Marketing Podcast Network has completed judging for its 2026 awards program and will host a live awards show in July, recognizing excellence across nine categories in marketing podcasts. The not-for-profit community organization received nominations from marketing podcasts across the industry and narrowed entries to three finalists per category for final judging.
The MPN Awards 2026 drew over 100 nominations from podcasts meeting submission criteria including current publication status, availability on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and at least six episodes published in the previous three months. Voting concluded May 31, with judges completing their deliberations by June 15. The live awards show, hosted by Gordon Glenister, will stream from London in July 2026 on LinkedIn and YouTube, featuring special guests and award announcements across nine distinct categories.
The judging panel consisted of 16 industry experts and podcast professionals, including Andrew Canter, global chairman of The Branded Content Marketing Association; John Cass, host of The Global Agile Marketing Podcast; Justin Cooke, host of The Business of Marketing Podcast; and Andreea Coscai, co-founder of PodVision and founder of the Eurowaves newsletter. Additional judges included Jason Falls, executive producer at MPN; Seth Goldstein, podcast coach and consultant; Jodi Krangle, audio branding expert; Sam Sethi, CEO of TrueFans; Liv Suco, vice president of sales at Audioboom; and other prominent voices in podcast production and marketing strategy.
Award categories span multiple segments of the marketing podcast landscape. Recognized categories include Best Marketing Podcast, MPN Podcast of the Year, Listeners’ Choice Award—voted by audience members—Best B2B Podcast, Best B2C Podcast, Best Branded Podcast, Best Independent Podcast, Best Thought Leadership, and Diversity and Inclusion Champion. The organization stated judges evaluated entries based on content contribution to the craft, production excellence, quality of guest appearances, consistency of publishing schedules, and innovative approaches to podcast format and storytelling.
The Marketing Podcast Network operates as a community of more than 80 marketing-focused podcasts, positioning the awards program as recognition for voices across the entire marketing podcast sector rather than limiting recognition to network members alone. Eligibility requirements stipulated that shows must be published in English, available on major streaming platforms, and contain content relevant to marketing audiences. The relaxed nomination criteria broadened the pool of eligible entries and reflected the organization’s commitment to celebrating diverse voices within the marketing podcast ecosystem.
For podcast producers and audio professionals, the awards represent an industry benchmark for excellence in marketing podcast production. Judging criteria emphasizing production excellence and consistency of publishing schedule signal quality standards the industry recognizes as essential. The inclusion of categories specifically addressing diversity and inclusion reflects growing emphasis within the podcast industry on representation and equitable opportunity for underrepresented creators.
The awards program underscores the maturation of marketing podcasts as a distinct category within the broader podcast ecosystem. With over 100 entries competing for recognition, the competitive landscape reflects both audience demand for marketing-focused audio content and the proliferation of shows targeting business and professional audiences. The live-streamed format and partnership with major platforms signal the organization’s commitment to accessibility and transparency in recognizing award winners.
Registration for the live awards show is open to industry professionals, podcast creators, and interested audience members. The virtual event will be available on LinkedIn and YouTube, allowing broad viewership beyond attendees registered through direct channels. The Marketing Podcast Network emphasized that nomination and voting data will be retained solely for awards purposes and will not be used for commercial distribution, addressing privacy concerns common among industry participants.
The 2026 MPN Awards represent a significant milestone in recognizing professional standards within marketing podcast production. As the industry continues to mature and audiences demand higher-quality audio content, industry-led awards programs establish benchmarks for production excellence, editorial integrity, and creative innovation that shape expectations across the sector going forward.
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