International Podcast Day
September 30
About International Podcast Day
International Podcast Day takes place every year on 30 September, celebrating the global power of podcasting and the creators behind it. The day was founded by Steve Lee in 2014 and brings together listeners, hosts and producers from around the world to mark the medium that has transformed how millions of people learn, laugh and stay informed.
How to Celebrate International Podcast Day
International Podcast Day is built around participation, so there are plenty of easy ways to get involved on 30 September.
- Listen to something new – Pick a podcast outside your usual genre and give it a try. Discovering a show you would never normally choose is one of the simplest and most rewarding ways to mark the day.
- Recommend a favourite show – Share the podcasts you love on social media using #InternationalPodcastDay. Word of mouth is how most podcasts grow their audiences, so a single recommendation can make a real difference to a creator.
- Thank a podcaster – Send a message, leave a review or post a shout-out to a host whose work you appreciate. Independent podcasters rarely hear from their listeners, and a few kind words go a long way.
- Start your own podcast – There is no better day to record your first episode. All you really need is a smartphone, a quiet room and an idea you care about.
- Leave a rating and review – Ratings and reviews help podcasts climb the charts and reach new listeners, so take a moment to rate the shows you enjoy on your podcast app of choice.
- Host a listening session – Gather friends, family or colleagues to listen to an episode together and discuss it afterwards. Many workplaces mark the day with a podcast-themed lunch and learn.
- Catch up with the official live stream – International Podcast Day has historically featured live-streamed sessions with podcasters from across the world, packed with tips and behind-the-scenes insight.
- Support a creator directly – If a show has earned a regular place in your week, consider backing it through a membership, tip jar or merchandise purchase to help keep it going.
What is International Podcast Day?
International Podcast Day is an annual celebration of podcasting and the community that surrounds it. It is aimed at everyone who touches the medium, from casual listeners to full-time producers, and it exists to recognise the creativity, education and connection that podcasts bring to daily life. The day encourages people to discover new shows, champion the creators they already love, and consider stepping behind the microphone themselves. It is a grassroots celebration rather than a formal observance, driven largely by podcasters and fans sharing the day online.
When is International Podcast Day?
International Podcast Day falls on Wednesday, 30 September 2026. The date is fixed and never changes, so the celebration lands on 30 September every year. September was deliberately chosen because the first widely recognised podcasts appeared in 2004, making the inaugural event a nod to roughly a decade of podcasting.
The History of International Podcast Day
The idea was born in the summer of 2013, when founder Steve Lee heard a radio announcement for a national awareness day and wondered why podcasting, a medium he loved, had no day of its own. He gathered a group of fellow podcasters and set about creating one. In 2014, the first event was held in the United States under the name National Podcast Day, featuring around six hours of live streaming with call-ins from podcasters across the country.
The response made it clear the concept had outgrown a single nation almost immediately. In the days following the 2014 event, the organisers heard from podcasters around the world, particularly in the United Kingdom and Australia, asking to be represented. In 2015 the celebration was rebranded as International Podcast Day to reflect its truly global community.
Since then the day has grown into a worldwide event. Between 2015 and 2022 the organisers live-streamed hundreds of hours of content and welcomed roughly 360 podcasters from nearly 100 countries, cementing 30 September as a fixture on the calendar for anyone who makes or loves podcasts. The medium itself, meanwhile, has its roots in the early 2000s, when affordable recording tools and RSS feeds first allowed anyone to distribute audio to a global audience without a broadcaster.
Fun Facts About International Podcast Day
- The day began life in 2014 as National Podcast Day before going global as International Podcast Day in 2015.
- September was chosen for the date because the first podcasts emerged in September 2004.
- Between 2015 and 2022, the official celebrations featured podcasters from nearly 100 countries.
- There are now more than 4.5 million podcasts worldwide, with hundreds of thousands of new shows launching every few months.
- The number of podcast listeners globally has grown from around 274 million in 2019 to well over 600 million in 2026.
- The global podcast market is estimated to be worth tens of billions of dollars and is forecast to keep growing rapidly into the next decade.
Why International Podcast Day Matters
Podcasting has become one of the most accessible forms of media in the world, giving a voice to people and communities that traditional broadcasting often overlooked. With more than 600 million listeners worldwide in 2026 and a market valued in the tens of billions, the medium is no longer a niche hobby but a global cultural force. International Podcast Day matters because it spotlights the independent creators who power that growth and reminds listeners that their attention, reviews and recommendations are what keep the ecosystem thriving. If you enjoy audio storytelling, you might also appreciate National Radio Day, which celebrates the broadcast medium that paved the way for podcasting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is International Podcast Day?
International Podcast Day is an annual, community-driven celebration of podcasting. It encourages people to discover new shows, support their favourite creators and even start podcasts of their own.
When is International Podcast Day in 2026?
International Podcast Day is on Wednesday, 30 September 2026. The date is fixed and falls on 30 September every year.
Who founded International Podcast Day?
It was founded by podcaster Steve Lee, who launched the first event as National Podcast Day in 2014 before it was rebranded as International Podcast Day in 2015 to reflect its worldwide community.
Spread the Word
Join the celebration and share your favourite shows and episodes on social media with #InternationalPodcastDay and #InternationalPodcastDay2026. Tag a friend, recommend a podcast they have never heard, and challenge them to take part.
Related Awareness Days
- National Radio Day – Celebrates the radio medium that laid the foundations for modern podcasting.
- Community Media Day – Honours grassroots media made by and for local communities, much like independent podcasting.
- National Field Marketer’s Day – Recognises the marketers who often use podcasts and audio to connect with audiences.
Links
- Visit the official International Podcast Day website
- Explore more awareness days at AwarenessDays.com
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