Podcasts reached a record audience in 2026: 58% of Americans aged 12 and older, about 167 million people, consumed a podcast in the past month, and 80% have ever listened to or watched one, according to Edison Research’s Infinite Dial 2026. Video is now central to the format: YouTube reports more than 1 billion monthly viewers of podcast content, and US podcast advertising revenue grew 17.6% to $2.9 billion in 2025 (IAB/PwC).
The 10 podcast statistics below cover audience size, the shift to video podcasts, the biggest platforms and shows, and advertising. Each figure is attributed to its original source, with links collected in the Sources section, so brands can judge whether podcasts belong in their marketing mix.
Updated October 2026.
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Key statistics at a glance
- 58% of Americans 12+ (about 167 million people) consumed a podcast in the past month, an all-time high (Edison Research, Infinite Dial 2026).
- 80% of Americans 12+ (about 230 million) have ever listened to or watched a podcast (Infinite Dial 2026).
- 57% of Americans 12+ have both listened to and watched a podcast (Infinite Dial 2026).
- YouTube has more than 1 billion monthly viewers of podcast content (YouTube, February 2025).
- Viewers watched over 700 million hours of podcasts on TV screens in October 2025, up 75% (Alphabet).
- US podcast advertising revenue reached $2.9 billion in 2025, up 17.6% (IAB/PwC).
- Spotify hosts about 8 million podcast titles (Spotify, 2026).
How many people listen to podcasts in 2026?
1. 58% of Americans 12+ consume podcasts every month
Edison Research’s Infinite Dial 2026, presented on March 12, 2026 and reported by Talkers, found that 58% of Americans aged 12 and older, an estimated 167 million people, listened to or watched a podcast in the past month. That is an all-time high for the long-running study.
2. 80% of Americans 12+ have ever listened to or watched a podcast
According to the same Infinite Dial 2026 data, 80% of Americans aged 12 and older, about 230 million people, have ever consumed a podcast. Podcasts are no longer a niche medium; awareness and trial are close to universal, and the challenge for shows is now winning regular listeners.
3. 81% of Americans 12+ listen to online audio every month
The Infinite Dial 2026 found 81% of Americans aged 12 and older (233 million) listen to online audio, such as streaming music, podcasts and online radio, in a typical month, and 76% (219 million) did so in the past week. Online audio use among Americans 55 and older rose from 52% in 2024 to 70% in 2026, so the audience is no longer mainly young.
Video podcast statistics
4. 57% of Americans 12+ have both listened to and watched a podcast
According to Tubefilter’s coverage of the Infinite Dial 2026, 57% of Americans 12+ have both listened to and watched a podcast, the first time more than half of respondents reported doing both. Edison Research’s Megan Lazovick summed it up: “Video isn’t replacing podcast audio. It’s expanding the tent.”
5. YouTube has more than 1 billion monthly podcast viewers
YouTube announced on February 26, 2025 that it had more than 1 billion monthly active viewers of podcast content as of January 2025. YouTube has become one of the largest podcast platforms in the world, and many shows now publish full video episodes there alongside the audio feed.
6. Podcast viewing on TV screens reached 700 million hours in October 2025, up 75%
In Alphabet’s Q4 2025 earnings remarks, Sundar Pichai said viewers watched over 700 million hours of podcasts on living-room devices in October 2025, up 75% from a year earlier. YouTube had reported over 400 million hours of monthly TV podcast viewing in 2024. Podcasts are increasingly watched on the biggest screen in the house, like talk shows.
Podcast platform and top show statistics
7. Spotify hosts about 8 million podcast titles
Spotify’s company information page lists 8 million podcast titles, alongside more than 100 million music tracks and 800,000 audiobooks. Spotify had 788 million monthly active users in Q3 2026, so it is one of the largest audiences any podcast can reach. See our Spotify statistics for more.
8. The Joe Rogan Experience was Spotify’s top podcast for the sixth year in a row
Spotify Wrapped 2025 ranked The Joe Rogan Experience as the most popular podcast globally for the sixth consecutive year, followed by The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett and The Mel Robbins Podcast. The top three are long-form interview shows, a format that works equally well as audio and as video.
