We’ve shared quite a bit about the people who will take the stages at Podcast Movement this year. But before we get to our final programming announcements, we want to talk about the people who make Podcast Movement possible in the first place:
You.
The podcasters. The creators. The producers. The companies building this industry. The people coming to New York to learn, meet, collaborate and figure out what comes next.
And this year, we’re putting you up in lights.
Your Podcast. Your Company. Times Square.
If you register for Podcast Movement by the end of the day Friday, September 4, you’ll have the opportunity to submit your podcast artwork or company logo to be featured on the Nasdaq billboard in Times Square during Podcast Movement week.
Yes. Times Square.
We’ve secured display space to celebrate the people and companies coming together for Podcast Movement NYC, and getting included is simple:
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Join the Podcast Movement app on Swapcard.
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Submit your podcast artwork or company logo through the app.
That’s it.
Your show or company, in lights, in the middle of the iconic Times Square.
The deadline to submit is Friday, September 4.
And with approximately 200 Podcast Movement tickets remaining, we wouldn’t wait too long on this one.
Four Keynotes. Two Days. One Big Stage.
We’ve officially announced all four keynote sessions coming to the Podcast Movement main stage, bringing together new research, some of podcasting’s biggest creators and the platforms shaping where the medium goes next.
Thursday, September 17
The Podcast Landscape 2026
Sounds Profitable Partner Tom Webster will unveil The Podcast Landscape 2026, the fourth annual edition of one of the largest publicly available studies focused on podcasting in America.
Fielded with Signal Hill Insights, this year’s study surveyed 5,400 Americans ages 18+ and offers a fresh look at who consumes podcasts, where they consume them and how those behaviors are changing.
The Fandom Effect: Turning Passion into a Multi-Platform Brand
Immediately following the Landscape reveal, SiriusXM Media brings John Allen — better known as MrBallen — to the Podcast Movement stage.
The host of MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories will join Greg Leader, SiriusXM Media’s VP of Revenue Partnerships, for a fireside conversation about turning passionate fandom into a lasting, multi-platform creator business.
From YouTube to podcasts, social media and live shows, MrBallen has built one of the clearest examples of what it looks like to grow beyond a single platform without losing the voice or audience trust that made the brand successful in the first place.
They’ll dig into where that growth came from, how fandom translates into a sustainable business and the role the right platform partner can play in reaching audiences everywhere.
Friday, September 18
WTF is a Podcast in 2026?
It might be the question our industry debates more than any other: What actually counts as a podcast in 2026?
Arielle Nissenblatt and Lauren Passell are bringing that debate to the Podcast Movement stage, but they’re not answering it alone.
Throughout the event, their crew will be roaming Terminal 5 asking attendees questions including: How do you consume podcasts? What is overhyped right now? Can you name five podcasts in ten seconds? And, of course, WTF is a podcast?
On Friday, Lindsey Weber will join Arielle and Lauren on stage as they reveal what the Podcast Movement community had to say before opening the conversation to the room.
What's Next for Podcasts on YouTube
Closing out our keynote lineup is Steve McLendon, Head of Product for YouTube Podcasts.
He’ll take the Podcast Movement stage to share what YouTube is building next for podcasters, including an audio-first listening experience designed for audiences on the move and new tools that will help creators turn long-form episodes into highlights and Shorts.
Podcast consumption is changing quickly. We want the people building the platforms audiences use to be part of the conversation about where it goes next.
You’ll hear directly from one of them Friday at noon.
Start Podcast Movement Early on Wednesday Night
Podcast Movement officially kicks off Thursday, but we’re starting the party a little early.
The IAB Podcast Upfront takes place Wednesday, September 16, and its official after party is happening at Terminal 5 from 6–8 PM, with doors opening at 5 PM.
Admission is included for anyone holding a ticket to Podcast Movement, the Sounds Profitable Business Summit or the IAB Podcast Upfront.
We’ll have a live taping of Dana Gould’s Hangin’ with Dr. Z, with support from JoneKiri. Dr. Z will, naturally, be conducting his interviews in full Planet of the Apes makeup.
Joining him on the couch are: Sam Morril. Dave Hill. Caitlin Peluffo. And more surprise guests.
This Is Podcast Movement NYC
September 17–18. Terminal 5. New York City.
Two days. Five stages. More than 80 sessions.
Creators, publishers, advertisers, platforms, producers and podcast leaders from across the industry.
No expo hall. No pay-to-play sessions. Not one second of stage time was purchased.
And tickets are just $199 for both days.
There are now fewer than 200 tickets remaining, and registering by Friday also gives you the chance to put your podcast or company in lights in Times Square.
This is going to be a big week for podcasting and we hope you’re part of it.
GET YOUR PODCAST MOVEMENT TICKET.
See you in NYC 🗽
Thank you to our 2026 media partners:
Join the Movement