2026 PODCAST OF THE YEAR
$39.00
A single-category podcast submission qualifies a show for a PODCAST OF THE YEAR award in the category selected and the overall prize of 2026 PODCAST OF THE YEAR. A full list of categories is available below or on page 3 of the entry form.
$39 per podcast/per category
(Example: One podcast in two categories equals $78.00--requires separate $39 transactions)
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: February 15, 2026
2026 PODCAST OF THE YEAR
CHECK OUT OUR NEW LIST OF 2026 CATEGORIES!
OFFICIAL 2026 CATEGORIES
- ADVENTURE & TRAVEL
- ARTS
- BEST FEMALE HOSTED PODCAST
- BEST MALE HOSTED PODCAST
- BUSINESS
- COMEDY
- CRIME
- DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
- DRAMA
- EDUCATION
- ENTERTAINMENT
- FANTASY & SCI-FI
- FICTION
- FINANCE & INVESTING
- FOOD & BEVERAGE
- GAMES AND HOBBIES
- GOVERNMENT AND ORGANIZATIONS
- HEALTH
- HISTORY
- HORROR & PARANORMAL
- HUMOR & SATIRE
- INTERVIEW-STYLE PODCASTS
- KIDS AND FAMILY
- LEISURE
- LGBTQ
- MOTIVATION & SUCCESS
- MUSIC
- PARENTING
- PERSONAL JOURNEYS
- POLITICS AND NEWS
- RELATIONSHIPS & DATING
- RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY
- SCIENCE
- SELF-IMPROVEMENT & WELLNESS
- SOCIETY AND CULTURE
- SPORTS
- TECHNOLOGY
- TV AND FILM
**AMERICANWRITINGAWARDS.COM PODCAST OF THE YEAR AWARD**
The Podcast of the Year award was created as a means to recognize excellence in independent podcasting. The award is international and open to all shows regardless of country of origin or language (non-English speaking podcasts must be transcribed or translated into English).
Official Award Timeline
- Registration Deadline February 15, 2026
- Category Prizes and PODCAST OF THE YEAR AWARD announced March 8, 2026
The Podcast of the Year committee and judges reserve the right to disqualify any show they feel violates the spirit of the Awards. The Podcast Awards committee's decision on disqualification will be final. A disqualified show can appeal disqualification in writing within 48 hours to info@americanwritingawards.com. Disqualification will result in the forfeiture of the registration fee.
The Awards committee reserves the right to disqualify any show on the grounds of hate speech and or violence. While we strongly support freedom of speech we will not tolerate hate speech and or violence against others.
NOMINATION RULES AND ELIGIBILITY
EASY 2-STEP PROCESS FOR REGISTERING:
1. PROCESS ENTRY FEE ONLINE.
2. SEND FILLED-OUT ENTRY FORM TO INFO@AMERICANWRITINGAWARDS.COM
Any show podcasting on or before REGISTRATION DEADLINE is eligible to register for the Podcast of the Year.
Submitted Podcasts must have a publicly accessible RSS feed that can be followed/subscribed to.
- Any show wishing to be eligible to be nominated can register via the steps described on the entry form until the nomination closing date and pay the $39 registration fee. Registrations are non-refundable for any reason but shows can be asked to be moved to a different category prior to the judging deadline.
- Shows can register in as many appropriate categories as they want. Each category registration is a separate fee. Just make sure your show is appropriate for each category.
- Shows that do not register are not eligible to participate. A third party can register a show on behalf of another podcast. The registration fee is non-refundable.
