It’s pretty obvious that podcasters like to be around on another, because they do it a lot. Whether it’s PodFest Expo in Orlando, Podcast Show in London, SXSW in Austin, the International Women’s Podcast Awards in Toronto, or Illuminate in Houston, podcasters like to hang out with another. That solidarity sets them apart from movie or TV stars, who live in isolated compounds in Malibu and only appear for award shows. By contrast, most podcasters are regular people who drive a Prius.

Back in February, Podcast Movement and Sounds Profitable announced that the flagship annual conference, Podcast Movement, will take place in New York City for the first time, hosted at the iconic Terminal 5 from September 14–18, 2026. The move to NYC marks a major evolution for Podcast Movement, positioning the event at the center of media, advertising, and creator culture.

“Throughout each evolution of the media industry, one thing has remained constant: New York City has always been at the heart of it all. Bringing Podcast Movement to New York is a signal to the broader media landscape that podcasting is no longer an emerging medium. We’re a multi-billion dollar industry that’s not even close to its peak,” said Bryan Barletta, President of Podcast Movement and Partner at Sounds Profitable.

The 2026 flagship will be intentionally structured into distinct experiences designed to serve the full podcast ecosystem, from top-level industry decision makers to creators and publishers building sustainable businesses.

September 14–15, 2026 | The Sounds Profitable Business Summit

The Sounds Profitable Business Summit is a premium, executive-level experience built for podcast industry leaders, senior decision makers, and brand and agency media buyers.

Across two focused days, The Sounds Profitable Business Summit will feature:

  • Carefully selected keynotes, panels, and speaking opportunities, with limited availability, to drive discussions on the business of podcasting
  • Group sessions and workshops that promote strategic conversations shaping the future of audio and creator-led media
  • Curated networking designed to drive real partnerships and deals
  • Fully catered breakfast, lunches, and dinners with seating charts built to optimize networking connections

Sounds Profitable partners will receive early access to purchase tickets and will have the ability to buy two tickets that can be shared within their organization for a different executive to attend each day.

Brand and agency buyers will have free access to the event as a testament to Sounds Profitable’s mission to grow the media investments in the industry.

September 16, 2026 | IAB Upfronts After Party with Locked On Podcast Network and More

Podcast Movement will pause daytime programming to align with the IAB Upfronts, allowing attendees to fully engage in the broader advertising ecosystem.

That evening, Podcast Movement will host an industry party with Locked On Podcast Network and more sponsors at Terminal 5. The night will bring together executives, buyers, creators, and partners for one of the week’s marquee networking events.

September 17–18, 2026 | Podcast Movement

Podcast Movement is intended for a mix of attendees, ranging from hobbyists interested in growing the skills to creator entrepreneurs scaling their multi-platform media brands. An audience of podcast networks, publishers, and creators will find relevant sessions and conversations throughout the event.

In contrast to the Sounds Profitable Business Summit’s media buyer audience, Podcast Movement will be centered on creators with relevant content and experiences. Session submissions will be voted on by the podcast industry for the opportunity to appear on stage, ensuring that all panels and speakers are relevant to the intended audience.

Over two days, Podcast Movement will deliver:

  • Tactical panels with actionable insights
  • Vendor showcases and hands-on opportunities
  • Networking events built to support creators at every stage

Podcast Movement is about sharpening skills, building businesses, and connecting with the tools and partners that power modern podcasting.

Sounds Profitable Head Of Communications Molly DeMellier notes: “The 2026 program reflects the rapid evolution of podcasting into a multi-platform media business. On stage sessions will span audience growth, video strategy, AI, monetization, brand partnerships, journalism, creator businesses, production, community building and the future of podcast discovery.”

General Admission tickets are available at $199, providing access to all programming across multiple concurrent tracks, all networking events, and live podcast recordings each evening. There are no ticket tiers and no premium upgrades. One ticket allows attendees to access everything throughout the two day event.

In addition, every registration includes access to the official IAB Podcast Upfront After Party at Terminal 5, featuring a live performance of Hangin' with Dr. Z with comedians Sam Morril and Dave Hill, with more special guests still to be announced.

