AceShowbiz - The 2026 iHeartPodcast Awards are set to recognize some of the most influential voices in podcasting, with nominations featuring notable personalities such as Amy Poehler, Alex Cooper, and Mel Robbins. The awards ceremony will take place on Monday, March 16, at 7 p.m. CT during South by Southwest (SXSW) and will be streamed live and free on VEEPS, as well as broadcast on select iHeartMedia radio stations at 11 p.m. local time.

Amy Poehler returns to the spotlight with her podcast Good Hang With Amy Poehler receiving a nomination for Podcast of the Year, just days after winning the inaugural Best Podcast Award at the 2026 Golden Globes. She faces stiff competition in the category against Mel Robbins for The Mel Robbins Podcast, as well as popular shows like The Breakfast Club, Call Her Daddy, Pablo Torre Finds Out, The Daily, The Rest Is History, This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von, Heavyweight, and Giggly Squad.

Hosting this year’s event is comedian and actress Ego Nwodim, known for her role on Saturday Night Live and as the host of the Thanks Dad podcast. Actor and comedian Will Ferrell will kick off the ceremony, while Holly Frey, host of Stuff You Missed in History Class, serves as the winners correspondent. The show will also feature musical performances by DJ Obscene.

The ceremony will be held at Austin, Texas’s ACL Live at the Moody Theater, continuing its tradition for the second consecutive year during SXSW. It will be open to select SXSW badge holders, in addition to a broader audience via radio and digital streaming platforms.

Presenters for the ceremony include a diverse group of entertainers and creators such as Clayton Echard, Eric Andre, Hannah Berner, Paige DeSorbo, Iliza Schlesinger, Jennie Garth, Jonathan Goldstein, Juju Green, Karen Kilgariff, Georgia Hardstark, Lele Pons, and Rider Strong. Additionally, popular TikTok influencers Caroline Vazzana, Clifford Taylor IV, and Tim Martin will appear, along with special guests Andrea Gunning, Chris Wylde, DJ Dramos, Elyse Myers, and Laurie Santos.

In addition to the fan-voted Podcast of the Year category, the awards span multiple genres and categories. Call Her Daddy and Giggly Squad are both nominated in the Best Pop Culture category, alongside Las Culturistas, Therapuss With Jake Shane, and The Viall Files. The Best Music category includes shows like The Bobby Bones Show, Song Exploder, Switched On Pop, All Songs Considered, and One Song.

The awards also honor excellence in TV & Film podcasts, with nominees such as The Big Picture, The Rewatchables, How Did This Get Made?, and Watch What Crappens. Comedy podcasts like Good Hang With Amy Poehler, The Toast, Distractible, Handsome, and The Basement Yard battle for recognition in their category.

Other categories cover a wide range of interests, including Business & Finance, Crime, Food, Wellness & Fitness, History, Kids & Family, News, Fiction, Sports, Science, Technology, Political, Spanish Language, Advice/Inspirational, Beauty & Fashion, Travel, Religious & Spirituality, Branded Podcasts, Emerging Podcasts, and International Podcasts.

Voting for the fan-favorite Podcast of the Year category opened on January 14 and will continue through February 22, allowing listeners to cast their ballots on the official awards website. Most other category winners will be selected by a panel of industry leaders and creatives, maintaining a balance between fan engagement and expert curation.

This year, iHeartMedia will also present three prestigious Icon Awards honoring individuals who have made significant contributions to podcasting. Jay Shetty, host of On Purpose, will receive the Social Impact Award for using his platform to foster important conversations around mental health. Terry Gross, the iconic host of NPR’s Fresh Air With Terry Gross & Tonya Mosley, will be honored with the Audible Audio Pioneer Award for her influential interview style. Hrishikesh Hirway, creator of Song Exploder, will be recognized with the Innovator Award for his groundbreaking storytelling techniques.

The executive producers of the 2026 iHeartPodcast Awards are John Sykes, Tom Poleman, Conal Byrne, and Bart Peters for iHeartMedia, with Audible serving as a sponsor for the event.

