Shortlist Announced for the International Women’s Podcast Awards

The International Women’s Podcast Awards (IWPAs), presented by Tink Media, has announced the shortlist of nominees for this year’s awards. From almost 500 entries received this year, the list features three nominees in each category who have been shortlisted for their exceptional moments of audio.

The shortlist was determined by over 80 judges from around the world and across the podcast industry. Judges assessed entries based on the impact of the moment, originality, quality of the audio and production, relevance to the category, size and resources of the team, and the overall listening experience.

The final winners of the 2026 International Women’s Podcast Awards will be revealed at the ceremony on Thursday, October 8th in Toronto, Canada. Tickets are on sale now! The ceremony will also be livestreamed for those who are unable to attend in person.

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 shortlist

Moment of Absolute Honesty

• Girl Overboard
• Still Life
• The Next Edition with Mallika Kapur

Moment of Artistry in Advertising

• Culture Kids
• Silver Linings with The Old Gays
• The Voice Kitchen

Moment of Behind the Scenes Brilliance

• Boys and Girls
• Points North
• The Secret Life of TK Dutes

Moment of Comedy Gold

• Austen After Dark
• Debt Heads
• Everybody Knows But Me

Moment of Compelling Storytelling

• Boys and Girls
• Everybody Knows But Me
• The Defendants

Moment of Factual Clarity

• All That We Touch
• Fetch the Smelling Salts
• The Tamsen Show

Moment of Insight from a Role Model

• Freedom Needs a Soundtrack
• The Convex Conversation
• The Tamsen Show

Moment of Podcasting Panache in a Language Other Than English

• L’amour moi j’en ai pas
• ბროწეულის მარცვლები
• On n’oublie pas!

Moment of Pure Emotion

• Momfessions
• Shadow Clock
• Two-Faced: John of God

Moment of Visionary Leadership

• Freedom Needs a Soundtrack
• Made For Us
• The Convex Conversation

Award for Changing the World One Moment at a Time

• Immigrantly
• The Defendants
• Well Beyond Medicine: The Nemours Children’s Health Podcast

This year’s IWPAs are being supported by CBC, RSS.com, Lower Street, True Native Media, Podchaser, 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.