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2027 PodAwards
Your voice.
Their moment.
The people’s awards for the podcasts, episodes, hosts, and creators that stay with us long after the headphones come off.
Built around real listeners.Transparent rules. Verified ballots. Certified results.
Stories
Culture
Community
Marquee awardPodcast of the Year
74published
categories
categories
Comedy✦True Crime✦News✦Culture✦Storytelling✦Hosts✦Production✦Episodes✦
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Right now
Nominations & fan voting are open.
The awards site changes with each stage of the season so listeners, nominees, and the awards team always know what comes next.
Season20272027 PodAwards
Program74published categories
Current phaseVoting OpenSee what’s happening →
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Why it matters
Awards that sound
Awards that sound
like the audience.
Podcasting is personal. The shows we love become part of our routines, our conversations, and the way we understand the world.
The Pod Awards gives that connection a credible stage—combining public discovery and fan participation with clear eligibility, thoughtful review, and protected results.
Meet the awards ↗The award programEvery corner
Every corner
of podcasting.
From the biggest show of the year to the craft behind one unforgettable episode, the program is designed to recognize what listeners actually hear and value.
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6 categories
Craft
Awards recognizing production, storytelling, episodes, and technical craft.
Explore group ↗
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5 categories
People & Moments
Awards recognizing hosts, collaborators, fan communities, and standout moments.
Explore group ↗On the ballotRecognition with
See all categories↗
Recognition with
real range.
Marquee01
Podcast award
Podcast of the Year
A signature Pod Awards category recognizing standout achievement across the podcast field.
Marquee02
Podcast award
Best New Podcast
A signature Pod Awards category recognizing standout achievement across the podcast field.
Marquee03
Podcast award
Video Podcast of the Year
A signature Pod Awards category recognizing standout achievement across the podcast field.
Marquee04
Podcast award
People's Champion
A signature Pod Awards category recognizing standout achievement across the podcast field.
Marquee05
Podcast award
Host of the Year
A signature Pod Awards category recognizing standout achievement across the podcast field.
Genre06
Podcast award
Business & Entrepreneurship
An official Pod Awards genre category recognizing excellence in Business & Entrepreneurship. Indie Division — for independently owned and operated podcasts.
Nominees in focusMeet the shows
Meet the shows
on the ballot.
222published nominees63 verified voters
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Podcast of the Year
Signal & Story
Northstar AudioIndependent narrative reporting with cinematic sound and deeply human stories.
02
Podcast of the Year
The Long Form
Fieldhouse MediaLong-form conversations with creators, founders, journalists, and cultural voices.
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Podcast of the Year
Midnight Dispatch
IndependentAtmospheric reporting, mysteries, and unforgettable late-night stories.
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Best New Podcast
Open Mic Atlas
IndependentFresh voices and unexpected conversations from around the world.
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Best New Podcast
Next Chapter
Brightline StudiosStories about reinvention, ambition, setbacks, and what happens next.
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Best New Podcast
Laugh Track
IndependentFast, smart comedy built around stories, recurring bits, and big personalities.
Designed for trustFrom discovery
From discovery
to the podium.
Nominate
Listeners and creators put eligible podcasts, people, and episodes forward.
Review
The team checks eligibility, resolves duplicates, and prepares the approved nominee slate.
Vote
Verified listeners build a ballot under clear rules and published deadlines.
Certify
Integrity review is completed before results are locked and winners go live.
Audience powered. Integrity protected.
Popularity should
Popularity should
never mean chaos.
Fan voting can be open and exciting without becoming a free-for-all. The platform is being built around verified participation, reviewable signals, reversible administrative decisions, and a permanent audit trail.
One selection per categorySuspicious activity reviewCertified result snapshotsHistorical records preserved
Read the integrity rules ↗
ON AIR
For partnersBack the voices
Explore partnerships↗
Back the voices
people believe in.
Build an award partnership around discovery, category sponsorship, nominee stories, public voting, and winner moments.