Black Podcasting Awards Ceremony to be Held In-Person for the First Time

The Black Podcasting Awards (BPAwards) are coming to the stage. After five years of virtual ceremonies, the premier celebration of Black voices in podcasting will hold its sixth annual awards ceremony live and in person in Baltimore, MD, on Friday, October 17. The excitement is palpable as 71 podcasts are nominated across 43 categories, with the spotlight shining on the coveted Podcaster of the Year award. Vying for the top honor are Black Is America, from one of the most awarded podcasters in history, Dominic Lawson; 2024 BPAwards winner Mind the Force from Kristine McPartlin; and Mick Unplugged, Mick Hunt’s breakout hit that has dominated Apple’s Podcast Charts.

“To see this level of recognition happen in person is incredibly powerful,” says Talib Jasir, Founder and Convener of Afros & Audio Podcast Festival. “Since we started the festival back in 2019, just blocks away from where the Black Podcasting Awards began their journey months later in Brooklyn, the goal has always been about building tangible community. This ceremony feels like a full-circle moment, celebrating that growth and brilliance face-to-face.”

The sixth annual awards ceremony will take place on Friday, October 17, from 6–10 pm at Motor House’s Black Box Theater in Baltimore, MD. Hosted by BPAwards co-founder Georgie-Ann Getton, the event will be videotaped by Gifted Sounds Network. Tickets and tables are now available for purchase at ceremony.blackpodawards.com. The ceremony is part of the 7th annual Afros & Audio Podcast Festival weekend. The festival is offering 25% off festival registration using the discount code bpawards25.

The prestigious Podcaster of the Year award will be decided by the BPAwards VIP Vote. This exclusive voting body includes previous BPAwards winners, judges, volunteer staff, nominees, Afros & Audio speakers and staff, and active Black Podcasters Association members. VIP Voting is open through Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at 12:00 AM Hawaii Time.

Winning podcasters receive physical awards as well as prizes from Afros & Audio and other sponsors. Follow the Black Podcasting Awards on social media @BlackPodAwards to stay updated.