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He’s signed with ARN (Australian Radio Network) to launch a brand-new show across the KIIS Network in 2026. The Smallzy Show will air live from 3–4pm and again from 7–9pm each weekday across KIIS FM in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide (which will be rebranded from Mix 102.3), and KIIS DAB+ Perth. The show will feature interviews with chart-topping and emerging artists, plus a daily dose of pop culture news. The announcement comes roughly two and a half months after Smallzy shocked the industry by quitting his long-running show on the Nova network, Smallzy’s Surgery. When asked how long he’d been in talks with ARN, Smallzy was coy, saying, “things like this don’t happen overnight, and you don’t walk away from successful shows just to take time off.” So why did he choose to jump ship to KIIS FM after 23 years with Nova? “I was bought into conversations about their (ARN) company vision and strategy and I was so impressed,” he told news.com.au. “It really became a bit of a no-brainer for me. “I was so excited by their plans and what they thought of me too,” he continued. “They took me to a nice restaurant and they made me feel special, and you know what? I felt special and I was excited!” Smallzy is champing at the bit to get back on radio in 2026, and admits he’ll have a slightly different approach after a few months off air. “ I’ve been listening as a listener to the radio, which sort of changes your whole perspective from when you’re inside the building,” he told news.com.au. “(I’ve realised) they (the audience) don’t listen as closely as we’d ever love them to listen, so whatever we are doing, you need to make it as simple and as powerful and as impactful as possible, because everyone’s got a life.” The 3–4pm edition of The Smallzy Show will replace The Pick Up, hosted by Laura Byrne and Brittany Hockley. It was announced recently that program will end in December, with the duo set to continue making their popular podcast, Life Uncut (which has been signed by Southern Cross Austereo). The 7–9pm section of The Smallzy Show will see KIIS FM return to nights for the first time since The Night Show with Mitch Churi was axed at the end of 2024. The unique split format means Smallzy will have a three-hour break each day between on air stints, so what will he do during that time? “That three hour window between the two shows is kind of when we used to do international prerecords,” he told news.com.au. “So in between will be spent doing things like getting to know the next big artist.” Establishing relationships with up and coming talent is something Smallzy says he’s passionate about. “Superstars don’t get born, they grow over time,” he said. “You meet these people when they’re nobodies and then in the space of time they become somebodies. “But if you don’t have that vehicle to meet these people for the first time, you don’t have a vehicle to build relationships, and that’s what I really am looking forward to doing,” he said. The Smallzy Show launches across the KIIS Network in early 2026.
