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International Podcast Day
Approximately 584.1 million people worldwide listened to podcasts currently, according to Podcast Statistics.
That’s a total growth of 28.57% over five years.
In Africa, South Africa records some of the highest weekly podcast listening rates globally among adults, while Nigeria anchors a massive English-language and faith-based audio market.
In Asia, The Asia-Pacific region is projected to become the world’s largest market for podcast users, driven heavily by massive populations in countries like China and India, according to MIDiA. Indonesia leads the region with 59% of consumers listening at least an hour per week, followed by Thailand (54%), Vietnam (48%), and the Philippines (43%). India features over 150 million monthly listeners, with fast-growing regional shows in Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, and Marathi.
In Australia, podcasts are extremely popular, with monthly listenership reaching 9.6 million Australians aged 15 and older (about 52% of the population), according to Podnews. 72% of young adults aged 18–34 listen to podcasts monthly, followed by 55% of those aged 35–54, and 25% of listeners aged 55 and older. Leading local and national charts feature programs like Mamamia Out Loud, Hamish & Andy, and daily news updates from the ABC. My personal favorites Are All In The Mind by ABC and Yellow Shelf about books from indie creator/host Johanna Fink.
There are even podcasts in Antarctica. For example, Everything Antarctica is hosted by veteran Antarctic workers Matty Jordan and Jonny Harrison, and shares real stories, science, and life from the ice. Iceworld is produced by the British Antarctic Survey, and features interviews with polar scientists, plumbers, and field researchers doing extreme jobs. A Voyage to Antarctica was created by the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust and is hosted by Alok Jha, exploring survival stories, science, and exploration history. My personal favorite is 77 Degrees South, following modern explorers on their physical journey to the Ross Sea
Follow a team of eight diverse rangatahi (young people) through their journey to the Ross Sea, Antarctica and venture inside the historic huts of legendary Antarctic explorers Scott and Shackleton. Their mission – to conserve and return a precious taonga (artefact), negotiating thick pack ice as they attempt to reach 77 degrees South, the location of Scott’s Discovery hut.
77 Degrees South
Without summarizing podcast growth in each continent, it’s clear that podcasting is a global phenomenon.
International Podcast Day is an annual global celebration held on September 30th to recognize the power, innovation, and community of podcasting. Founded in 2014 as National Podcast Day in the U.S. by Steve Lee, it expanded internationally the following year to embrace the worldwide podcasting community. It connects listeners, independent creators, and industry leaders while raising awareness of audio storytelling and new media technologies.
Steve Lee is owner of Announce Solutions, an IT consulting firm. After retiring from the Air Force, he worked as an IT Consultant for Computer Sciences Corporation, Modern Technologies Inc., International Consultants, and IBM. Steve is the Founder of International Podcast Day & former host of The Waves of Tech.
Dave Lee is a co-founder of International Podcast Day and former host of The Waves of Tech. The Waves of Tech was a 4x finalist in the Technology Category of The Podcast Awards. When he is not working with International Podcast Day, he is spending time and traveling with Anaya (his wife) and watching hours of soccer.
Fans and creators share favorite shows on social media using #InternationalPodcastDay, leave reviews for podcasters, subscribe to new programs, or host live audio events and streams.
Since 2014, the International Podcast Day team has focused on showcasing independent podcasting talent from around the world and raising the awareness of a growing industry. From day one, we were dedicated to creating a lively celebration that the podcasting industry could rally around. Without question, our community has organically grown International Podcast Day into something much bigger than we could have ever imagined. The community’s creativity has been nothing less than spectacular and inspiring.
Let’s Party!
As a celebratory event to International Podcast Day, Eurowaves, the go-to newsletter for European podcasting, has been spearheading events and activities for this day of celebration for podcasting.
“The podcasting industry moves fast, and it’s easy to miss opportunities,” says Andreea Coscai, founder and editor of Eurowaves.
Andreea Coscai exemplifies the concept of global podcasting, having podcasted in Asia, Europe, and North America. In 2022, she developed “Who Holds up Half the Sky,” an investigative podcast discussing the possibilities of advancing feminist activism in China under censorship and lack of free speech. Influential activist figures appear in China’s history from the Qing dynasty to the Maoist era with its famous quote: “Women Hold up Half the Sky”.
Andreea Coscai
Eurowaves is the focal point of European podcasting. Created by experienced podcaster, producer, writer, and activist Andreea Coscai, Eurowaves is filled with podcast recommendations from Andreea, industry insights, interviews with European podcast professionals, upcoming events and opportunities, and spotlights on companies and organizations driving change in European podcasting.
