The Home Office sanctions six experiments of split programming on Independent Local Radio. Up to ten hours a week of split programming is allowed. These include Welsh language programmes on Marcher Sound, Asian programming on Leicester Sound and rugby league commentary on Viking Radio.
A European-wide re-organisation of band 2 of the VHF band comes into affect in July 1987. In preparation for this, 1986 sees many local stations change their VHF/FM frequency.
18 April – Mike Read presents his final Radio 1 Breakfast Show after five years in the hot seat.
May[]
5 May – Mike Smith takes over the Radio 1 breakfast show.[2] The same day also sees Radio 1 begin broadcasting on weekdays 30 minutes earlier, at 5:30am.
June[]
28 June – At midday, Portsmouth station Radio Victory stops broadcasting after more than ten years on air, three months before its broadcast licence was due to expire. The previous year the Independent Broadcasting Authority had announced that it would not renew the station's licence.
July[]
24 July – Pirate Radio 4 returns for a second run of three more editions and is again broadcast on the VHF/FM frequencies of BBC Radio 4 with the usual Radio 4 schedule continuing on long wave. The programme is shorter in length than last year, being on air from 9:05am until 10:45am.
August[]
25 August – An early evening service of specialist music programmes launches on the BBC's four local radio stations in Yorkshire. The programmes are broadcast on weeknights between 6pm and 7:30pm.
September[]
30 September – BBC Radio Jersey begins experimental broadcasting of States of Jersey proceedings. The broadcasts are made a permanent feature from 25 November.
October[]
1 October – Downtown Radio's broadcast area is expanded when it begins broadcasting to the north western area of Northern Ireland.
12 October – Ocean Sound begins broadcasting. It replaces Radio Victory in East Hampshire, but also covers Southampton, Winchester and the Isle of Wight. Ocean Sound launches as a split frequency service - Ocean Sound West on 103.2 FM and 1557 AM and Ocean Sound East operates as the replacement for Radio Victory on 97.5 FM and 1170 AM - due to management identifying two potential audiences: one familiar with commercial radio (in the East area), and one largely acquainted with the BBC (the West area). Ocean Sound East launches with a livelier sound than the West service although both services share breakfast and evening programmes with split programming airing during daytime.
November[]
November – Following its purchase of Northants 96, Chiltern Radio launches a networked service called ’’The Hot FM’’. The service is broadcast on three ILR licenses with local programming restricted to mid-mornings.
30 November – Northants 96 launches at 10 am and becomes part of The Hot FM.
28 December – Apna Hi Ghar Samajhiye (Make Yourself at Home) is broadcast on BBC Radio 4 for the final time. It had been broadcast on Radio 4 and the BBC Home Service every Sunday morning since 1965.