ENTER OUR 10TH ANNIVERSARY CHAMPIONING BRITISH PODCASTING

RECOGNISING EXCELLENCE, TALENT, PASSION & ORIGINALITY IN BRITISH PODCASTING

A win at the British Podcast Awards is more than a trophy (and a customised cushion from our cushion wall!), it is a moment that can fundamentally change your podcast's trajectory.

Our categories span the full podcasting ecosystem, including public voted Listeners' Choice Award, expertly judged Genre and People categories as well as the highly coveted Editors' Choice Awards, ensuring breakthrough talent, independent and major networks alike share the spotlight.

ENTRY DEADLINE: 21 MAY 2026

DEADLINES

FINAL ENTRY DEADLINE: Thursday 21 May 2026

SHORTLIST ANNOUNCEMENT: July

AWARDS CEREMONY: Thursday 01 October 2026, indigo at The O2

PRICING

FINAL ENTRY PRICE: £330 +VAT/ENTRY

(Small companies*: £170 +VAT/ENTRY)

*To qualify as a small company, the entrant must be an independent or freelance podcaster, have a UK registered charity number or have fewer than 10 full time employees.

BURSARY SCHEME

Are you an independent audio producer that identifies as BIPOC, Queer and/or Trans? You may be eligible for support with your entry fee through THE PODCASTING SERIOUSLY AWARDS FUND. For more information visit www.podcastingseriously.com/fund

The British Podcast Awards has been the industry leading awards for a decade. We are looking for shows that celebrate the best of the podcast medium, rewarding programmes that create high-quality, episodic content, consumed by their subscribers and podcast app listeners.

Here are 4 reasons to enter the British Podcast Awards:

CATAPULT INTO THE SPOTLIGHT

In a crowded landscape, a win acts as rocket fuel for audience growth. Receive national media coverage and coveted promotion across our platforms with a combined reach of over 50K people. Plus feature on our exclusive winners playlists, introducing your show to hundreds of thousands of new, loyal listeners overnight.

BECOME A COMMERCIAL MAGNET

An award is a stamp of quality that advertisers and agents respect. For creators, it unlocks life-changing deals with networks; for publishers, it validates your content strategy and proves engagement to the market.

ULTIMATE CREATIVE VALIDATION

Podcasting is a labour of love. A win provides peer and listener recognition that your countless hours of research and editing were worth it, validating your creative vision and fuelling your passion for exceptional audio.

THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE

The massive Listeners' Choice award gives the British public the ultimate say. This vote engages millions of fans, providing irrefutable proof of your show's genuine popularity and impact beyond the industry bubble.

GENRES

ARTS & CULTURE

BUSINESS

COMEDY

DOCUMENTARY

EDUCATION

ENTERTAINMENT

FACTUAL

FICTION

FOOD & DRINK

HEALTH & WELLBEING

HISTORY

IMPACT

KIDS

LIFESTYLE

NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

PARENTING

SEX & RELATIONSHIPS

SPORT

TRUE CRIME

WELSH LANGUAGE

FORMATS

DAILY

INTERVIEW

NETWORK OR PUBLISHER

NEW PODCAST

VIDEO INNOVATION

PEOPLE AND TEAMS

SECRET MEDIA NETWORK RISING STAR

BEST HOST(S)

PUBLICLY VOTED

LISTENERS' CHOICE

EDITORS' CHOICE AWARDS

SPECIALIST

SPOTLIGHT

PODCAST OF THE YEAR

"Podcasting continues to triumph, pushing boundaries with bold formats, fearless journalism, and life-changing stories. Last year’s winners demonstrated exactly this. The British Podcast Awards celebrate the very best in British podcasting, and we are hugely excited to see what this year brings.

In a world with growing uncertainty, authentic stories are even more important. We are excited to see the medium grow, celebrated in new categories but also with more voices and greater representation, showcasing the creativity and power of audio storytelling at its finest."

Lucy Shelley, Tech Editor, Campaign UK

Calling all podcasting experts! The British Podcast Awards are seeking judges from across the industry. If you're a producer, host, editor, writer, account manager, researcher, salesperson, marketer, or any other podcasting professional with a deep understanding of the medium, we encourage you to nominate yourself or a colleague. Judges will evaluate entries based on Quality, Impact, and New Perspectives.

The final judging panel will be comprised of an inclusive range of individuals to fully represent the industry.

NEW PERSPECTIVES

Does it capture the spirit of the medium?

To what extent does the podcast provide the listener with valuable information, provide views that are not usually heard in other forms of media and/or gives a platform to stories from people who are not represented in mainstream media?

If the entry makes you think, 'this could, currently, only exist a podcast' then that's a good thing.

