AudioUK is delighted to be continuing its work with Amazon Music on the Pay What You Can scheme for the APAs 2026: offering free or discounted entry to the awards for those who would otherwise be unable to take part due to financial constraints.
The APAs are sponsored by Audible and organised by AudioUK, the industry body dedicated to advancing the podcast and audio industry.
The Awards, now in their sixteenth year, recognise and celebrate outstanding achievement across the podcast and audio industry: spanning podcasts, audiobooks, audio drama, sound design, radio, presenting, and more.
This year is the biggest APAs yet with 30 categories and six new additions to the lineup. Brand new for 2026 are the International Breakthrough Award, Executive Producer of the Year, Experimental Sound Design, and Best Use of Video. Non-Fiction Audiobook and Ensemble Cast also become standalone categories for the first time.
There are categories ranging from production excellence across Comedy, Factual & Documentary, Audio Drama, Arts & Culture, Music, Entertainment, Lifestyle & Society, Audiobooks, Sound Design and more, plus a variety of on-mic and emerging talent awards. There are also the coveted awards for Production Company of the Year, Publisher or Network of the Year, Producer of the Year, and the new Executive Producer of the Year.
Most categories are open to individual producers as well as teams of producers working closely together, in recognition that many productions cannot be narrowed down to the work of a single producer.
The Pay What You Can scheme was first introduced in 2021 to remove financial barriers to taking part in the awards. It remains one of the APAs' most important commitments to equity and accessibility across the podcast and audio industry.
Chris Baughen, CEO of AudioUK, said:
"We're incredibly grateful to Amazon Music for continuing to support the Pay What You Can scheme. At AudioUK, we're committed to ensuring that financial circumstances never prevent great work from being recognised. By helping make the APAs more accessible, this partnership opens the door for more creators, producers and production companies to celebrate their achievements, raise their profile and progress their careers within the UK's podcasting and audio industry."
Megan Bradshaw, Head of Spoken Word (EU, ANZ, IN) at Amazon Music added; “We’re proud to be collaborating with AudioUK for a fifth consecutive year, helping the next generation of audio creators gain the access, visibility and recognition they deserve.”
To access the Pay What You Can scheme, please contact roshan.roberts@audiouk.org.uk. Spaces are limited.
Key Dates for the Audio Production Awards
Entries open: Wednesday 1st July 2026
Early Bird pricing ends: Sunday 30th August 2026
Standard pricing from: Monday 31st August 2026
Final entry deadline: Wednesday 16th September 2026, 2pm
Shortlist announced & tickets on sale: Monday 26th October 2026
Awards Ceremony at the BFI, London Southbank: Thursday 26th November 2026
The APAs from AudioUK - Categories for 2026
INDIVIDUAL OR TEAM OF PRODUCERS WORKING CLOSELY TOGETHER
Arts & Culture
Audio Drama
Best Use of Video
Branded Content
Comedy
Entertainment
Experimental Sound Design
Factual / Documentary
Fiction Audiobook
History
Kids Content
Lifestyle & Society
Music
News / Politics
Non Fiction Audiobook
Sound Design
Sports
True Crime
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Executive Producer of the Year
Narrator
New Producer
New Voice
Presenter / Host
Producer of the Year
PERFORMANCE AWARDS
Ensemble Cast
Presenting Team
COMPANY / ORGANISATION AWARDS
International Breakthrough Award
Network or Publisher of the Year
Production Company of the Year
IMPACT & SPECIAL AWARDS
Changemaker Award
AudioUK Award
Entry Information
The Audio Production Awards are open for entries and will close on Wednesday 16th September 2026 at 2pm.
Early Bird entry fee for AudioUK members is £50+VAT and £60+VAT for non-members, available until Sunday 30th August 2026. From 31st August, the standard entry fee will be £65+VAT for AudioUK members and £70+VAT for non-members until the final deadline on Wednesday 16th September at 2pm. Please note: there will be no extension to the entry deadline.
For full entry details, category descriptions, and eligibility criteria, visit theapas.co.uk