The 2026 iHeartPodcast Awards were announced on Tuesday (following the live ceremony on Monday, March 16, 2026) at SXSW in Austin, Texas, honoring standout podcasts and creators from the past year.
"Giggly Squad" (hosted by Hannah Berner and Paige DeSorbo) took home the night's top honor: Podcast of the Year (fan-voted), beating strong contenders like "Good Hang with Amy Poehler," "Call Her Daddy," "The Daily," and "The Mel Robbins Podcast."
Other major category winners included:
- Best Business & Finance: "The Diary of a CEO" with Steven Bartlett
- Best Comedy: "Good Hang with Amy Poehler"
- Best Crime: "Wisecrack"
- Best Wellness & Fitness: "The Mel Robbins Podcast"
- Best News: "The MeidasTouch Podcast"
- Best Overall Ensemble (presented by Gatorade Lower Sugar): "The Basement Yard"
- Best TV & Film: "Watch What Crappens"
- Best Travel: "Women Who Travel"
- Best Emerging: "Smart Girl Dumb Questions" with Nayeema Raza
Jay Shetty received the Social Impact Award for his work on "On Purpose," spotlighting mental health and meaningful conversations.
The event, hosted by comedian and podcaster Ego Nwodim ("Thanks Dad"), took place at ACL Live at the Moody Theater. It featured presenters like Will Ferrell (who opened the show), Iliza Schlesinger, Eric Andre, and others, with music from DJ Obscene. The awards celebrated excellence across 28 categories, livestreamed on select iHeartMedia stations and the iHeartRadio app.