Categories & Criteria
Please read the categories and criteria, along with the eligibility criteria below before you start your entry.
Please note, we only accept entries from podcasts from the UK & Ireland. For more details on this you can read our FAQs.
Definition of An Independent Podcast
For the purposes of these awards, a podcast is considered independent if it is produced without the financial support of a large organisation such as a publishing company, or brand, and is not fronted by high profile celebrities for whom this is one of many revenue streams.
Independent productions of all sizes are welcome, and our awards seek to highlight those that demonstrate independent spirit.
Podcasts that have had high profile guests do qualify for the awards.
Eligibility Of Podcasts
To be eligible for entry you must have released at least 12 episodes of your podcast in the last 12 months, or be a contained mini-series. The podcast must be hosted on a platform that is easily accessible to all (e.g. cannot be only available on a private feed for subscribers).
Inclusivity
Inclusivity is very important to us. We especially want to hear from podcasts hosted by female or non-binary hosts, members of the LGBTQ+ community, people of colour, anyone with disabilities or other marginalised groups, especially if your podcast is aimed towards those communities.
Entering Multiple Categories
You can enter the same podcast in multiple categories if you think that it straddles a few different sectors, but in a change to previous years, you can only enter a maximum of three categories*. This is to encourage you to really think about what you’re entering, and make the entries and the clips you submit really relevant to that specific category.
Your first entry will be charged £35, and each subsequent entry will be charged £5.
* Note: you can still enter the free enter categories and Limited Series on top of the max of three entries.
The overall independent podcast of the year category cannot be self-entered, but will instead be chosen by the judges from the winners of all the other genre-based categories.
What We Ask You To Talk About
For each category we want to know the following: How long you’ve been doing the podcast; Average weekly/monthly listeners; How your podcast serves the community it is designed for; What makes it different/stand out from others in this sector; How it shows independent spirit
Our 2026 Categories
Arts & Culture
This category is for podcasts that cover any aspect of the world of arts and culture. Whether that’s interviewing figures from the arts, a run down of the latest exhibitions, an exploration of cultural themes, a closer look at society and the way it works or a breakdown of the hottest theatre shows in town, we want to hear about your show.
Best Regional Podcast - NEW
This category is for those podcasts that celebrate life outside the big cities of the UK and Ireland. Perhaps you discuss hiking in the Highlands, or cheesemaking in the West Country, or maybe you shine a light on heroes from your area. If you’re looking at things on a local scale then let us hear about it.
Books
Whether it’s fiction, non-fiction, genre specific or spanning all topics, if your podcast covers reading or writing books this is the one for you.
Branded Content
Do you run a small indie business and you’ve launched a podcast to help promote your services? Perhaps you’re a tiny charity that speaks to service users about how you’ve worked with them to improve their lives. If your podcast is an extension of your independent company that’s a way of getting your name out there, then this is the category for you.
Business & Culture
Do you chat about all things marketing? Are you giving tips on how to become a small business owner? Do you tell listeners how to be more careful with their money? Do you focus on the human side of business and how to build a better workplace culture? If this sounds like your podcast then enter it here.
Children & Young Adults
If your podcast caters for a younger audience then this is the one for you. Whether it's educational, entertaining or shining a light on world issues in an easy to understand way for the next generation then we want to know about it.
Comedy
Maybe you created a monthly stand-up show, maybe you and your mates sit around chatting and the results are hilarious. Maybe you talk about the latest comedy gigs you’ve been to, or perhaps you give a rundown of the best comedic performances of all time. If it’s focused on funny we want it in this category.
Environment & Natural World
This category seeks to uncover podcasts that focus on the world around us. Whether that’s teaching us how to be more environmentally friendly, the impacts of climate change, or looking at the animals that cohabit the earth with us.
Fiction
Do you create a completely scripted podcast that takes listeners into a fictional world? Does each episode or series of episodes tell a story that allows them to escape reality for a while? Then this is the category for you.
Films & TV
If you cover any aspect of film or TV, whether it’s focusing on brand new releases or forgotten gems, then enter it here.
Gaming & Technology
Are you chatting about the world of eSports or the hot new releases from your favourite game designer? Or do you discuss the latest tech for your home, new advances in AI, or whether we really could survive on Mars, if it’s gaming or technology related then enter it here.
History
Does your podcast take listeners back in time and remind us of days gone by? Whether it’s Ancient Egyptians or modern history or somewhere in between that you cover, enter it into this category.
Horror & The Supernatural
Does your podcast feature discussions on those things that can’t quite be explained by science? Or maybe you focus on horror, whether that’s books, film, or theatre shows, if it’s horrific it’s probably exactly what we want to know about.
Lifestyle
If you consider your podcast to cover different lifestyles then this is the category for you. This could include - but isn’t limited to - food, drink, travel, fashion, and spirituality.
Limited Series - NEW
Not all stories need hundreds of episodes to be told. If you’ve made a series that’s just a few episodes long, but still tells the whole story, then we want you to enter it here.
Music
Do you discuss songwriters and composers? Are you looking at individual songs or albums as one? Whether you’re crazy for classical or down for drum ‘n’ bass, if it’s got a beat and you’re talking about it on your podcast then enter it here.
News & Politics
With such a turbulent time in the world at the moment there is plenty to discuss in both news and politics. Add to that it being an election year in the US, and probably the UK, and we’re all going to be looking for someone to make sense of it all for us. Maybe that’s what you’re doing and if so, that’s why you should be entering this category.
Parenting
Does your podcast focus on the trials and tribulations of bringing up kids? Do you offer tips and tricks on how to cope with the things that being a parent throws at you, or share funny stories of the things that have happened while out with your kids? If that sounds like your podcast then enter it here.
Personal Stories - NEW
Does your podcast take you or your guests through a journey of self-discovery? Did something happen in your life to completely change your outlook and how you go about your days? Do you speak to others that have had similar experiences? Then this is the category for you.
Please note: we recommend entering either this category or Self-Improvement, but not both.
Science & Technology
Whether it’s the latest tech for your home, new advances in AI, or whether we really could survive on Mars, if it’s science or technology related then enter it here.
Self-Improvement
Does your show go out of its way to teach its listeners something new about themselves? It could be techniques to have a more restful night’s sleep, or you’re telling your listeners about your own journey towards better health, or featuring guests that have had life changing treatments, or simply teaching the joys of learning something new. If your podcast is helping listeners towards a better version of themselves, or improving their wellbeing then enter it into this category.
Please note: we recommend entering either this category or Personal Stories, but not both.
Sex, Love & Relationships
Is sex and how to do it better the topic of your podcast? Or maybe it’s what love really means in today’s society, or whether being in a relationship is right for everyone? If your podcast covers anything love, sex or relationship related then enter it here.
Sport
If you’re creating a podcast about sport, any sport, then enter it here. Football fanatics? Cricket champions? Boxing boffins? Enter the sports category and let us hear what you’ve got to say.
Travel & Adventure
This is for those podcasts that shine a light on travel, the outdoors and going on adventures. It could be open water swimming, backpacking through South America or how to save money when traveling. Or do you want to get more people into hiking in the UK or visiting the lesser known beaches of Europe? If so, enter it here.
True Crime
This is an area that has seen a huge growth in interest in recent years, but does your podcast have a new take on true crime? Tell us how you tell your stories in this category.