You've been listening to your favorite podcasts all year long, and now it's time celebrate — The 2026 iHeartPodcast Awards are happening at SXSW in Austin, Texas on March 16th, and fans across the country can tune in live to see which of their favorite shows takes home an award this year.
Fans will be able to tune in to the 2026 iHeartPodcast Awards on Monday, March 16th at 7pm CT/8pm ET/5pm PT on select iHeartMedia Radio Stations across the country, and on the iHeartPodcast Channel via free iHeartRadio app. The show will also be streamed exclusively on VEEPS to watch live.
For the second consecutive year, awards will be presented at ACL Live at the Moody Theater in Austin, Texas in celebration of the best in podcasting and most influential creators in the industry, and this year's ceremony will be hosted by actress, comedian and "Thanks Dad" podcast host Ego Nwodim. Podcasts will be awarded in genres including Comedy, Crime, Sports, News, Business, Pop Culture, Food and more.
The winner of the night's top honor — Podcast of the Year — is in the hands of the fans. From January 14th through February 22nd, listeners can cast their votes for their favorite shows at iHeartPodcastAwards.com. The nominees for the 2026 Podcast of the Year include "Good Hang with Amy Poehler," "The Breakfast Club," "The Mel Robbins Podcast," "Pablo Torre Finds Out," "The Daily," "The Rest Is History," "This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von," "Call Her Daddy," "Heavyweight" and "Giggly Squad."
In addition to the fan-voted and category awards, iHeartMedia will present three Icon Awards – Social Impact Award, Audible Audio Pioneer Award and Innovator Award – honoring individuals who have made groundbreaking contributions to the podcasting medium.
Jay Shetty, renowned author and host of the acclaimed podcast “On Purpose,” will be honored with the 2026 Social Impact Award for leveraging his platform to spark meaningful conversations around mental health. Through empathy, insight and intention, he has helped millions turn self-reflection into meaningful change.
Terry Gross, the legendary host of NPR’s “Fresh Air with Terry Gross & Tonya Mosley,” will receive the 2026 Audible Audio Pioneer Award for a career that has redefined the art of the interview through curiosity, rigor and deep empathy. For over a decade, her groundbreaking work has elevated audio journalism and influenced generations of hosts, producers and listeners.
Hrishikesh Hirway, creator of “Song Exploder,” will be presented with the 2026 Innovator Award for his visionary approach to storytelling, inviting artists to break down their creative processes and redefining how audiences experience music in podcast form.
Don't miss this year's iHeartPodcast Awards and tune in on March 16th!