It’s that time of year where we start circling dates for the upcoming podcast events for this year.
And if you’ve never attended a podcast event before, then 2022 is your year to do so! There are some incredible events lined up and you’re not going to want to miss them!
Podcast events are a really fantastic way for podcast hosts and others involved in the podcasting industry to keep their fingers on the pulse of all that’s happening in the audio space.
They are an excellent source of podcasting information, as with many of these events, you get to hear directly from leaders in the industry and you get to learn from experts in their respective fields.
And if that wasn’t enough to convince you to attend some of this year’s events, they are also a phenomenal way to network and establish relationships with others in the podcasting world.
So get your calendars out and let’s check out the events for January to June 2022.
January
Hot Docs Podcast Festival
Date: 25-28 January 2022
Event Type: Virtual Event
Cost: Hot Docs *Members: $84 | Regular Price: $94
Due to public health regulations, the 2022 Hot Docs Podcast Festival will once again be an all-virtual edition. This means that you can join in on the fun from anywhere in the world!
Which is great news because the festival line-up is something to behold! The star hosts and creators headlining the Festival’s evening program include the likes of Samantha Bee, Ira Glass, Anna Maria Tremonti, and more.
And you can enjoy three days of inspiring daytime sessions exploring the art and craft of audio storytelling.
*Hot Docs Members and Festival Passholders get free admission to the headlining events from January 25-28. Passholders also get exclusive access to Creators Forum sessions, and an extended streaming window to view all session recordings through February 28.
You can find more info, as well as purchase your ticket here.
February
iHeart Podcast Awards
Date: 3 February 2022
Event Type: Virtual Event
Cost: Free
The iHeartRadio Podcast Awards endeavor to recognize the top podcasts in America. And with over 30 different categories, they are doing just that. The nominees in most of the categories are selected by a judging panel “comprised of blue-ribbon podcast industry leaders, creatives and visionaries,” according to iHeartMedia, but it’s the fans who decide which show will take home the prize for Podcast of the Year.
The ceremony can be viewed on YouTube or Facebook or listened to on @iheartradio. Last year’s show was a ton of fun to view. There were guest appearances by Conan O’Brien and Will Ferrell, and you even got to enjoy other big names such as Hillary Clinton and Gwen Stefani who virtually presented winners with their awards.
You can check out this year’s full list of nominees and categories here.
Africa Podcast Day
Date: 12 February 2022 (Africa Podcast Day 2022)
Event Type: Virtual Event
Host: Africa Podfest
Cost: Free
February 12, 2022, is Africa Podcast Day, and in the build-up to this event, Africa Podfest is embarking on a virtual Discovery Tour of 4 African podcast hubs.
The aim is to use this virtual tour to shatter the single story of Africa through epic encounters with African podcast storytellers across the continent. The four stops at the podcasting hubs taking place before Africa Podcast Day 2022, aim to build connections by introducing African podcasters to one another.
If you want to find out more about how the podcasting industry is growing and developing in Africa, you want to learn more about the opportunities that exist in their podcasting space, or you want to be inspired by how the continent has embraced podcasting, Africa Podfest is the place to be!
For more info on the previous stops or to sign up, check out this website.
March
Spark Media Conference
Date: 7-8 March 2022
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Event Type: In-Person
Cost: $249
The Spark Media Conference is focused on equipping faith-based podcast creators. With cutting-edge training available from industry leaders, you’ll have the opportunity to become a part of a thriving community of fellow podcasters.
There is a great line-up of speakers, all focused on motivating, inspiring, and equipping podcasters of all levels.
You can check out the list of speakers as well as the event’s schedule here. Here you’ll also find some incredible add-ons. If you’re an aspiring author, you can book appointments with literary agents. Or, you could book an appointment for a business strategy consultation with a business coach.
Get your tickets here.
Podcast Movement Evolutions
Date: 23-26 March 2022
Location: Los Angeles
Event Type: In-Person
Cost: $149 – $449
Podcast Movement Evolutions brings together the biggest names in the business and delivers four days of networking, learning, and a whole lot of fun.
Evolutions will focus on an in-depth look at the latest podcasting trends, tech, and developments in the ever-changing landscape of the industry. The event has been divided into three distinct tracks, Creator, Professional Podcaster, and Industry Professional. Each track is carefully curated to be a well-rounded offering of discussions covering the spectrum of podcasting. So versus needing to decide what sessions to attend during each block, we do the hard work for you. There will be valuable networking opportunities, great keynote speakers, as well as a number of social events and fun-filled parties!
You can register here.
