The British Audio Awards, known as The Speakies, have expanded their recognition of audio talent by introducing three new podcast categories for this year’s ceremony.
The awards, organised by The Stage and The Bookseller, will now include Best Podcast: Arts & Entertainment, Best Podcast: Narrative, and Best Production and Sound Design, reflecting the growing influence of podcasts within the UK audio sector.
The Speakies celebrate achievements across audiobooks, audio dramas, and podcasts, highlighting the creative work that engages listeners nationwide.
Last year’s inaugural event saw well-known names such as David Tennant, Ncuti Gatwa, and Juno Dawson among the winners, setting a high standard for the awards’ second year.
Actor David Tennant, who won in 2025, said: “As a customer of audiobooks, I’m so thrilled; I listen to something every day, it’s part of my life. So it’s something to celebrate that and applaud that industry and all the hard work that’s going on.”
Sally Phillips, actor and host of the 2025 Speakies, commented: “The Speakies feels quite significant. It’s a growth industry, and audiobooks have changed so much, they’re so much more dynamic. They’re here to stay.”
The ceremony is scheduled for Monday, 23 November in London, and submissions are now open.
In addition to the new podcast categories, the awards continue to honour excellence in a wide range of areas, including fiction, crime and thriller, science fiction and fantasy, romance, specialist, non-fiction, memoir, children’s and young adult audiobooks, as well as audio drama and performance categories.
The Speakies aim to spotlight the diverse voices and technical expertise shaping the UK’s audio landscape, with the expanded categories offering more opportunities for recognition within the podcasting community.
You can discover more about the category criteria here. Submissions close on Thursday 9 July.
