Spotify sponsors Scottish Podcast Awards

Spotify has been announced as official partner of the inaugural Scottish Podcast Awards - a major boost for Scotland’s fast growing podcasting community.

Thanks to Spotify’s support, entry to the Scottish Podcast Awards is now completely free for all creators, opening the doors to more voices across Scotland than ever before.

Spotify will also now serve as the official voting platform for the Listener’s Choice Award, making it easier than ever for audiences across the country to support the podcasts they love.

Alastair Ferrans, Head of International Podcasts at Spotify, said: “Every decision we make at Spotify is through the lens of adding value to creators.

“Supporting Scotland’s creator community is a natural extension of that work - and it’s fair to say there’s no shortage of strong voices and great stories to celebrate.”

The first ever Scottish Podcast Awards will take place at Glasgow’s iconic Old Fruitmarket on 25 June 2026, supported by local government. The awards ceremony will celebrate the excellence, creativity and innovation across Scotland’s rapidly expanding podcasting scene.

With 23.3% of adults in Scotland now listening to podcasts weekly, higher than any other UK nation, according to Ofcom, organisers say the time is ripe for an official Scottish awards.

Entries are now open across twenty two categories, spanning a broad range of genres including entertainment and pop culture, business to business, news and politics, comedy, Gaelic, sport and more, as well as Emerging Talent. The Listener’s Choice category will open in May.

Both audio and video first podcasts are eligible, provided they meet the entry criteria.

An additional international category welcomes entries from podcasters outside Scotland, ensuring global creators are judged alongside their peers while keeping the core awards focused on Scottish talent.

Scottish Podcast Awards Director and Founder Corrinne Gardiner said: “We are incredibly proud to welcome Spotify as a major partner of the Awards. This partnership is a significant moment - not just for us, but for Scotland’s entire podcasting community.

Podcasting in Scotland is thriving, and these awards are about recognising the talent, originality and hard work that goes into creating brilliant shows. Whether you’re an established producer or a first-time podcaster, we want to hear from you.”

The Awards, which also have Go Radio as a media partner, are produced by Sixty Steps Productions, a company founded to deliver this landmark cultural event and further develop live opportunities for podcasts and content creators in Scotland.

Corrinne added: “Scotland’s podcasting community is bursting with talent, innovation and passion. These awards are about celebrating that community and giving it the national recognition it has long deserved.”

Podcasters can find full details on eligibility, categories and how to enter for free on the website.