Here is the full list of nominees across key categories for the 2026 iHeartPodcast Awards:

Podcast of the Year
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
Giggly Squad

Best Host
Amy Poehler
Pablo Torre
Alex Cooper
Emma Chamberlain
Caleb Hearon

Best Ensemble
We Can Do Hard Things
SmartLess
The Basement Yard
This Is Important
Get Played

Best Pop Culture
Las Culturistas
Call Her Daddy
Therapuss With Jake Shane
Giggly Squad
The Viall Files

Best Music
The Bobby Bones Show
Song Exploder
Switched On Pop
All Songs Considered
One Song

Best TV & Film
The Big Picture
The Rewatchables
How Did This Get Made?
Watch What Crappens
Girls Rewatch

Best Comedy
Good Hang With Amy Poehler
The Toast
Distractible
Handsome
The Basement Yard

Best Business & Finance
Earn Your Leisure
How I Built This
Acquired
Young and Profiting With Hala Taha
The Diary of a CEO

Best Crime
Crime Junkie
Rotten Mango
Anatomy of Murder
My Favorite Murder
Wisecrack

Best Food
Eating While Broke
The Sporkful
Home Cooking
The Splendid Table
Dinner's On Me

Best Wellness & Fitness
On Purpose With Jay Shetty
Huberman Lab
The Mel Robbins Podcast
10% Happier
Maintenance Phase

Best History
The Rest Is History
You're Wrong About
Throughline
American History Tellers
SNAFU

Best Kids & Family
Story Pirates
Wow in the World
Circle Round
The Big Fib
Brains On!

Best News
The Daily
The Megyn Kelly Show
Pivot
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Up First From NPR

Best Fiction
The NoSleep Podcast
Havoc Town
Old Gods of Appalachia
Table Read
Murder at the Patel Motel

Best Sports
New Heights
Pardon My Take
The Zach Lowe Show
Club 520
The Ringer Fantasy Football Show

Best Science
Radiolab
Ologies
Hidden Brain
StarTalk Radio
Shell Game

Best Technology
Hard Fork
Black Tech Green Money
Galaxy Brain
Acquired
All-In

Best Ad Read
Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend
Call Her Daddy
My Brother, My Brother and Me
Dudes on Dudes
Distractible

Best Political
Pod Save America
The Bulwark Podcast
Breaking Points
Hacks on Tap
The Ben Shapiro Show

Best Spanish Language
Gracias, Come Again.
Radio Ambulante
Leyenda Legendarias
Chente Ydrach
Relatos de la Noche

Best Advice/Inspirational
IMO With Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson
On Purpose With Jay Shetty
Thanks for Asking With Nora McInerny
Just Heal With Dr. Jay
Self-Conscious With Chrissy Teigen

Best Beauty & Fashion
Nymphet Alumni
Fashion Neurosis With Bella Freud
Articles of Interest
Lipstick on the Rim
Naked Beauty

Best Travel
Women Who Travel
Travel With Rick Steves
Zero to Travel
Points Talk
The Travel Diaries

Best Religious & Spirituality
Deeply Well With Devi Brown
Girls Gone Bible
Joel Osteen Podcast
WHOA That's Good Podcast
Elevation With Steven Furtick

Best Branded Podcast
This Is Not a Beauty Podcast (L'Oreal)
Crucible Moments (Sequoia Capital)
The Unshakeables (Chase for Business)
ZOE Science & Nutrition (ZOE)
Smart Talks (IBM)

Best Emerging
Khloé in Wonder Land
Smart Girl Dumb Questions
Try Hard
Thanks Dad With Ego Nwodim
Upstairs Neighbors

Best International
ShxtsNGigs (United Kingdom)
Las Alucines (Mexico)
The Rest Is History (United Kingdom)
Shameless (Australia)
Crime Beat (Canada)

The 2026 iHeartPodcast Awards promise to be a celebration of podcasting’s brightest talents and most innovative voices, highlighting the medium’s expanding influence across culture and media. Fans and industry insiders alike will be watching closely as these dynamic creators receive the recognition they deserve.