After years of gradually usurping many forms of legacy media, podcasts are set to get their flowers on one of Hollywood’s biggest nights.
The Golden Globes have announced the addition of a new award category, Best Podcast, which will debut in 2026. The top 25 podcasts will be eligible for the award each year, and Golden Globes voters will narrow that field down to six nominees.
“As the world of entertainment continues to evolve, we are excited to recognize new forms of storytelling,” Golden Globes president Helen Hoehne said in a statement. “Podcasts have emerged as a profound medium for sharing narratives and building communities across global borders and generations. By celebrating achievements in both audio and visual podcasts, we aim to honor our heritage categories while making room for new voices and formats to be heard.”
The Golden Globes are the first of the traditional American award shows to formally recognize podcasts, though the medium gets the spotlight at internet-specific award shows such as the the iHeartPodcast Awards. The Golden Globes were uniquely equipped to bring podcasts into the fold, as the brand was already elastic enough to include both film and television, as opposed to other shows that focus on a single medium. The Golden Globes has also demonstrated an openness in recent years to adding new categories like the controversial Cinematic and Box Office Achievement Award, which debuted in 2024.
Award show changes appear to be in the air this spring, as the news follows the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ announcement that the Oscars will add an award for stunt work in 2028. The Oscars are also set to add a Best Casting category in 2027.
The 83rd Golden Globes, which will mark the debut of the Best Podcast category, are set to take place at the Beverly Hilton on January 11, 2026. Nikki Glaser is set to return to host the ceremony, which will once again air on CBS.
Dick Clark Productions, which owns and produces the Golden Globes, is a Penske Media company. PMC is also IndieWire’s parent company.
