The Podcast Show opens 5th edition May 20

The Podcast Show opened its fifth edition on Wednesday at London’s Business Design Centre, starting a two-day gathering that organizers describe as the biggest international festival focused on the business of podcasting. The event runs on May 20 and May 21 in Islington and brings together creators, platforms, brands, broadcasters and studios, according to the show’s official website. Organizers say the 2026 edition includes more than 450 speakers, 170-plus sessions and more than 120 global brands. RadioToday reported delegates were expected from more than 50 countries. ### Why is this year’s edition drawing international attention? The 2026 show is the fifth annual edition of an event that has become a regular meeting point for podcast executives and creators in Europe and beyond. The official site says the show is billed as an international business festival for podcasting, while RadioToday said attendees this week include podcast and audio executives from around the world. Podnews said delegates were expected from Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Africa and Australia. (thepodcastshowlondon.com) More than 50 countries are represented among expected delegates, according to RadioToday and Podnews. That international spread is one reason organizers expanded programming around cross-market collaboration, partnership development and industry networking, according to reports previewing the event. ### What is actually happening inside the venue? Nine stages are operating across the two-day program, according to the official event site and preview coverage. (thepodcastshowlondon.com) The show’s stage listings include Talking Podcasts 1 and 2, The Creator Stage, BrandWorks, The Studio Stage, The Origin Stage and other session spaces built around different parts of the industry. The official tickets page says attendees have access to more than 130 hours of content. (radiotoday.uk) Panels, workshops, networking events and exhibitor activity are spread across the Business Design Centre floor. The official site says the event brings together industry leaders, brands and platforms alongside emerging and established creators, while the show-features page highlights dedicated spaces for creators, studio conversations and business-focused sessions. ### Which themes are getting the most attention this week? (thepodcastshowlondon.com) The Creator Stage is one of the clearest signals of the show’s agenda this year. The official stage description says that track focuses on marketing, monetisation, myth-busting, AI tools, audio production and business tips for podcast creators. Net Influencer reported that this year’s programming also emphasizes creator-economy issues, international podcast trends and platform business sessions. (thepodcastshowlondon.com) Session listings on the official site point to practical business questions rather than consumer-facing promotion. Examples include panels on video podcast production, podcast metrics, paid marketing strategies, AI trends and ethics, and revenue structures for producers. Those topics suggest the event is geared toward people building, distributing and selling podcasts, rather than only fans or listeners. (thepodcastshowlondon.com) ### How large is the 2026 program compared with the event’s usual footprint? The official website lists 450-plus speakers, 170-plus sessions and 120-plus global brands for this year’s event. PodcastingToday said the fifth edition is expected to attract its largest audience to date, though organizers did not publicly specify a final attendance figure ahead of opening day. The Business Design Centre listing also said the show was set to exceed previous years with more global partners and strong delegate registration, although that venue page appeared to contain an outdated reference to the edition number. (thepodcastshowlondon.com) The official show site and multiple trade reports identify the 2026 event as the fifth edition. ### What happens next over the second day? (thepodcastshowlondon.com) May 21 is the final day of the 2026 event at the Business Design Centre. The official program lists additional sessions on UK podcast listening, branded podcasts, AI, paid marketing and producer revenue, and the event app and program pages are being used to direct attendees through the schedule. (thepodcastshowlondon.com) (businessdesigncentre.co.uk)