Are you up for a podcast award?
Podcast awards do more than recognize the best of the best or to celebrate the growing podcast industry. They also create excitement and awareness around podcasting, foster community and alert listeners to shows they haven't discovered on their own.
And, of course, there's something very special about being able to say you're an award-winning show.
Most awards are self nominated, and almost all require an entry fee. They come in many shapes and sizes; some are giant industry affairs while others are run solely by volunteers. But every event aims to recognise brilliance, creativity the passion of podcasting.
Here's our gigantic list:
Podcast Industry Awards
ADWEEK Audio Awards - Podcast of the Year
ADWEEK aims to honor the most outstanding podcast series and podcast professionals with their Podcast of the Year awards. Categories range from Best Episode to Best Use of AI and are judged by respected podcasting leaders and rising stars, alongside senior editors from ADWEEK.
Submissions for entry: 2024 entry submissions closed on April 12th and the winners will be announced in ADWEEK's July 16th issue.
The Ambies
Run by the Podcast Academy, The Ambies are all about celebrating excellence in podcasting and raising the status of podcasting in the audio industry. They include two types of category: Show Recognition and Talent Recognition.
Submissions for entry: The 2024 Ambies have already come and gone. Submissions for 2025 open in the northern hemisphere summer of 2024
Who can apply? Any ongoing podcast can enter, and any miniseries podcast can enter so long as they published episodes in 2024. (English language shows only)
iHeartRadio Podcast Awards
In March each year, iHeartRadio recognises the best podcasts in the USA at a glitzy annual awards ceremony. The awards contain multiple categories including Podcast of the Year, Best Comedy, Best Crime Podcast, Best Fiction, Best Science Podcast and so on.
Can anyone apply? Shows are nominated by a judging panel (taking their iHeartRadio performance into account) and fans vote for their favorites.
The Independent Podcasts Awards
These are back to our roots awards, created to celebrate podcasters that are "truly free of corporate ties" i.e., no corporate support or celebrity hosts (although you can have high profile guests.)
Submissions for entry: The 2024 closing date for entries is Friday, 31st May.
Who can apply? Only podcasters based in the UK or Ireland can enter at the moment.
Podcast Awards/People’s Choice Podcast Awards
Running since 2005, these awards honor podcasts in many categories. Podcasters can register their shows during the first half of the year. Listeners can register and vote between July 1 and July 31. The awards ceremony is usually held on international podcast day.
Submissions for entry: 31 July 2024 is the final day for podcast registrations, however it's best to register before 1st July when voting opens.
Who can apply? Open to all podcasts from any country and in any language.
Signal Awards
Signal says no matter how big or small your studio, the best podcasters are authentic, creative, open minds and change culture. They include four category types: Shows, Limited Series, Individual Episodes and Branded Shows & Advertising and have many awards within each category.
Submissions for entry:
- May 10th, 2024: Early Entry Deadline
- June 28th, 2024: Final Entry Deadline
- October 15th, 2024: Winners Announced
Who can apply? Global entries encouraged. (NB they use Google Translate to translate non-English language submissions reviewed by an English-speaking judge.)
Culture & Diversity
Black Podcasting Awards
These are the longest-running podcasting awards for the Black community. Podcasts must have a public RSS feed and be hosted or majority co-hosted by Black people. In their own words: "Black means a person who identifies as such racially."
Submissions for entry: This year's entries open on May 27th and close June 31st 2024.
Who can apply? Black podcasts from anywhere can apply to enter so long as the shows are in English.
The Golden Crane Podcast Awards
AAP welcomes all who identify as Asian American Pacific Islander creatives, producers, hosts and editors. Their members represent podcasting at all levels from aspiring beginners to seasoned experts.
Submissions for entry: The Golden Crane will return later in 2024; dates yet to be announced.
Who can apply? AAP is based in New York City, but welcomes AAPI applicants worldwide.
Latin Podcast Awards
This competition recognizes and celebrate podcasts by, for or about the Latinx community and are judged on content and quality by a panel of independent judges. LPA Academy members receive a substantial discount on their registration fee.
Submissions for entry: Closes on June 16, 2024 with finals held on October 12th, during Hispanic Heritage month.
Who can apply? a global competition for members of the Latinx community.
Podcasts as a Category
Audio Production Awards
The APAs began as radio awards in 2010 and widened in 2016 to reflect its members' expanding audio production activities. They're now an annual fixture in the UK industry, with a high-profile awards ceremony held in London.
Submissions for entry: This year the APAs intend to open for entries on Monday 17th June.
Who can apply? Anyone in the UK audio industry
AVA Digital Awards
AVA Digitals reward excellence by creative professionals responsible for the planning, concept, direction, design, and production of digital communication. There are 227 categories, including one for podcasting.
Submissions for entry: This year's competition opened in November 2023 and closed in January 2024.
Who can apply? Open to individuals, companies, and organizations involved in producing digital media for external or internal audiences.
Audio Verse Awards
These celebrate the greatest in immersive audio fiction around the world, including podcasts.
They're by and for the audio fiction community and decided by a public vote. The organizers suggest joining their mailing list to keep up to date.
Submissions for entry: Each year they open for entries in September and voting in October.
Who can apply? Any immersive fiction podcast that's exclusively audio and is discoverable.
Content Marketing Awards
These are the largest and longest-running international content marketing awards and aim to recognize the best in strategy, content creation, visual and audio storytelling. They include a category for Best Podcast/Audio Series
Submissions for entry: Early bird entries closed on April 14th. Regular entries close on May 19th, with Late entries accepted (with an increased entry fee) till May 31st 2024.
