The nominees for the Independent Podcast Awards 2026 have been revealed! With nearly 550 entries to choose from, the team of 85 judges has narrowed them down to 150 different shows across 28 categories.

The shortlist can be found here: https://independentpodcastawards.com/IPA26/en/page/our-2026-shortlist

Now in their fourth year, the Independent Podcast Awards were co-founded by Verbal Diorama and whynow to recognise the grassroots indie talent that wasn’t getting the recognition it deserved elsewhere. Since then the awards have attracted around 2000 entries, shortlisted 600+ podcasts, and celebrated 75 winners. The class of ‘26 winners will be announced on Wednesday 4th November in London, and will add a further 29 podcasts to that tally.

Emma Turner, Co-Founder of the Independent Podcast Awards said: “It has been another great year for independent podcasts. We had a record number of entries and the judges found it harder than ever to pick the shortlists, which shows how grassroots podcasting is going from strength to strength.”

The awards couldn’t take place without the support of the industry sponsors, who in 2026 are the Headline Partner, YouTube; the After Party Sponsor, Acast; the event supporters Advertising Week, AudioUK, Captivate, Rusty Quill and True Fans, along with the Media Partner, Podnews.

Taking place on Wednesday 4th November at Kings Place in Kings Cross, London, the event promises to be a fun night for all. Tickets are on sale now through the Kings Place box office, with both in-person and live streaming options available, and have been frozen at 2025’s prices.

You can find out more about the awards here, and book your tickets to attend here.