Scotland’s podcasting sector marked a milestone as the first Scottish Podcast Awards recognised a wide range of shows and creators at Glasgow’s Old Fruitmarket.
Open Goal, hosted by Si Ferry, Paul Slane and Andy Halliday, was a standout, winning both the Spotify Listeners’ Choice Award and the Football category, reflecting strong support from listeners and the podcasting community.
The Ford & Shelby Show, presented by Ford Kiernan and Shelby May, took home the top honour of Podcast of the Year, as well as Best Comedy Show.
The show explores generational differences and cultural topics through the perspectives of its two hosts. During his acceptance speech, Ford described Shelby as the “find of the century”.
Female-led podcasts were also recognised, with Girls Overheard, hosted by Ash Reid, Eilidh Wells and Lauren Fairbairn, and A Lot On Your Plate, hosted by Jess Tedds and Zoe Quinn, among the winners.
A Pint and Two Shots, hosted by Stephen Purdon, Grado and Chris Toal, received the Entertainment & Pop Culture award.
The Go Radio Business Show with Hunter and Haughey, hosted by Sir Tom Hunter and Lord Willie Haughey, was named best in the Business 2 Business category.
Production company Goalhanger, co-founded by Gary Lineker, collected two awards for The Rest Is Politics and The Rest Is History.
Lochnorris Studios, an educational podcast initiative led by pupils at Lochnorris Primary School in Cumnock, won the Community Impact and Charity award for its work teaching children audio skills in partnership with Ayrshire College and Jonsan Media.
The event was hosted by Kaye Adams and Marc Jennings. The awards were developed by Sixty Steps Productions to highlight the quality and diversity of Scottish podcasts.
According to Ofcom, nearly a quarter of adults in Scotland listen to podcasts weekly, the highest rate in the UK, with almost half of Gen Z tuning in regularly.
Co-founder Corrinne Gardiner said: “The quality and variety across more than 400 entries was incredible. The awards demonstrated the talent already working in Scottish podcasting and the enormous enthusiasm surrounding the sector.”
FULL LIST OF 2026 SCOTTISH PODCAST AWARDS WINNERS
Arts & Culture
FONDS
Best Podcast Artwork
New Frontiers
Best Video Podcast
Girls Overheard
Business 2 Business
The Go Radio Business Show with Hunter and Haughey
Comedy
The Ford & Shelby Show
Community Impact & Charity
Lochnorris Studios
Documentary
The Cruelty
Entertainment & Pop Culture
A Pint And Two Shots
Fiction & Drama
The Jura Affair by William Boyd
Food, Drink & Hospitality
Scran
Football
Open Goal
Gaelic
Big Gaels Don’t Cry
History, Folklore & Heritage
Boswell’s Galloping Farmers
International
The Rest Is History
Interview
Blether Together from Farmstrong Scotland
Lifestyles, Health & Wellbeing, Fashion & Beauty
A Lot on Your Plate Podcast
News, Politics & Current Affairs
The Rest Is Politics: Leading
Scotland’s Emerging Talent
The Reading Café
Sex, Family & Relationships
My Family, Mental Illness, and Me
Sport
Pike’n’Patter
Travel & Outdoors
Scottish Island Adventures
True Crime, Mystery & The Dark Stuff
Inside Forensic Science: Series 4 – A Case of Stolen Identity
Spotify Listeners’ Choice
Open Goal
Podcast of the Year
The Ford & Shelby Show
