The 2026 iHeartPodcast Awards Live at SXSW were held Monday night, celebrating the most entertaining and innovative podcasts of the year.
The awards show, which took place at Austin’s Moody Theater, was hosted by comedian, podcast and “SNL” alum Ego Nwodim.
The top honor of Podcast of the Year, a fan-voted category, went to Hannah Berner and Paige DeSorbo, co-hosts of “Giggly Squad,” Comedian and actor Iliza Shlesinger presented the Podcast of the Year trophies to Berner and DeSorbo. In accepting the award, Berner joked that DeSorbo first said “no” to doing the podcast because she “has a face for television”; DeSorbo thanked their listeners for always tuning in.
The duo launched “Giggly Squad” started in 2020 on Instagram. Berner and DeSorbo describe the weekly podcast as covering “pop culture, fashion, mental health moments, and Italian brain rot. We can’t promise you’ll learn anything, but you will giggle.” They have also produced live in-person shows across 70 cities including two shows at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall.
Other winners included Amy Poehler for best comedy podcast with “Good Hang” (which also won the inaugural Golden Globes podcast award); Alex Cooper’s “Call Her Daddy” for best pop-culture podcast; “The Mel Robbins Podcast” in the wellness and fitness category; “The MeidasTouch Podcast” for best best news podcast; NPR’s “All Songs Considered” for best music podcast; Barstool Sports’ “Pardon My Take” in sports; and comedian Caleb Hearon of “So True” for best overall host.
Presenters at the iHeartPodcast Awards included Clayton Echard, Eric Andre, Jennie Garth, Jonathan Goldstein, Juju Green, Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, Lele Pons and Rider Strong, as well as TikTok creators Caroline Vazzana, Clifford Taylor IV and Timothy Martin. Special guests included Andrea Gunning, Chris Wylde, DJ Dramos, Elyse Myers and Laurie Santos.
In addition to the fan-voted and category awards, iHeartMedia presented three Icon Awards recognizing individuals who have made “groundbreaking contributions” to podcasting: the Social Impact Award to Jay Shetty; the Audible Audio Pioneer Award to Terry Gross of NPR’s “Fresh Air”; and the Innovator Award to Hrishikesh Hirway, creator of “Song Exploder.”
Executive producers for the 2026 iHeartPodcast Awards are John Sykes, Tom Poleman, Conal Byrne and Bart Peters for iHeartMedia.
Here’s the full list of 2026 iHeartPodcast Awards winners:
Podcast of the Year
Giggly Squad
Business & Finance
The Diary of a CEO With Steven Bartlett
Comedy
Good Hang With Amy Poehler
Crime
Wisecrack
Wellness & Fitness
The Mel Robbins Podcast
News
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Overall Ensemble
The Basement Yard
TV & Film
Watch What Crappens
Travel
Women Who Travel
Emerging
Smart Girl Dumb Questions With Nayeema Raza
Pop Culture
Call Her Daddy
Food
Eating While Broke
History
The Rest Is History
Kids & Family
Circle Round
Music
All Songs Considered
Fiction
Murder at the Patel Motel
Sports
Pardon My Take
Science
Hidden Brain
Technology
Acquired
Ad Read
My Brother, My Brother and Me
Overall Host
Caleb Hearon
Political
Breaking Points With Krystal and Saagar
Spanish Language
Chente Ydrach
Advice/Inspirational
Thanks for Asking
Beauty & Fashion
Naked Beauty
Spirituality & Religion
Elevation With Steven Furtick
Branded Podcast
The Unshakeables (Chase for Business)
International
Shameless (Australia)
English (US) ·