Beth Ditto, Sean Bean, Nicola Walker, Elizabeth Day, Sony Music Podcasts, Penguin Studios, Goalhanger, Sky News and The Guardian among nominees for the 2026 audio and podcast awards at BFI Southbank.
Multi-award-winning comedian and All Killa No Filla co-host Kiri Pritchard-McLean to host the ceremony at BFI Southbank on Thursday 26 November.
AudioUK has announced the shortlist for the APAs (Audio Production Awards) 2026, sponsored by Audible, celebrating the creativity, talent and innovation that make the podcasting and audio industry so special.
From familiar voices and established names to exciting newcomers and the teams working tirelessly behind the scenes, this year's shortlist reflects the breadth of talent and storytelling across the industry.
The winners will be revealed at a gala ceremony on Thursday 26 November 2026 at BFI Southbank, London, bringing together the podcasting and audio community for an evening of recognition and celebration. Tickets are available here.
Multi-award-winning comedian, writer, broadcaster and podcaster Kiri Pritchard-McLean has been announced as the host of this year's ceremony.
Known for her quick wit, infectious energy and sharp observational humour, Kiri is one of the UK's most exciting comedy talents. Her work spans stand-up, television, radio and podcasting, including hosting Live at the Apollo and BBC Radio 4's Best Medicine, alongside appearances on Have I Got News for You, QI and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.
She is also the co-creator and co-host of the hugely popular true crime comedy podcast All Killa No Filla, alongside Rachel Fairburn. With her experience in audio and reputation for bringing warmth, humour and personality to the stage, Kiri is a fitting host for a night dedicated to celebrating the people who make the industry thrive.
Key nominees
The Production Company of the Year category, sponsored by Riskbox, celebrates the creativity and impact of companies shaping the podcasting and audio industry. This year's nominees include Bespoken Media, the Edinburgh-based independent championing Scotland's podcast and audio community through the Scotland Audio Network; Penguin Studios, whose small team produces more than 500 audiobooks annually, including Arundhati Roy's Mother Mary Comes to Me; and Stak, the independent podcast company behind Football Ramble and P1 with Matt & Tommy, which has surpassed 320 million all-time listens.
Fellow nominees include Peanut & Crumb, Bengo Media, Sony Music Podcasts and Tandem Productions.
The Presenting Team category brings together some of the industry's most recognisable personalities and popular podcast teams, including Chris and Xand van Tulleken (What's Up Docs?, Loftus Media), who tackle health myths with humour and scientific insight; Elis James and John Robins (The Elis James and John Robins Show, Significant Productions), whose award-winning comedy combines hilarious exchanges with candid conversations; and Helen Lewis, Ian Hislop, Adam Macqueen and Andrew Hunter Murray (Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast, Rethink Audio), who bring wit and sharp analysis to the latest political stories. Teams from Audio Always, Fix Radio and Stak are also nominated.
The Narrator category, sponsored by BeeAudio, features Nicola Walker (Bonnier Books UK) for her gripping narration of T.M. Logan's thriller The Weekend; Sara Starling (Freelance), whose Bubbling Toad Stories bring magical storytelling to children and families; and Morwenna Rose (The Book of Arralan), who combines traditional oral storytelling with character performances in a children's fantasy series. Fellow nominees include Helen. Zaltzman, Barney Cooper, Melanie Crawley and Daniel Millar.
The Producer of the Year category shines a spotlight on the creative talent shaping outstanding productions, with nominations for Jon Holmes (Unusual), Olivia Swift (Reform Radio), Alan Weedon (Sony Music Entertainment), Helen Burke (JamPot Productions), Sean Allsop (Freelance) and Nicolas Jackson (Afonica).
Meanwhile, new for 2026, the Executive Producer of the Year shortlist celebrates leadership and creative vision, featuring Becky Green (Audio Always), Vicki Blight (Bengo Media), Charlotte Mason (Insanity Studios), Jack Howson (Peanut & Crumb), Paul Thomas (Platform
Media) and Paul Stanworth (Sky News).
Sponsored by The Podcast Show, the Publisher or Network of the Year category recognises organisations making their mark across the industry, with nominations for Fix Radio, Podomedy, Resonance, Rusty Quill and Sony Music Podcasts.