QUALITY

Production Quality

Assess the general listening experience. Is the podcast pleasant to listen to and well balanced in terms of sound, or is it harsh on the ears? Consider:

* How impressive is the sound design and quality?

* How has sound been used differently to tell a story?

* If music or other post-production techniques were employed, how effectively was this done, and did it benefit your listening experience?

IMPACT

Impact

How much did you enjoy the podcast? Connecting with the hosts and the guests are one of the key components that make listeners come back and engage with the content.

Assess whether you feel a part of this podcast's community, would listen to the podcast again or recommend to a friend?

Did you enjoy the interaction between the hosts/guests?
How engaged with and committed to their audience do they seem, as evidenced in the podcast?
Would you recommend the podcast to someone who hasn't heard it before?
Would you listen to the podcast regularly?

QUALITY

Does the audio entry impress, through formats, talent and treatments? Are they well produced?

DIVERSITY

Does the written and audio entry demonstrate range of different voices, backgrounds and formats (even if they are for the same audience)?

COHESION

Does the network/publisher make best use of their status to:

Promote their podcasts
Expose audiences to new ideas
Share resource
Generate revenue

OVERALL

Has this been a strong year for them in terms of

Content
Audience
Revenue

...when compared to other entrants?

Indigo at the O2 | Thursday 1 October 2026

The British Podcast Awards are back and BIGGER THAN EVER! 🎙️

Join us as we return to our home, the iconic Indigo at the O2, on Thursday 1 October 2026, for the biggest night in British podcasting

YOU CAN BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW

MORE ABOUT THE AWARDS NIGHT

The British Red Cross is proud to be partnered with Haymarket Media Group, shaping a better future to help millions prepare for, respond to, and recover from crises across the world. By supporting the British Red Cross Disaster Fund, Haymarket Media Group are providing vital funds needed to reach thousands around the world with essential aid. From hurricanes, floods, conflict, and earthquakes, the British Red Cross is here for humanity. In an emergency, every second counts, and with the help of this partnership, the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement are equipped to mobilise rapidly to support those affected, no matter who they are or where they’re from.

Media Enquiries

Carver PR

E: [email protected]

P: 020 7101 2554

Award Enquiries

Monika Raithel

E: [email protected]

Partnership Opportunities

Andrew Mcarthur

E: [email protected]

ENTER OUR 10TH ANNIVERSARY CHAMPIONING BRITISH PODCASTING

BURSARY SCHEME

Here are 4 reasons to enter the British Podcast Awards:

INTRODUCING A NEW CATEGORY FOR 2026

GENRES

ARTS & CULTURE

BUSINESS

COMEDY

DOCUMENTARY

EDUCATION

ENTERTAINMENT

FACTUAL

FICTION

FOOD & DRINK

HEALTH & WELLBEING

HISTORY

IMPACT

KIDS

LIFESTYLE

NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

PARENTING

SEX & RELATIONSHIPS

SPORT

TRUE CRIME

WELSH LANGUAGE

FORMATS

DAILY

INTERVIEW

NETWORK OR PUBLISHER

NEW PODCAST

VIDEO INNOVATION

PEOPLE AND TEAMS

SECRET MEDIA NETWORK RISING STAR

BEST HOST(S)

PUBLICLY VOTED

LISTENERS' CHOICE

EDITORS' CHOICE AWARDS

SPECIALIST

SPOTLIGHT

PODCAST OF THE YEAR

Alexandra Steinacker

Founder, All About Art Podcast and NXT GEN: AWITA x All About Art

Alex Anderson

Director, Tandem Productions

Ant McGinley

Chief Development Officer, Podomedy

Aoife O'Brien

Founder and Podcast Host, Happier at Work

Becky Lamb-Pritchard

Head of Podcast Growth & Partnerships, This Is Distorted

Ben Firth

Creative Director, Factory Originals

Beth Edwards-Harris

Head of Audience Insights and Strategy, We Are Cowshed

Charlotte Mason

Head Of Production, Insanity Studios

Craig Eastwood

Vice President of International, Audioboom

Damien St John

CEO, Podomedy

David Howard

Director, Bespoken Media

David Levene

Director, Full House Media

David Prever

Head of Podcasts, SASSY +

Dr Lauren Ingram

Founder, Next Big Thing

Fiona Fraser

Director, POW PR

Guy Larsen

Director, Penny4

Hannah Brankin

Chief Operations Officer, Rusty Quill

Hannah Rose

Senior Programme Executive, BBC

Helen Bowman

Head of Partnerships and Lead Producer of The Lens UK Responsible Business Podcast, Business in the Community

Jake Warren

CEO & Founder, Message Heard