Seemingly, everyone has a podcast now.
So it’s about time that major awards shows caught up, right? This year, the Golden Globes are wading into previously uncharted territory with the introduction of the award for podcast of the year, which seeks to honor the medium’s most “extraordinary and diverse talents,” according to the organization.
But like any big shift, the news hasn’t been without backlash. Here’s what you need to know about the new category at the Golden Globe Awards, which will be hosted once again by Nikki Glaser on Sunday, Jan. 11 (CBS and Paramount+, 8 p.m. ET/5 PT).
Last spring, the Golden Globes announced the show would add a podcast category for 2026 because of the medium’s “seismic growth,” reflecting “today’s audiences and consumption behavior.” According to data tracker Luminate, the global audience for podcasts is expected to surpass 600 million people this year.
“As the world of entertainment continues to evolve, we are excited to recognize new forms of storytelling,” Golden Globes president Helen Hoehne said in a statement last May. “By celebrating achievements in both audio and visual podcasts, we aim to honor our heritage categories while making room for new voices and formats to be heard.”