The New Voice category, sponsored by the Independent Podcast Awards, celebrates emerging talent including Chantal Romain, who explores her Jamaican heritage through food in I Am What I Ate; Eva Brookes, whose debut series Made in China examines adoption, identity and belonging; Georgie Styles, who secured five BBC commissions after years of trying to break into the industry; and Louis Critchley, bringing cartoon-like energy and inventive character performances to audiobook narration. Fellow nominees include Beth Ditto and Harley Viveash.
The Changemaker Award, sponsored by Morley Radio, features nominees including Women and Asthma (Imperial College London), whose immersive audio experience Stories of Breath raises awareness of how asthma disproportionately affects women; Beth Jones, whose podcast supports families affected by frontotemporal dementia; and Kiril Traykov, whose experimental podcast The AI Chatbot Drag Race explores human creativity, artificial intelligence and the social impact of AI through a drag competition featuring six chatbots.
Reflecting the ways audiences are discovering and engaging with content, the Best Use of Video category celebrates creative approaches to bringing audio beyond traditional formats.
Nominees include teams from Goalhanger, JamPot Productions, Peanut & Crumb, Persephonica and Significant Productions, alongside Mark Williams (Fin West).
The News & Politics category features work from Bloomberg, Sky News, The Guardian and independent creators, while the True Crime shortlist includes productions from Audible Studios, BBC Local and BBC Audio Scotland, Novel Audio, Peanut & Crumb and The Future Justice Project.
Across categories including Comedy, Audio Drama, Fiction and Non-Fiction Audiobooks, Entertainment, Factual / Documentary, History, Music, Kids Content, Lifestyle & Society, Branded Content and Sound Design, the shortlist celebrates the remarkable storytelling, technical expertise and creativity found throughout the podcasting and audio industry.
The prestigious AudioUK Award, recognising an outstanding contribution to the industry, will be revealed on the night.
Celebrating the people behind the audio
At the heart of the APA’s is a commitment to recognising the people whose creativity, dedication and expertise make great podcasting and audio possible.
From the presenters and performers audiences know and love to the producers, writers, editors, sound designers and executives whose work happens behind the scenes. The awards celebrate the many individuals and teams who contribute to the industry's success.
The APA’s also provide an opportunity to shine a spotlight on independent creators, freelancers and emerging talent, recognising the incredible work being produced across organisations of every size.
“This year’s shortlist is a brilliant reflection of the creativity, ambition and talent across the UK’s podcast and audio industry. From established names to emerging creators and independent freelancers, it’s fantastic to see such a broad range of people and productions being recognised.
A huge thank you to everyone who entered, our judging panels for their time and expertise, and the sponsors and partners whose support makes the awards possible. Congratulations to everyone shortlisted, I’m looking forward to celebrating their achievements on the night!”Chris Baughen, CEO of AudioUK
AudioUK would like to thank everyone who entered this year's awards, the judges who dedicated their time and expertise to reviewing submissions, and the sponsors and partner whose continued support makes the celebrations possible.
Event information
The APAs from AudioUK 2026, sponsored by Audible, will take place at BFI Southbank, London, on Thursday 26 November 2026.
The ceremony will be hosted by Kiri Pritchard-McLean, bringing together the podcasting and audio community for an evening of celebration, recognition and connection. Early Bird ticket prices (ends on the 9th November):
● AudioUK members: £75 + VAT
● Non-members: £85 + VAT
Book tickets here
Supporting accessibility across the industry
The Pay What You Can Scheme, supported by Amazon Music, returned for 2026, helping to make the awards more accessible to freelancers and individuals who might otherwise find the cost of attending a barrier.
A limited number of free or discounted tickets are available through the scheme, reflecting AudioUK's commitment to ensuring that the opportunity to celebrate and connect with the industry is open to as many people as possible.
Those interested in the scheme can contact Mileta via hello@audioproductionawards.co.uk for further information.
Awards website: www.theapas.co.uk
Congratulations to everyone shortlisted, and to all those who entered this year's awards. We look forward to celebrating with you at BFI Southbank on 26 November!