ARKAST Awards Voting
Awards voting.
Public voting decides the winner in each ARKAST Awards category, and the results are announced at the spring ARKAST in Northwest Arkansas.
Current Status
NOMINATIONS OPEN OCTOBER 16, 2026.
Nominations for the 2026 ARKAST Awards open at ARKAST on Friday, October 16, 2026. Voting comes later: when nominations close, the finalists are announced and the ballot opens here. The nomination form opens at 7:00 PM that night.
Voting dates are announced with the finalists.How Voting Works
How to cast a ballot.
Read the finalists
Each category lists that year’s nominated shows with a link to the feed, so you can listen to any show you have not heard before voting.
Pick one per category
You get one vote per category, and you can leave any category blank. Repeat ballots from the same voter are not counted.
Attend the ceremony
Winners are announced live at the spring ARKAST in Northwest Arkansas, and tickets to that event are sold to the public.
Categories
2026 VOTING CATEGORIES.
The category list below is the slate from last year's ceremony, used as a reference. The final 2026 list locks before voting opens.
Best Arkansas Podcast
The top show of the year produced primarily in Arkansas.
Best New Podcast
A strong show in its first year of publishing.
Best Host
Recognizes hosting skill and interviewing ability.
Best Produced Podcast
Judged on sound design, scoring, and narrative structure.
Best Interview Series
For long-form conversation and interview shows.
Community Impact
For the show or host that contributed the most to Arkansas podcasting this year.
The First Ceremony
THE FIRST ARKAST AWARDS.
The first ARKAST Awards ceremony was held November 14, 2024, in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and the awards have run every year since. Thank you to everyone who nominated a show, voted, or attended.
Year Five
Get notified when voting opens.
The list sends an email when nominations open at ARKAST on Friday, October 16, 2026, and another when the ballot goes live after the finalists are announced. Winners are announced at the spring ARKAST in Northwest Arkansas.