Prix Bohemia Radio announces its 2026 winners
The winners of the 2026 Prix Bohemia Radio competition have been announced in four categories: News Report, Documentary, Drama and Podcast. Antoni Rokicki of Polish Radio took the top prize in the international News Report category for his piece The Last Call.
Reportage: The Last Call
The Last Call, by Polish journalist Antoni Rokicki, has won both the student and professional jury’s vote in the Reportage category. Being the only international category of the festival, it brings together entries from Czechia and abroad and offers a window into how journalists approach current affairs, investigative reporting or wartime topics around the world.
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In his report, Antoni met with a family of a volunteer firefighter, who tragically lost his life during a call out to help. In Balice near Kraków, he paints the picture of life, community and the ways in which a family copes with the trauma of losing a husband and father
The jury praised the entry as a beautiful human story, that connects listeners across cultures through the universal experience of love and loss. “Antoni Rokicki approaches his subjects with extraordinary sensitivity, building trust and allowing emotion to emerge without ever manipulating it. His skillful layering of sound makes this a masterclass in radio storytelling, making exceptional use of the time and space afforded him,“ highlighted the jury in its statement. It added: „Antoni’s piece is a powerful reminder of what public service radio can achieve when it gives human stories room to breathe.“
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The second and third place were awarded to Martin Dorazín and Veronika Hlaváčová, respectively, both for works that aired on Czech Radio stations.
“Martin demonstrates the skill of a master storyteller, bringing extraordinary authenticity to his reporting at great personal risk,“ said the jury about the piece, which spoke of drones playing crucial role in war in Ukraine. „We hear the urgency and danger. His bravery never becomes a display of heroics: the people whose lives he documents remain at the heart of the story.“
In her report about Lukáš, Veronika Hlaváčová gave space to a 12-year-old from Vsetín, who composed and sang an anthem for people with autism. „Veronika’s report shows the power of recording everything on location, allowing the story to unfold without narration added afterwards. . Brief but beautifully realised, this piece makes every moment count,“ noted the jury.
Documentary: I Was Afraid of Myself
In the Documentary category, the award went to I Was Afraid of Myself, originally meant as a bonus episode to the audio series To Forgive? of Czech Radio Plus. It explores the process of coming to terms with one’s own deep sense of guilt.
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“The jury commends the powerful and unique theme, which offers a glimpse into the lives of people whom the media reduce to their crimes,” the official jury statement says, pointing out that: “Ridina Ahmedová demonstrates artistic courage and perseverance in her quest for the truth, whilst maintaining empathy and respect for the protagonist and her human dignity.”
The student jury awarded its prize to Wetland Techno by Martina Pouchlá, noting its unique theme and excellent sound work, backed up by superb post-production.
Drama: The Liblice Tragedy
The Drama category award went to the mysterious crime drama The Liblice Tragedy, set on the night, when nationwide medium-wave broadcasting was discontinued.
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Created by Jiří Havelka from the Vosto5 theatre company and produced by Czech Radio, the winning work was again praised by both juries. “The jury unanimously awarded first place to this captivating and entertaining play for the way it plays with radio clichés whilst also serving as a love letter to radio,” the jurors highlighted in their assessment. “Overall, it is unquestionably an explosive listening experience for both radio insiders and the uninitiated.”
Podcast: The Kaderka System
The Podcast category was won by the investigative series The Kaderka System covering one of the largest subsidy scandals in Czech sports, uncovered by Czech Radio.
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Based on Czech Radio’s investigative work, the National Centre against Organized Crime subsequently arrested tennis boss Ivo Kaderka and five other people and charged them with subsidy fraud. The damage amounts to over 50 million.
The jury praised tenacious investigative journalism, in which the author faced extraordinary pressure from the chairman of the tennis association and his influential friends. “The chosen format enables the listener to easily follow the complex story. At the same time, it provides an insight into the work of the journalists, which led to a police investigation,” notes the assessment.