Podcast advertising statistics
9. US podcast advertising revenue reached $2.9 billion in 2025
The IAB/PwC Internet Advertising Revenue Report, released April 16, 2026, puts US podcast advertising revenue at $2.9 billion in 2025, up 17.6% year over year. That growth outpaced total digital advertising (up 13.9%), although podcasts remain a small slice of the $294.6 billion digital ad market.
10. Creator advertising, including podcast sponsorships, reached $37 billion
The same IAB/PwC report estimates creator advertising spend at $37 billion in 2025. Host-read podcast sponsorships are part of that wider creator economy, where brands pay trusted personalities to speak to their audiences rather than buying traditional ad slots.
What do these podcast statistics mean for brands?
Podcasts now reach a majority of Americans every month, across every age group, and increasingly as video. For brands, that creates two options: sponsor existing shows, where host-read ads benefit from listener trust, or launch a branded show that builds an owned audience over time.
If you sponsor shows, judge them by audience fit and engagement rather than download counts alone, and use unique offer codes or landing pages to measure results. If you launch your own podcast, plan for video from day one, since YouTube and Spotify both support video episodes, and commit to a consistent schedule; most of the value comes from regular listeners, not one-off spikes.
A podcast needs a name that is easy to say, search and remember. Try the podcast name generator, then check that the matching handle is free on YouTube, Spotify, Instagram and TikTok with the namechk username checker. For more audience data, see our YouTube statistics.
How we compiled these statistics
Audience figures come from Edison Research’s Infinite Dial 2026 (a national survey of Americans aged 12 and older fielded in January 2026), as reported by Talkers and Tubefilter, because Edison’s own report page could not be accessed. Platform figures come from YouTube, Alphabet and Spotify, and advertising figures from the IAB/PwC Internet Advertising Revenue Report. All data is as of October 2026; older statistics were removed.
FAQs
How many people listen to podcasts in 2026?
According to Edison Research’s Infinite Dial 2026, 58% of Americans aged 12 and older, about 167 million people, listened to or watched a podcast in the past month, an all-time high. 80% of Americans 12+, about 230 million people, have ever consumed a podcast. Globally, YouTube alone reports more than 1 billion monthly podcast viewers.
Are video podcasts more popular than audio podcasts?
Both are growing together. The Infinite Dial 2026 found that 57% of Americans 12+ have both listened to and watched a podcast, the first time more than half have done both. YouTube reports over 1 billion monthly podcast viewers, and podcast viewing on TV screens rose 75% year over year to 700 million hours in October 2025.
What is the most popular podcast platform?
YouTube and Spotify are the two largest. YouTube had more than 1 billion monthly viewers of podcast content as of January 2025, and Spotify hosts about 8 million podcast titles for its 788 million monthly users. Apple Podcasts is the other major directory, and most shows distribute to all three so listeners can choose.
How much is spent on podcast advertising?
US podcast advertising revenue reached $2.9 billion in 2025, up 17.6% from 2024, according to the IAB/PwC Internet Advertising Revenue Report released in April 2026. That growth was faster than the 13.9% growth of total US digital advertising, though podcasts are still a small share of the $294.6 billion market.
What is the most popular podcast in the world?
On Spotify, The Joe Rogan Experience was the top podcast globally in 2025 for the sixth consecutive year, according to Spotify Wrapped. The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett ranked second and The Mel Robbins Podcast third. Rankings differ by platform and country, and YouTube and Apple publish their own charts.
Are podcasts worth it for small businesses?
They can be, especially for businesses that sell expertise. With 58% of Americans consuming podcasts monthly, a niche show can reach a loyal audience, and sponsorships on small shows are affordable. The main costs are time and consistency: plan a regular schedule, record video as well as audio, and promote episodes on social media.
Sources
- Talkers: Infinite Dial 2026 coverage (March 2026)
- Tubefilter: Four out of five US adults have listened to or watched a podcast (March 20, 2026)
- YouTube Official Blog: 1 billion monthly podcast users (February 26, 2025)
- Google: Q4 2025 earnings call remarks (February 4, 2026)
- IAB/PwC Internet Advertising Revenue Report, Full Year 2025 (April 16, 2026)
- Spotify Newsroom: Company info
- Spotify Newsroom: Top podcasts of 2025 (December 3, 2025)
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