ARKAST Awards
The ARKAST Awards.
The ARKAST Awards recognize Arkansas shows, hosts, and producers each year. Anyone can submit nominations, the public votes on the finalists, and the winners are announced at the festival.
About the Awards
About the awards.
The first ARKAST Awards ceremony was held November 14, 2024, in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and the awards have run every year since. They exist so that a year of production work is recognized in front of the people doing the same work.
The awards run on community input. Anyone can submit nominations during the open nomination window. Finalists are announced, public voting opens at the October ARKAST, and the winners are announced at the spring ARKAST in Northwest Arkansas. This year that is Friday, October 16, 2026, at 7:00 PM.
Year five adds categories, widens eligibility, and opens nominations to podcasters working in Arkansas and the surrounding states.
Process
How the awards work.
Nominate
Submit the shows, hosts, and producers you think deserve recognition. Self-nominations welcome. Nominations are open for several weeks each summer.
Finalists
A review panel of working podcasters narrows nominations to finalists per category. Finalists are announced publicly with show notes and links.
Public vote
Voting opens for several weeks online. One vote per category, per person. Cast your votes here when the window is open.
Ceremony
Voting opens at ARKAST on Friday, October 16, 2026. Winners are announced at the spring ARKAST in Northwest Arkansas and receive a trophy on stage.
Categories
Award categories.
Categories run across format, craft, and community impact. The final Year 5 category list is posted before nominations open.
BEST ARKANSAS PODCAST
The top Arkansas show of the year. Open to any podcast produced primarily in Arkansas.
ADDITIONAL CATEGORIES
BEST NEW PODCAST
A strong show in its first year. The podcast must have launched within the eligibility year.
BEST HOST
Recognizes hosting skill, interviewing ability, and the connection a host builds with listeners.
CRAFT AND COMMUNITY
BEST PRODUCED PODCAST
For shows built around production quality, judged on sound design, scoring, and narrative structure.
BEST INTERVIEW SERIES
For long-form conversation shows, judged on the depth of the answers the host draws out of guests.
COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD
For the show, host, or producer who contributed the most to the Arkansas podcasting community this year.
Past Winners
Past winners.
The 2024 ARKAST Awards in Fayetteville were the first ceremony.
Past winners and finalists are listed here as each year's results are confirmed.
2026 Nominations
Nominate a show.
Nominations for the 2026 ARKAST Awards open in mid-summer. Sign up through the contact form and we will email you the day the window opens.