Who can apply? Anyone, but the show must have recorded episodes in 2023 to qualify for the 2024 award.
New York Festivals Radio Awards
The New York Festivals Radio Awards honors the exceptional professional content across many channels, including podcasts and judged by a panel of industry experts. Single episodes or series must have aired in the previous 12 months.
Submissions for entry: Entries are self-nominated. The 2024 entry deadline closed in late 2023.
Who can apply? Podcasters from any country may enter, but you're asked to provide an English translation if your podcast's in another language.
The Peabody Awards
The Peabodys were established to honor excellence in radio back in 1940. Now they cover outstanding digital and interactive storytelling in TV, streaming, internet, radio and podcasts. Podcasters can enter documentaries, entertainment, news, youth programming, public service or arts.
Submissions for entry: The next submission window is expected to run from October to December 2024.
Who can apply? US and international English language podcasters
Quill Podcast Awards
Running since 2021, this yearly digital awards ceremony celebrates the achievements of podcasters and podcast companies who've become leaders in their field, have a positive impact in the podcast industry and created outstanding content.
Submissions for entry: Podcasts enter through public nominations via an online form. Once the nomination form closes the three podcasts/podcast companies in each category receiving the most nominations move on to the judging round where they're assessed by industry experts. In 2024, voting takes place between April 8th and 26th with the Finalists announced in May.
Who can apply? These awards are open to everyone.
The Shorty Awards
This international competition began in 2008 and honors the best work on digital and social platforms. It includes brands, agencies, non-profits, content creators and influencers and has a Podcast section with 11 categories including Branded Podcast, Comedy and Mini Series.
Submissions for entry: The 2024 Shorties recognized work done in 2023. The public vote for the Audience Honor while other categories are judged by members of the Real Time Academy. Entries have now closed and voting runs from April 16th - 30th, 2024.
Who can apply? This is an international competition.
Webby Awards
Established way back in 1996 the 'Webbys' have grown until now The New York Times calls them "the Internet's highest honor." They now honor excellence across eight media types including podcasts. There are two honors in every category—The Webby Award (judged) and The Webby People’s Voice Award (awarded by the voting public.)
Submissions for entry: Entries are closed for 2024 but you can join their mailing list to be notified when entries open for next year's awards which seems likely to be September-December 2024.
Who can apply? Anyone. The 28th Annual Webby Awards received nearly 13,000 entries from the US and 70 countries worldwide.
Where in the world?
African Podcast and Voice Awards
The APVAs recognize and celebrate the excellence and achievements of African voice talents across the continent. They include many podcast categories including Diasporan Podcast of the Year and Rising Talent of the Year. Judging is a mix of professional evaluation and public vote and podcasts. Judges evaluate the structure, originality and "sheer brilliance of content and sound."
Submissions for entry: Nominations run from April 21st to June 1st, 2024. The judging and public voting window runs for a month (June 15th - July 15th.)
Who can apply? Nominators don't have to live in Africa and can put forward any excellent African podcast.
Australian Podcast Awards
These celebrate Australian podcasts, with more than 20 categories up for grabs, including the Listener's Choice Award. Entries are self-nominated and judging is done by a panel of podcasting experts. They promise to " uncover and champion the best talent of the Australian podcasting industry. We welcome podcasts big and small to enter and look forward to another year of break-through podcasting content."
Submissions for entry: There isn't any information on when entry opens for the 2024 awards, but last year's Sydney ceremony was held in November. You can register your interest here to get more information when it becomes available.
Belgian Podcast Awards
Belgian podcasting is growing fast and these awards aim to recognize new and existing talent, promote great podcasts and encourage listeners to try new shows. Founded in 2021 by Maarten Bovée (chairman of the independent judging channel) the 2024 awards promise to be the biggest and best yet.
Submissions for entry: The 2024 entry window has closed, with the awards ceremony scheduled for 22nd May.
Who can apply? They welcome a diverse range of podcast entries including brands, independent creators, comedians and more. People can register online to vote for The Listener's choice award from 15th April to 15th May 2024.
British Podcast Awards
Recognizing excellence, talent and originality in the booming podcast industry, the British podcast awards have been running for eight years and seek to reward both commercial podcasts and passion projects. Their broad categories include Genres, People & Teams, Editors' Choice and Listeners' Choice. The judging panel particularly looks for quality, impact and new perspectives.
Submissions for entry: This year's entry deadline is 9th May 2024. Listeners' Choice voting opens 3rd June and the Awards Ceremony takes place in London on September 26th.
Who can apply? Podcasts and podcasters in Great Britain
Irish Podcast Awards
These awards aim to grow awareness of and celebrate the best of Irish podcasting each year. They're judged by a large panel of industry professionals and reward programmes with high-quality, episodic content. Categories include Best Climate Podcast, Best Documentary, Best Family Podcast, Editor's Choice and more.
Submissions for entry: The 2023 ceremony was held in November. At the time of writing, dates for this year's awards hadn't been announced. You can register your interest to receive information in 2024 through the website.
Final Thoughts
You probably weren't thinking about winning awards when you started your show. Or, maybe you were - in which case, good on you because it means you were thinking about excellence right from the start.
But now you're up and running, why not enter a few competitions and see where that leads? You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain if your podcasting commitment and courage is recognized by your peers and/or the public.
Enjoy the process - if nothing else, it's a fantastic chance to analyze and review your show and really pay attention to your high quality work.
