These categories recognize excellence in podcasts in the USA since the beginning of 2024.
Nominations that won in the 2025 ABAs may be resubmitted for consideration in the 2026 ABAs. If they have been updated with recent achievements, they may be submitted to the same categories in which they won. If they have not been updated, they must be submitted to categories different from those in which they won.

Information to be submitted online for entries in these categories for the 2026 ABAs will include

a. An essay of up to 1,250 characters describing the podcast and its output since the beginning of 2024.

b. The podcast itself - no more than three (3) episodes - in the form of URLs to streaming content or uploads of files to our server.

c. Optionally, you may list creative and production credits for podcast - a list of the people and organizations that contribute to its development

Shows

Z01. Advice & How-To
Podcasts series dedicated to guiding listeners or answering questions, including advice, explainers, and tutorials.

Z02. Arts & Culture
Podcast series that examine arts and culture in narrative form, interviews, and conversation. Topics include fine art, film, fashion, television, culinary experiences, popular culture etc.

Z03. Business
Podcast series that examine the business world, including technology and financial matters, in narrative form, interviews, and conversation.

Z04. Comedy
Podcast series dedicated to comedy or the art of laughter in narrative form, stand-up, interviews, and conversation.

Z05. Creativity & Marketing
Podcast series that explores B2B and creative work brands or agencies, including brand marketing, experiential marketing and production.

Z06. Crime & Justice
Podcast series dedicated to crime and justice, including unsolved mysteries, true crime, supreme court rulings and criminal and civil cases and legal activities.

Z07. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
Podcast series that focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging across all identities with the goal of creating inclusive environments where individuals can be authentic without discrimination.

Z08. DocumentaryPodcast series that examines documentary content in narrative form, interviews, and conversation.

Z09. Health, Wellness & Lifestyle
Podcast series that examines health and wellness, including mental and emotional health, fitness, food, sleep, meditation, conventional and alternative medicine, etc.

Z10. History
Podcast series that examines or explores historical matters, including recent history, ancient history, biographical work, or historiography.

Z11. Interview/Talk Show
Podcast series featuring a host or hosts interviewing guests.

Z12. Kids & Family
Podcast series that examines family life and parenting, or is produced specifically to entertain, educate, or relax children.

Z13. Lifestyle
Podcast series that examines lifestyle content, interviews, and conversation touching on the personal side of life by providing information and resources that allow people to live on their own terms. Lifestyle and living topics include: gardening, home improvement, interior design, architecture, and like subjects.

Z14. Music
Podcast series devoted to discussing and/or promoting music and music culture. Includes interviews, performance, reviews, etc.

Z15. News & Politics
Informational podcast series focused on news topics, political happenings, and recent updates and headlines.

Z16. Public Service & Activism
Podcasts that were created to discuss or facilitate political change, public participation in civics, government policies/pursuits, or social activism.

Z17. Science & Education
Podcast series that examines science and education in narrative form, interviews, and conversation.

Z18. Scripted (Fiction)
Podcast series devoted to performing scripted fictional work for entertainment.

Z19. Sports
Podcast series that examine sports in narrative form, interviews, and conversation.

Z20. Sustainability & Environment
Podcast series focused on sustainability, including but not limited to climate and environmental issues, cities and housing, and food.

Z21. Technology
Podcast series that examine technology in narrative form, interviews, and conversation.

Z22. Television & Film
Podcast series devoted to discussing and/or promoting television/streaming shows and films. Including series that feature recaps, reviews, interviews, in-depth discussion of TV and film, etc.

Individual Episodes

Recognizing the best in Individual Episodes, from small, independently created shows to household names in digital audio covering topics from Arts & Culture to Science & Education. For nominations in these categories provide only one (1) nominated episode.

Z25. Arts & Culture
Single podcast episode that examines arts and culture in narrative form, interviews, and conversation. Topics include fine art, film, fashion, television, culinary experiences, popular culture, etc.

Z26. Business
Single podcast episode that examines the business world, including financial matters, in narrative form, interviews, and conversation. Must be an individual episode.

Z27. Comedy
Single podcast episode dedicated to comedy or the art of laughter in narrative form, stand-up, interviews, conversation or other formats.

Z28. Crime & Justice
Single podcast episode dedicated to crime and justice, including unsolved mysteries, true crime, supreme court rulings and criminal and civil cases and legal activities. Must be an individual episode.

Z29. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
Single podcast episode that focuses on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging across all identities with the goal of creating inclusive environments where individuals can be authentic without discrimination. Must be an individual episode.

Z30. Documentary
Single podcast episode that examines documentary content in narrative form, interviews, and conversation.

