Major Celebrity Names Set to Present at Austin Event
iHeartMedia has unveiled an impressive roster of presenters and special guests for the 2026 iHeartPodcast Awards, taking place Monday, March 16 at ACL Live at the Moody Theater in Austin, Texas during SXSW.
Saturday Night Live comedian and “Thanks Dad” podcast host Ego Nwodim will serve as the evening’s emcee, while comedy legend Will Ferrell will open the show. Holly Frey, known for hosting “Stuff You Missed in History Class,” will handle winners correspondence duties, with DJ Obscene providing in-show musical entertainment.
Diverse Presenter Lineup Spans Entertainment Industries
The awards ceremony will feature an eclectic mix of presenters from podcasting, television, and social media. Notable names include:
- Television and Film: Eric Andre, Iliza Schlesinger, Jennie Garth, and Rider Strong
- Podcasting: Hannah Berner and Paige DeSorbo, Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark from “My Favorite Murder”
- Social Media: TikTok creators Caroline Vazzana, Clifford Taylor IV, and Tim Martin
- Reality TV: Clayton Echard from “The Bachelor”
Special guests will include Andrea Gunning, Chris Wylde, DJ Dramos, Elyse Myers, Laurie Santos, and various award nominees.
Free Streaming Available Worldwide
The ceremony will stream live and free on VEEPS starting at 7 p.m. CT, making it accessible to podcast fans worldwide. Additionally, select iHeartMedia radio stations across the country will broadcast the event at 11 p.m. local time, with streaming also available through the iHeartRadio app.
SXSW badge holders will have the opportunity to attend the live ceremony in person, continuing the tradition of integrating the awards with the annual Austin festival.
Industry Recognition Across Multiple Genres
The 2026 awards will span all major podcast genres including Comedy, Crime, Sports, News, Business, Pop Culture, and Food. Winners in each category will be determined by a distinguished panel of industry leaders, creatives, and visionaries, ensuring professional recognition for outstanding podcast content.
Executive producers for the event include John Sykes, Tom Poleman, Conal Byrne, and Bart Peters from iHeartMedia. The ceremony is proudly sponsored by Audible, Avocados from Mexico, Gatorade Lower Sugar, and She Rises Studios.
This year’s awards ceremony represents iHeartMedia’s continued commitment to celebrating podcast excellence while leveraging major entertainment personalities to bring broader attention to the medium. The combination of established comedy stars, popular podcasters, and emerging social media talent reflects the diverse landscape of modern audio entertainment.
Source: The Podwires Editor