RULES & TIMELINE

SUBMISSIONS FOR THE 2026 AMBIES ARE NOW OPEN!

WHO MAY ENTER (2026 Ambies®)

Production companies, individual producers/creators, and distributors of a podcast series that published at least three episodes during the period from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025, are eligible for consideration. Any ongoing podcast can enter, and any miniseries podcast can enter so long as they have published episodes in 2025.

If you are NOT a production company, individual producer/creator, or distributor, you must get written permission from the production company to submit (proof of permission will be requested with your entry).

ENTRY FEES

(August 4, 2025 to September 7, 2025)
- Members of The Podcast Academy — $150.
- Non-Members — $200.
(September 8, 2025 to October 10, 2025)
- Members of The Podcast Academy — $225.
- Non-Members — $275.
Accepted from October 11th to October 17th with an additional fee.
Payments may be made by credit card, PayPal, or bank transfer.
Scholarships are available via the Podcasting, Seriously awards fund. Check out if you are eligible here.

ELIGIBILITY AND RULES

All entries into the 2026 competition must have published at least 3 episodes between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025. “Published” is defined as the date the episode was first made available for streaming or download to the public.
Entries must either be submitted by the production company, individual producer/creator, or distributor of a podcast. Or, the production company must give authorization to the submitter. The same podcast may not be submitted by more than one company.
There are two types of category: Show Recognition, and Talent Recognition.
Show Recognition Categories: A podcast may be submitted into a maximum of three Show Recognition Categories.
Talent Recognition Categories: There are no limits on Talent Recognition Categories.
Entries will be screened for eligibility including launch date. It is the responsibility of the submitter to determine and select the appropriate category. However, the awards committee reserves the right to move entries to appropriate categories or dismiss inappropriate submissions. In the event a submission is disqualified the entry fee will be returned to the submitter.
Up to seven nominees will be selected for each category from all submissions and announced in early 2026.
All entries are listened to in whole and evaluated by a Blue Ribbon panel of judges, composed of members of The Podcast Academy. The evaluations of this panel determine the nominees in each category.
Regular Members of The Podcast Academy will have one month to listen to nominated podcasts in their assigned categories and vote for winners.
Winners will be announced live at the Ambies ceremony in 2026.
At least six entries must be submitted in a category or the category may be cancelled or combined. If a category is cancelled, entry fees will be refunded, or entries will be reassigned to other categories with permission of the submitter.