“The future of podcasting is built by creators and that only works if we’re actually letting them in the door and giving them the opportunity to share their skills and expertise. New York is where so many of those creators already are and has a storied history in the arts. Podcast Movement belongs in their backyard at a price point that acknowledges that even the most celebrated creators operate on a budget and accessibility for those driving our industry forward might just be the most important piece of building the ideal podcast conference,” said Bryan Barletta, Partner at Sounds Profitable and President of Podcast Movement.

Among this year's featured speakers are leaders from some of the industry's most influential organizations, including:

  • Greg Glenday (Acast) discussing new audience research in Own the Moment: Acast's Podcast Pulse 2026 Reveals How Audiences Really Tune In.
  • Alex Goldmark (Planet Money, NPR) sharing how one of podcasting's most beloved shows makes economics accessible to millions.
  • Tamara Zubatiy (Barometer) unpacking the latest updates in programmatic advertising.
  • Dan Fierman (Higher Ground Productions) discussing how podcasts can create lasting cultural conversations.
  • Ainsley Rossitto (beehiiv) on podcast communities and building audience trust.
  • Steven Goldstein (Amplifi Media) leading a live look inside Gen Z's evolving media habits.
  • James Cridland (Podnews) looking back at podcasting’s history while examining where the industry is headed next.

The program also features sessions from leaders across CBC, WaitWhat, Lower Street, Signal Hill Insights, and dozens of independent creators who are redefining what success looks like in podcasting.

A Defining Moment for Podcast Movement

Bringing the flagship event to New York City reflects Podcast Movement’s commitment to meeting the industry where it’s headed: at the intersection of media, advertising, technology, and culture.

“This isn’t a venue change. It’s a statement,” said Barletta. “Podcasting has gone from underestimated to unavoidable, and when the right crowd gets together, the energy is real. The conversations get bigger, the ideas move faster, and the whole industry levels up. It’s serious, but it’s also a lot of fun.”

“The future of podcasting is built by creators and that only works if we’re actually letting them in the door and giving them the opportunity to share their skills and expertise. New York is where so many of those creators already are and has a storied history in the arts. Podcast Movement belongs in their backyard at a price point that acknowledges that even the most celebrated creators operate on a budget and accessibility for those driving our industry forward might just be the most important piece of building the ideal podcast conference,” adds Bryan Barletta.

Molly DeMellier emphasizes: “This is not an introduction to podcasting. It is where independent producers, network creators, video-first podcasters, audio-first podcasters, and working professionals come to refine the craft they have already built. Sharpen the writing. Tighten the production. Grow the business. Hone the work that makes a show worth listening to.”

This year’s event was intentionally built by the organizers with sessions selected by community voting and an independent committee to ensure that every talk is a topic that the industry wants to learn more about.

Each evening features live recordings from creators on the schedule. It’s a chance to see how your favorite shows actually get made, and to be part of the audience that makes them sing. Two full days. Multiple concurrent tracks. Sessions all day. Live podcast recordings at night. And a speaker lineup assembled through a process designed to put the best ideas on stage, not just the most familiar names.

I think what impresses me the most about the setup, structure, and emphasis of Podcast Movement 2026 is its commitment to making space for independent podcasters of color and creators from underserved communities whose perspectives have been historically underrepresented on podcasting stages. Their committee review process is structured specifically to ensure those voices have a prominent place on the schedule, not as an afterthought, but as a core design principle of the event.

That’s unique, refreshing, intellectually stimulating, and emotionally reassuring to the indie podcasters, who still bring escape velocity to creativity in this industry.

The true value of events like Podcast Movement 2026 is encapsulated in the personal interactions between all the stakeholders within the industry. Those exchanges have become more critical as the industry has attracted new stakeholders such as YouTube, brand advertisers, hosting companies, industry metrics standardization groups such as AMP, and TV streaming services.

If we have learned anything from the recent Spotify skip-ahead feature announcement (or test, as the company insists up on calling it), it’s a nudge that podcast creators don’t control the platforms where much of their audience listens or views. Podcasters may have a high degree of control over content, but Apple, Spotify and others can change the listening and viewing experience and the economics of a creator’s business at any time.

The Podcast Movement conference rooms, halls, backrooms, bars, and pub tables will surely be full of lively discussion on everything from AMP, Spotify’s skip-ahead feature, YouTube’s re-consideration of what defines a view, what’s going on at Cumulus, what’s wrong at Megaphone, and how did Distillate become the best narrative podcast of 2026.