Winners of the International Women’s Podcast Awards 2026

The International Women’s Podcast Awards (IWPAs), presented by Tink Media, has announced the winners for this year’s awards. The winners were revealed at a ceremony in Toronto at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema. With Tink Media founder Lauren Passell as the host, the awards were announced with the help of presenters from across the industry. A recorded version of the ceremony will be available to watch on Tink Media’s website.

The winners of the 2026 IWPAs spanned genres and topics to bring audio moments that captivated, compelled, and entertained. From a death-defying rescue mission in the Great Lakes and documentary about the Tibetan Freedom Concerts, to a sitcom-style narrative memoir and a comedic take on America’s debt. 

The IWPAs have become a cornerstone event celebrating the creativity, innovation, and impact of women in podcasting across genres and geographies. Proudly queer and trans inclusive, the IWPAs showcase creative excellence across multiple categories, recognizing the best in the business from around the world, from those who are self-taught and producing shows solo, to those who form part of larger teams at established audio companies.

The 2026 IWPA Winners

Moment of Absolute Honesty Still Life

Society & Culture
From: Naomi Bloomstein and Chloe Turpin
Hosted by: RSS.com

Moment of Artistry in Advertising Culture Kids

Kids & Family
From: Culture Kids Productions
Hosted by: Megaphone4.8 ★

Moment of Behind the Scenes Brilliance Points North

News
From: A Great Lakes Podcast
Hosted by: PRX

Trailer Moment of Comedy Gold Debt Heads

Society & Culture
From: Jamie Feldman & Rachel Webster
Hosted by: Transistor4.5 ★

Trailer Moment of Compelling Storytelling Everybody Knows But Me

Society & Culture
From: Holly Brown, Next Chapter Podcasts, Companion
Hosted by: Megaphone

Moment of Factual Clarity Fetch the Smelling Salts

TV & Film
From: Alice Nagle and Kimberly Marsh
Hosted by: Acast5.0 ★

Trailer Moment of Insight from a Role Model Freedom Needs a Soundtrack

Music
From: Rangzen Productions
Hosted by: PRX

Trailer Moment of Podcasting Panache in a Language Other Than English L’amour moi j’en ai pas 

Society & Culture
From: Alyssia Derly
Hosted by: Spotify for Creators

Trailer Moment of Pure Emotion Two-Faced: John of God

True Crime
From: Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts
Hosted by: Omny Studio4.9 ★

Trailer Moment of Visionary Leadership Freedom Needs a Soundtrack

Music
From: Rangzen Productions
Hosted by: PRX

Trailer Award for Changing the World One Moment at a Time Well Beyond Medicine: The Nemours Children’s Health Podcast

Health & Fitness
From: Nemours Children's Health
Hosted by: Buzzsprout4.9 ★

This year’s IWPAs were supported by CBC, RSS.com, Lower Street, True Native Media, Podchaser, Headliner, PlayerFM, Sound Off Podcast Network, and Women in Media, who recognize the value of celebrating and platforming the work of underrepresented creatives in the podcast industry. With their support, the awards are able to offer initiatives like the IWPA Scholarship Program, a tradition started in years past.

The above list of podcasts is available as an OPML file for your podcast player