The finalists for the Political Podcast Awards 2026 have been announced today.
The ceremony takes place on 28 January 2026 in Westminster, sponsored by YouTube, and will be hosted by broadcaster and former MP Gyles Brandreth.
Former White House Director of Communications Anthony Scaramucci has also been confirmed as the event’s keynote speaker.
Good Morning Britain’s Head of Politics, Anne Alexander, returns as Head Judge this year, leading a panel that brings together a wide range of political and policy expertise.
She is joined by the Mayor of the Tees Valley Lord Ben Houchen, Labour MPs Liam Conlon, Gregor Poynton, Steve Race and Tom Rutland, alongside Baronesses Anne Jenkin and Deborah Mattinson and the Executive Director of IPPR, Harry Quilter-Pinner, who each contributed to selecting this year’s stand-out shows.
Every podcast on the shortlist is automatically in the running for both Political Podcast of the Year, sponsored by Diageo, and the People’s Choice Award, sponsored by YouTube.
The public vote for the People’s Choice category opens in December, giving listeners across the UK a chance to back their favourite political voices.
This year sees the introduction of a new award category: the Student Podcast of the Year, celebrating the content produced by up-and-coming podcasters from universities and colleges across the UK.
Awards Founder and Chair of iNHouse Communications, Katie Perrior, said the shortlist reflects a remarkable moment for the medium.
She explained that political podcasts have evolved into agenda-setting platforms that increasingly drive the national conversation, noting that last year’s global elections showcased how vital they have become for audiences seeking clarity and depth.
“Once again, the judges have had their work cut out for them, with both the quantity and quality of entries exceeding all expectations. We look forward to finding out who be crowned the winners at the ceremony in January,” she added.
THE FINALISTS FOR THE POLITICAL PODCAST AWARDS 2026
Best Newcomer
People and Politics (Dee Reilly Media)
Quite Right! (The Spectator)
The General and the Journalist (Times Media)
The State of It (Times Media)
Comedy Moment of the Year
Electoral Dysfunction (Sky)
Politics Unpacked – PMQs (Times Media)
The Simple Politics Podcast (Stripped Media)
The State of It (Times Media)
Interview of the Year
Jimmy’s Jobs of the Future – Interview with Sir Tony Blair (Boxlight)
Political Thinking with Nick Robinson – Interview with Sir Keir Starmer MP (BBC)
Politics Weekly UK – Interview with Andy Burnham (The Guardian)
The Rest is Politics: Leading – Interview with Ahmed al-Sharaa (Goalhanger)
Most Original Format
Page 94 (Private Eye)
Political Currency: Inside the Room (Persephonica)
Politics at Sam and Anne’s (Politico and Sky)
Politics Weekly UK (The Guardian)
Presenter of the Year
Adam Fleming, Chris Mason, Laura Kuenssberg, and Paddy O’Connell – Newscast (BBC)
Anne McElvoy and Sam Coates – Politics at Sam and Anne’s (Politico and Sky)
Beth Rigby, Harriet Harman and Ruth Davidson – Electoral Dysfunction (Sky)
Camilla Tominey and Tim Stanley – The Daily T (Telegraph)
Christopher Hope – Chopper’s Political Podcast (GB News)
Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel and Lewis Goodall – The News Agents (Global)
Nick Robinson – Political Thinking with Nick Robinson (BBC)
Producer of the Year
Daniel Kraemer – Political Thinking with Nick Robinson (BBC)
Ellie Clifford – Political Currency (Persephonica)
Laura FitzPatrick – Electoral Dysfunction (Sky)
Manuela Saragosa – Political Fix (The Financial Times)
Rising Star
David Reilly – People and Politics (Dee Reilly Media)
Laura Beveridge – The PoliticsJOE Podcast (PoliticsJOE)
Oscar Edmondson – Coffee House Shots (The Spectator)
Patrick Baker – Westminster Insider (Politico)
Story of the Year
Electoral Dysfunction (Sky)
Political Fix (The Financial Times)
Political Thinking with Nick Robinson (BBC)
The News Agents (Global)
Student Podcast of the Year
Gettin’ Rowdy with The Gaudie (The Gaudie Student Newspaper – University of Aberdeen)
The Conversation Cabinet (The Conversation Cabinet)
The Feminist Files (Gender Agenda – University of Cambridge)
Speaking at the time of the launch of this year’s awards Anthony Scaramucci, former White House Communications Director, said: “I’m in the podcast game myself, and I know this has changed the way people get their news.
“You’re not waiting for something stiff on TV anymore, you’re going straight to the people with real takes, real voices – that’s power. It’s going to be, to quote one of my old friends, YUGE!”
Find out more by visiting politicalpodcastawards.co.uk.
