including Xperi, ARD, AVT Audio Video Technologies GmbH, and Paneda.
Registration is open now at: https://www.worlddab.org/events/detail/743.
Info: https://www.worlddab.org
Notes: Press Release | WorldDAB | 12 May 2026