Z31. Featured Guest
Single podcast episode with a best-in-class showcase of a guest or special co-host, including narrative form, interviews and conversations.

Z32. Health, Wellness & Lifestyle
Single podcast episode that examines health and wellness, including mental and emotional health, fitness, food, sleep, meditation, conventional and alternative medicine.

Z33. History
Single podcast episode that examines or explores historical matters, including recent history, ancient history, biographical work, or historiography.

Z34. Interview/Talk Show
Single podcast episode featuring a host or hosts interviewing guests.

Z35. Kids & Family
Single podcast episode that examines family life and parenting, or is produced specifically to entertain, educate, or relax children. Must be an individual episode.

Z36. News & Politics
Single podcast episode focused on news topics, political happenings, and recent updates and headlines.

Z37. Science & Education
Single podcast episode that examines science and education in narrative form, interviews, and conversation. Topics could run the gamut of health and medicine, mathematics, environment, food science, academic-focused content for adults and children including and how-to and explainers.

Z38. Television & Film
Single podcast episode devoted to discussing and/or promoting television/streaming shows and films. Including series that feature recaps, reviews, interviews, in-depth discussion of TV and film, etc.

Limited Series & Specials

Recognizing the best special episodes or limited-run Podcasts series.

Z40. Business
Podcast limited-series or special episodes that examine the business world, business marketing, finance and investments in narrative form, interviews, and conversations. Must be limited series or special episode.

Z41. Crime & Justice
Podcast limited-series or special episode dedicated to crime and justice, including unsolved mysteries, true crime, supreme court rulings and criminal and civil cases and legal activities. Must be limited series or special episode.

Z42. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
Podcast limited-series or special episode that focus on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging across all identities with the goal of creating inclusive environments where individuals can be authentic without discrimination. Must be a limited series or special episode.

Z43. Documentary
Podcast limited-series or special episode that examines documentary content in narrative form, interviews, and conversation. Must be a limited series or special episode.

Z44. Health, Science & Education
Podcast limited-series or special episode that examines and educates around health and science in narrative form, interviews, and conversations. Must be a limited series or special episode.

Z45. Interview/Talk Show
Podcast limited-series or special episode featuring a host or hosts interviewing guests. Must be a limited series or special episode.

Z46. News & Politics
Podcast limited-series or special episode focused on news topics, political happenings, and recent updates and headlines. Must be a limited series or special episode.

Z47. Scripted (Fiction)
Podcast limited-series or special episode devoted to performing scripted fictional work for entertainment. Must be a limited series or special episode.

Features

Recognizing outstanding elements of Podcasts, including Best Host, Best Writing, and Best Branded Podcast or Segment, and more.

Z50. Best Branded Podcast or Segment
The most engaging, entertaining, and/or informative podcast created on behalf of a brand or organization.

Z51. Best Co-Hosts
The hosts with the most; who demonstrate the best qualities of hosting a podcast interview or conversation. Podcast must have at least (2) hosts.

Z52. Best Creator or Influencer Series
The most memorable, entertaining, informative, and engaging podcast series featuring a Creator or Influencer.

Z53. Best Host
The host with the most; who demonstrates the best qualities of hosting a Podcast interview or conversation.

Z54. Best Indie Podcast
The most memorable, entertaining, informative, and engaging podcast created and produced by independent groups or individuals.

Z55. Best Indie Podcast - Limited Run
The most memorable, entertaining, informative, and engaging limited-run podcast created and produced by independent groups or individuals (3 episodes maximum, trailers and bonus content excluded).

Z56. Best Individual Episode
The most memorable, informative, or entertaining single podcast episode.

Z57. Best Limited Series
The most memorable, engrossing, and entertaining multi-episode limited series developed for a Podcast. Full series will be judged.

Z58. Best Live Podcast Recording
Individual or special podcast episode, or podcast mini-series, created for and recorded in a live setting with an audience present. Including but not limited to special live episodes of news and interview shows.

Z59. Best Partnership or Collaboration
Individual or special podcast episode, series or mini-series that include a partnership or collaboration between one or more brands.

Z60. Best Series
The most memorable, entertaining, informative, and engaging podcast series as a whole.

Z61. Best Video Series
The most memorable, entertaining, informative, and engaging video podcast series as a whole.

Z62. Best Writing
Podcasts that demonstrate excellence in editorial, regardless of the topic covered.

Z63. Experimental & Innovation
Individual or series that best uses non-traditional ideas and techniques in concept, content or execution, to produce work that drives the medium forward.

Z64. Original Music Score / Sound Design
Podcasts that set the industry standard for sound design and effects, or that feature the best original body of music throughout episodes.