Yet, Andreea is always thinking global and has organized the Eurowaves Advisory Board to coordinate activities for International Podcast Day.
Eurowaves is marking International Podcast Day with two initiatives for the community: a curated list of the best European podcasts of 2026 so far, and a subscriber survey sponsored by Captivate, Beamly and Convia.
The list of Best European podcasts crosses languages, borders, and formats, and acts as a starting point for listeners looking for their next favorite show.
Eurowaves
Built from recommendations by more than 25 contributors across the European podcast industry, The Best of European Podcasts 2026 (So Far) list celebrates shows that define the medium. It features podcasts made by European creators, podcasts telling European stories, and podcasts from creators based in Europe.
“European podcasting deserves its own spotlight on International Podcast Day. It’s a global celebration that gives local storytelling and voices the opportunity to shine. This curation serves as a reminder for podcasters everywhere to keep an eye out beyond their borders for inspiration,” said Andreea Coscai, Founder and Writer at Eurowaves.
Along with the list, Eurowaves is launching a subscriber survey to better understand the community’s profile and needs. The survey is open now and runs through October 15, 2026.
Every participant is entered into a random draw, and winners will be announced in the October 15 issue of Eurowaves.
Eurowaves
Thanks to the survey’s sponsors, participants can win:
*One year of Captivate Personal, plus five hours of Captivate Assistant. Built for growth-focused podcasters, Captivate brings hosting, distribution, IAB-certified analytics, marketing, monetization, and workflow tools together in one easy-to-use platform.
*A one-year Beamly subscription. Beamly is the all-in-one platform for your podcast and everything around it. Host or sync your show, launch a branded website, distribute to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more, and monetize with memberships, private feeds, and digital products, all with 0% platform fees.
*90 days of Convia Studio Professional. Convia Studio is the story layer between recordings and platforms. One conversation becomes a coordinated campaign across LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and more, in your voice, without the copy-paste marathon. Convia helps you
tell a story. In addition to the prize, every Eurowaves survey participant gets 30 days free on any Convia plan, double the standard trial.
Eurowaves subscribers can complete the survey at https://form.typeform.com/to/kRbdnzMM before October 15, 2026. Not yet a subscriber? Sign up for free at eurowaves.eu to read the full
Best of European Podcasts list and fill in the survey.
Smile For The Party
The Smile Channel is hosting a Zoom event to celebrate. International Podcast Day 2026 is a global celebration of the voices, stories, and conversations that are shaping the world through podcasting. Hosted by Ken Rochon, this event brings together podcasters, hosts, creators, and thought leaders who are using their voice to inform, inspire, and influence audiences worldwide. The Smile Channel’s mission to amplify goodness. They believe powerful stories only matter when they are shared.
Through impactful four-minute and extended nine-minute segments, speakers will share their journey into podcasting and building an audience; The power of authentic conversations and storytelling; How podcasting creates authority, connection, and influence; and Strategies for growing, monetizing, and sustaining a podcast.
“This event is for creators at every stage, whether you’re just starting or scaling your show. It’s about understanding that podcasting is more than content, it’s connection.”
A few years ago, Regina Larko, creator/host of the Lead With Your Voice podcast recorded a room of podcasters from across the globe for an episode of her show. As Regina recalled, “they say some really beautiful things about podcasting and what it means to them and how it can be a ‘beautiful ache’ at times, where you feel connected to your audience and lonely at the same time.”
On International Podcast Day, Podcast in Paradise is an immersive one-day retreat designed for people who already understand the power of audio, storytelling and communication—and want to take their skills, confidence and content to the next level.
Andreea Coscai of Eurowaves asks: “Looking for an excuse to make that trip to Ibiza a ‘work trip’ on International Podcast Day? When the worlds of international podcasting and music collide…a one-day masterclass on podcasting with former BBC journalist and seasoned podcaster Joanna Youle.”
Eurowaves
Celebrations such as International Podcast Day are, by definition, transitory events. Yet, they signal commitment, enthusiasm, and forward-looking achievements still to be conquered.
In summary, the podcast industry celebrates its reach and innovation annually on September 30th with International Podcast Day. The official International Podcast Day organization regularly hosts and archives live-streamed speaker panels, international roundtables, and podcaster showcases featuring creators from dozens of countries. Many networks and independent creators drop special preview episodes, behind-the-scenes content, or live Q&A sessions on September 30th. Communities and regional podcaster groups occasionally host local networking events, co-working sessions, or live recordings Participants use the hashtag #InternationalPodcastDay to share favorite episodes, shout out peer shows, or change their profile banners to the official day logo.
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