The APAs will continue to offer free or discounted entry for those facing financial barriers, thanks to ongoing support from Amazon Music for the Pay What You Can scheme in 2026.
This initiative, first introduced in 2021, aims to improve equity and accessibility across the podcast and audio sector by ensuring that financial circumstances do not prevent participation in the awards.
The APAs, now in their sixteenth year, are organised by AudioUK and sponsored by Audible.
For 2026, the awards feature 30 categories, with six new additions. These include the International Breakthrough Award, Executive Producer of the Year, Experimental Sound Design, and Best Use of Video. Non-Fiction Audiobook and Ensemble Cast will also be standalone categories for the first time.
Categories cover production excellence in areas such as comedy, factual and documentary, audio drama, arts and culture, music, entertainment, lifestyle and society, audiobooks, and sound design.
There are also awards for on-mic talent, emerging creators, and key industry roles like Production Company of the Year, Publisher or Network of the Year, Producer of the Year, and the new Executive Producer of the Year.
Most categories are open to both individual producers and teams, recognising the collaborative nature of many audio productions.
Chris Baughen, Chief Executive Officer of AudioUK, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Amazon Music for continuing to support the Pay What You Can scheme.
“At AudioUK, we’re committed to ensuring that financial circumstances never prevent great work from being recognised.
“By helping make the APAs more accessible, this partnership opens the door for more creators, producers and production companies to celebrate their achievements, raise their profile and progress their careers within the UK’s podcasting and audio industry.”
Megan Bradshaw, Head of Spoken Word (EU, ANZ, IN) at Amazon Music, added: “We’re proud to be collaborating with AudioUK for a fifth consecutive year, helping the next generation of audio creators gain the access, visibility and recognition they deserve.”
Those wishing to access the Pay What You Can scheme should contact [email protected].