VO Atlanta Voiceover Conference
Date: 31 March – 3 April 2022
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Event Type: In-Person and Virtual
Cost: $395 – $595
VO Atlanta is the largest voiceover industry event. The event spans four days and brings together hundreds of voice actors, agents, directors, producers, and resource providers for a weekend of learning, networking, and socializing.
2022 will mark the last VO Atlanta Voiceover Conference, so this will be the last chance to attend. You can register for in-person or virtual tickets here.
April
CrimeCon
Date: 29 April – 1 May 2022
Location: Las Vegas
Event Type: In-Person and Virtual
Cost: $309 – $1599 (In-person) $129-$249 (virtual)
Here’s a podcast event that’s a little different from all the rest! CrimeCon is an immersive, weekend-long event dedicated to all things true crime and mystery.
If true crime is your podcast flavor of choice, this is the conference for you! CrimeCon covers it all! You’ll hear about the latest cases and learn all about the latest scientific techniques, perfect for helping you unravel your next podcast binge! Get front row seats as you hear from the masterminds behind top TV shows and docs to the top podcasters and creators in the world.
Made by fans, for fans, CrimeCon’s mission is to bring together the true crime community for a weekend filled with education, understanding, advocacy, and lots of fun.
Ticket options have been linked above.
May
Radiodays Europe
Date: 15-17 May 2022
Location: Malmö, Sweden
Cost: 599 EUR (Early bird tickets are available until 28th February 2022)
Radiodays Europe is the meeting point for the world of radio, podcasting, and audio. Launching back in 2010, this conference has now become the most important annual conference for radio professionals with over 1600 participants from 62 countries online and in-person.
The purpose of Radiodays Europe is to raise the awareness of radio, audio, and podcast to inspire innovation and collaboration within the radio and audio industry and to encourage program development and good radio journalism.
Get your tickets here.
The Podcast Show
Date: 25-26 May 2022
Location: London
Event Type: In-Person
Cost: Standard Day tickets from £55
The Podcast Show is a unique global gathering of the broad and diverse podcasting community. By day, the show will welcome industry pros, independent creators, and business leaders to masterclasses, workshops, and over 100 global brands. By night, The Podcast Show LIVE will take over London for 7 nights of live podcast shows across Islington, making this the biggest festival of its kind.
The Podcast Show is the new international festival for the business of podcasting. The event is geared to present over 100 leading global brands, technologies, and solution providers, supported by a world-class line-up of inspirational talent and content. Tickets will unlock access to masterclasses, workshops, feedback & advice, networking opportunities, and top keynote speakers exploring industry trends, ideas, and thought leadership.
Podfest Expo
Date: 26-29 May 2022
Location: Orlando, Florida
Event Type: In-Person and Virtual
Cost: $247 – $745
Podfest Expo returns to its first full-on live, in-person event since the pandemic. Podfest Expo is an incredible community of people who are interested in and passionate about sharing their voice and message with the world through the powerful mediums of audio and video.
As has been the mission with all previous Podfest events, the goal remains to bring together as many within the podcast industry as possible, and enable and empower them to share knowledge, and learn and grow from each other.
A key point of this event is the ability to customize your Podfest experience. There are six different topic tracks on offer, and you can find the ones that suit you and your show best.
Whether you’re new to podcasting or a veteran podcaster looking to innovate and improve your podcast, you’ll find just what you need to learn, no matter your skill level or experience.
You can get your tickets here.
Blk Pod Festival
Date: 28-29 May 2022
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Event Type: In-Person
Cost: TBA
Blk Pod Festival first launched in 2020 with an interactive one-day virtual experience from a need to showcase and connect Black audio creatives. This year sees the first in-person Blk Pod Festival!
The Festival’s main goal is to help aspiring podcasters bring their shows to life, reenergize existing podcasters, and guidance for podcast service providers; all while providing actionable resources and lifelong connections.
There are 80 sessions and 120 speakers jam-packed into this two-day conference.
There are also four different tracks to choose from: Launch, Grow, Monetization, and Service Provider, so you’ll definitely find exactly what you want to learn to help you and your podcast.
Closing Thoughts
Podcast events provide you with the incredible opportunity to learn from some of the best in the business on topics catered especially to different aspects of the industry.
Whether in-person or virtual, podcast events are such a great resource for podcast hosts. Getting to engage with others who face the same challenges, and who experience similar highs and lows is such a necessity on your podcast journey.
These events make leaders in the industry accessible and you’re able to learn from some of the best in the business on topics catered especially to different aspects of the podcast industry.
So diarize the above dates, then keep a lookout for Part II which we will share later on in the year!
What podcast events are you planning on attending this year? Let us know in the comments below.
