Head-to-head comparison

British Podcast Awards vs On Air Fest

Two of the resources tools podcasters reach for. Here's how they differ on pricing, features, audience, and the trade-offs that actually matter day-to-day.

UK podcasting industry awards celebrating their 10th anniversary in 2026.

Best for: UK podcast awards

Brooklyn audio festival mixing live tapings, performances, and industry conversations.

Best for: Creative craft festival

At a glance

Field
British Podcast Awards
On Air Fest
Best for
UK podcast awards
Creative craft festival
Price tier
Platforms
Web
Web
Audience
Solo creatorsSmall teamsAgencies
Solo creatorsSmall teamsAgencies

The honest trade-offs

British Podcast Awards

Pros

  • UK industry standard recognition
  • 33 categories across format and genre
  • New Ambassador program for 2026

Watch-outs

  • UK-focused entries skew the field
  • Entry fees per submission
  • October ceremony is late in the year

On Air Fest

Pros

  • Strong creative programming and live tapings
  • Three walkable Brooklyn venues
  • Ambies awards now embedded in the weekend

Watch-outs

  • Smaller than Podcast Movement
  • Mostly NYC-centric attendees
  • Public passes sell out quickly

Which one should you pick?

Pick British Podcast Awards if

You’re building around uk podcast awards. The UK industry's main awards night. The 10th anniversary edition is at Indigo at The O2 on October 1, 2026.

Pick On Air Fest if

You’re building around creative craft festival. Called the "Coachella of Podcasts" by Fast Company. Leans creative and editorial rather than ad-tech and sales.

Also worth comparing

Or see all British Podcast Awards alternatives.

Frequently asked

What does British Podcast Awards do better than On Air Fest?

British Podcast Awards's standout is "UK industry standard recognition". On Air Fest doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Strong creative programming and live tapings" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick British Podcast Awards; if the second does, pick On Air Fest.

What are the trade-offs?

British Podcast Awards: uk-focused entries skew the field. On Air Fest: smaller than podcast movement. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.

Can I use British Podcast Awards and On Air Fest together?

Both are resources tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using British Podcast Awards for one show or episode type and On Air Fest for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.