The State of Podcasting in 2026: Bigger, Smarter, and More Visual Than Ever
The State of Podcasting in 2026: Bigger, Smarter, and More Visual Than Ever
February 2026 – A complete look at where the industry stands right now
1. The Numbers Don’t Lie – Podcasting Is Massive
Podcasting is no longer a niche. It is mainstream entertainment, education, and marketing.
Edison Research Infinite Dial 2025 (released early 2026):
→ 70 % of Americans 12+ have listened to a podcast
→ 51 % have watched a podcast
→ 73 % have consumed a podcast in audio or video form
Global listeners: ~619 million in 2026 and still climbing fast
Industry value: $39–40 billion in 2025, heading toward $131 billion by 2030
New shows: roughly 198,000 launches in 2025 – the barrier to entry is basically zero, but standing out is harder than ever
2. The Big Trends That Actually Matter in 2026
Video is the default – Audio-only is still huge, but the growth is in video. YouTube is the #1 “podcast app” for millions. Spotify, Apple, Amazon – everyone is p…
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