Here is another example of podcasting breaking into the mainstream. The Critics Choice Association (CCA), one of the largest critics organizations in the world, representing more than 500 critics and entertainment journalists, has announced the inaugural * Critics Choice Creator Awards*, honoring the finest creators in the digital space across podcasts, scripted and unscripted series, documentary and informational shows, lifestyle content, game shows and sports series.
In its release, the CAA said, “As new digital formats command an increasing share of the entertainment space, CCA looks forward to continuing its longstanding mission of guiding audiences to the best in entertainment with its new Creator Awards, while ensuring that outstanding creators and their work receive the recognition they deserve.”
Founded in 1995, the Critics Choice Association (CCA) is one of the largest critics organizations in the world, representing more than 500 media critics and entertainment journalists. It is known for presenting the annual Critics Choice Awards, honoring the finest in cinematic and television achievement for over three decades.
Categories for the Creator Awards will include Best Creator of the Year, Best Podcast Host, Best Audio Podcast, Best Video Podcast, Best Comedy Creator, Best Drama Creator, Best Comedy Series, Best Micro-Drama Series, Best Business Series, Best Health/Wellness Creator, Best Relationship Series Creator and many more. An initial list of planned categories can be found below.
The Buzz – BuzzWorthy Radio has provided exclusive interviews, red-carpet coverage, and in-depth conversations with actors, filmmakers, and creators, covering TV festivals, awards season, and entertainment culture.
Creator/Host NaVell J. Lee has been recognized for providing in-depth, authentic conversations rather than typical press junket interviews.
When Navell read about the awards, he told me: “Looks like another award for podcasters to look at now. I did reach out to the Critics Choice Association, and they encouraged me to enter when submissions open in October.”
Submitted work to the CCA must have been made publicly available online to its intended audience at any time between January 1 and December 31, 2026.
Submissions will be accepted from Monday, October 19, 2026, through Monday, February 1, 2027. Nominations will be announced on Thursday, March 18, 2027, and winners will be revealed on Thursday, April 15, 2027.
“As the world of entertainment evolves and migrates onto social media and streaming platforms, it is the job of entertainment critics to move with them,” said CCA CEO Joey Berlin in a release. “We are dedicated to helping entertainment consumers ‘find the good stuff’ as well as helping the best creators get found – and appreciated. To continue our mission of serving audiences and the creative community, we are proud to launch the Critics Choice Creator Awards.”
The Critics Choice Creator Awards joins CCA’s robust and growing slate of programming which already includes the esteemed Critics Choice Awards, Critics Choice Documentary Awards, Critics Choice Real TV Awards, and Critics Choice Super Awards. The CCA also produces a series of Celebration events to recognize historically underrepresented communities, including the Celebration of Black Cinema and Television, Celebración of Cinema and Television, Celebration of AAPI Cinema and Television, and Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema and Television.
For up-to-date information about the Critics Choice Creator Awards, please visit: https://www.criticschoice.com/creator-awards/
The Critics Choice Association (CCA) has not been free of controversy. According to The Hollywood Reporter, it has faced criticism regarding governance disputes, membership exclusivity demands, and broadcast choices. In January 2024, The Holywood Reporter wrote about a clash between the CCA and the Hollywood Creative Alliance, formerly The Hollywood Critics Association.
At the 2026 Critics Choice Awards (CCA) ceremony on January 4, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Yahoo reported that viewers were left "disgusted" and "insulted" after a major category - Best Foreign Language Film - was reportedly handed out on the red carpet rather than during the main televised broadcast.
On a more petty note, the awards have frequently faced lighthearted and negative remarks over meager event catering and food options provided to celebrity attendees. Since those remarks were made on social media – an arena known for caviling and petulance – the CCA may be given a pass on the quality of the d’oeuvres.
