British Podcast Awards

The British Podcast Awards is the main awards ceremony for the UK podcasting industry. The 10th anniversary edition takes place at Indigo at The O2 in London on October 1, 2026. The 2026 awards span 33 categories across genre, format, people, and team — including Fiction, True Crime, Best Host, Rising Star, Video Innovation, a new cultural impact prize, and a new Food & Drink category — culminating in the Podcast of the Year Grand Prix.

New for 2026: the Awards introduced their first-ever Ambassador programme, recognising influential voices shaping the industry and giving them an active role in championing outstanding work and emerging talent. Ambassadors replace the traditional Chair of Judges role and work alongside a panel of over 200 judges.

Useful if you produce a UK-based or UK-resonant show and want credible recognition. Less applicable to US-only or non-English shows where the audience and judges have less context. The Awards site also publishes 'winner write-ups' for past years, a good source of inspiration for what kinds of pitches and structures break through.

Note that submission fees apply per entry, so plan carefully which categories you target. The Indigo at The O2 venue holds around 2,800 people, which means tickets to the ceremony itself are competitive — being a nominee or winner is the surest way to attend.