Golden Globes adds Best Podcast Category: 25 contenders shortlisted; six nominees to be selected

For the first time, the Golden Globes will feature a Best Podcast category at the 2026 ceremony, highlighting 25 qualifying podcasts from genres spanning news, comedy, and culture. Notable contenders include The Joe Rogan Experience, Call Her Daddy, SmartLess, Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, and The Ben Shapiro Show, while the Kelce brothers’ New Heights podcast did not make the list. Selection was based on audience engagement, revenue, chart performance, and reach, with six nominees to be chosen by voters. The Golden Globes ceremony will take place on January 11, 2026, with nominations announced December 8, 2025, marking a major step in bringing podcasting into mainstream awards recognition.

The Golden Globes will feature a new Best Podcast category for the first time at the 2026 ceremony, highlighting 25 podcasts from a wide spectrum of genres and audiences. Notable entries include The Joe Rogan Experience, Call Her Daddy, SmartLess, Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, The Ben Shapiro Show, The Bill Simmons Podcast, and The Tucker Carlson Show. The Kelce brothers’ New Heights podcast was notably absent from the list.

According to the Globes, the 25 qualifying podcasts were determined by Luminate, which analyzed audience engagement, revenue, chart performance, and reach, drawing data directly from digital platforms. These podcasts will now be invited to submit for official consideration, with Globes voters ultimately selecting six nominees from the pool.

This move marks the first time a major film and television awards show will formally recognize podcasts. While digital forward awards like the Webby Awards, iHeart Podcast Awards, and Ambies have previously honored podcasts, the Golden Globes now brings the medium into a traditionally high-profile awards spotlight.

The 2026 Golden Globes will be held on January 11, 2026, airing live on CBS, Paramount+, and Showtime, with Nikki Glaser returning as host. Nominations across all 27 categories, including the new podcast category, will be announced on December 8, 2025.

Full list of podcasts qualifying for the Golden Globes Best Podcast category:

20/20 (ABC News)
48 Hours (CBS News)
Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
Call Her Daddy
Candace
Crime Junkie
Dateline NBC
Good Hang with Amy Poehler
Morbid
MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories
Pardon My Take
Pod Save America
Rotten Mango
Shawn Ryan Show
SmartLess
Stuff You Should Know
The Ben Shapiro Show
The Bill Simmons Podcast
The Daily (New York Times)
The Joe Rogan Experience
The Megyn Kelly Show
The Mel Robbins Podcast
The Tucker Carlson Show
This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von
Up First (NPR)

The new category underscores the growing influence of podcasting as a storytelling medium, bridging entertainment, journalism, and digital media into mainstream recognition.

FAQs

1. How were podcasts selected for consideration?
   Luminate analyzed engagement, revenue, chart performance, and audience reach across digital platforms.
2. When will the nominees for the Best Podcast category be announced?
   On December 8, 2025.
3. Who will host the 2026 Golden Globes ceremony?
   Comedian Nikki Glaser will return as host for the event on January 11, 2026.