And The Winner Is…
As podcasting has grown in popularity and visibility, mainstream non-podcasting awards organizations have taken notice. For example, in January 2026, The Golden Globes nominated and announced the winner of their first podcast award. The nominees were Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, Call Her Daddy, Good Hang with Amy Poehler, The Mel Robbins Podcast, SmartLess, and Up First (NPR). Choosing only high-profile podcasts already signals that, going forward, the Golden Globes will ignore quality independent podcasts. The winner was Amy Poehler.
Greg Wasserman from RSS.Com adds, “There is no single destination that aggregates all podcast awards, nominees, winners, categories, and historical results. A centralized Podcast Awards Database could become a valuable resource for creators, journalists, brands, and researchers. It could also create a historical record of how the medium evolves.”
Cameron Stack, Founder and Publisher of the Recognized Newsletter has an interesting take on podcast awards: “The differences among podcast award categories are not cosmetic. A metric-based award measures audience scale. A juried award measures production quality. A platform badge measures algorithmic performance. A Hall of Fame induction measures career-long influence. Each says something different about the work or individuals it recognizes. Treating them as interchangeable is one of the most common mistakes creators make when building an awards strategy.”
Critics Choice Creator Awards Timeline
Monday, October 19, 2026 – Early Submissions Open
Monday, November 16, 2026 – Early Submissions Close; Regular Submissions Open
Monday, February 1, 2027 – Regular Submissions Close
Tuesday, February 2 – Friday, March 12, 2027 – NomCom Deliberations
Thursday, March 18, 2027 – Nominees Announced
Thursday, April 15, 2027 – Critics Choice Creator Awards Winners AnnouncedCritics Choice Creator Awards Categories
General Awards
Best Creator of the Year
Best Live Streaming Creator
Best Video Edit
Best Viral Video
Best Special EffectsPodcast
Best Audio Podcast
Best Video Podcast
Best Podcast HostGenre Awards
Best Comedy Creator
Best Drama Creator
Best Storyteller
Best News ReporterScripted Series
Best Comedy Series: Short Form (Under 3 Minutes)
Best Comedy Series: Long Form (3+ Minutes)
Best Micro-Drama Series: Short Form (Under 3 Minutes)
Best Micro-Drama Series: Long Form (3+ Minutes)
Best Actor in a Comedy Series
Best Actress in a Comedy Series
Best Actor in a Micro-Drama Series
Best Actress in a Micro-Drama SeriesUnscripted & Reality
Best Competition Series
Best Competition Series: Talent/Variety
Best Structured Series
Best Series HostDocumentary & Informational
Best Documentary Series
Best Documentary Creator
Best Educational Series
Best Educational Creator
Best Business Series
Best Business Creator
Best Crime/Justice Series
Best Crime/Justice Creator
Best Animal/Nature Series
Best Animal/Nature Creator
Best Health/Wellness Series
Best Health/Wellness CreatorLifestyle & Interest
Best Food & Drink Series
Best Food & Drink Creator
Best Travel/Adventure Series
Best Travel/Adventure Creator
Best Relationship Series
Best Relationship Series Creator
Best Lifestyle Series: Home/Garden
Best Lifestyle Creator: Home/GardenBest Lifestyle Series: Fashion/Beauty
Best Lifestyle Creator: Fashion/Beauty
Best Pop Culture Series
Best Pop Culture Creator
Games
Best Game Show
Best Game Show CreatorSports
Best Sports Series
Best Sports Show: Talk/Analysis
About the Critics Choice Association
In recent years, CCA has expanded its slate of events over the years to include the Critics Choice Documentary Awards, Critics Choice Real TV Awards, and Critics Choice Super Awards. The CCA also produces a series of Celebration events to recognize historically underrepresented communities, including the Celebration of Black Cinema and Television, Celebración of Cinema and Television, Celebration of AAPI Cinema and Television, and Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema and Television.
For more information, visit www.CriticsChoice.com
What remains to be seen is the entry fee and judging criteria and the composition of the judging panel. An expensive entry fee eliminates many worthy independent podcasters, and a judging panel that excludes people with podcasting experience means another Golden Globes experience where only the most downloaded podcasts are even considered.