NPR announced the honorable mentions for its 2026 Student Podcast Challenge on Wednesday, September 30. The list recognizes outstanding entries from middle school and high school students across the United States. This year’s selections were chosen from a pool of nearly 1,500 total entries submitted to the annual competition.
The Student Podcast Challenge is an annual event designed to encourage students in grades four through 12 to create original audio content. Educators and students are invited to share their experiences and feedback with the NPR education desk, which manages the contest. The announcement of honorable mentions follows the release of the competition's finalists on Tuesday, September 29.
The 2026 middle school honorable mentions include 40 podcasts covering topics such as dental advertising, the history of video games, and the reintroduction of wolves in Colorado. High school honorable mentions featured 42 entries, including stories on immigration enforcement, Ethiopian jazz, and the impact of the internet on politics. The entries represented schools from diverse locations, including Hawaii, Texas, Connecticut, and Missouri.
For participants, the challenge offers the possibility of having their work featured on national radio and digital platforms. While the honorable mentions do not receive the top prizes, the related College Podcast Challenge offers a $5,000 cash prize and national airtime for the grand prize winner. These opportunities allow students to gain professional-level experience and visibility before entering the workforce, a benefit noted by past winners who have transitioned into production roles at NPR.
The 2026 cycle for the grade school competition concluded with this announcement of honorable mentions. For the ongoing College Podcast Challenge, the entry period opened on September 19, 2025, and the deadline for submissions is scheduled for January 16, 2026. NPR states that no prior podcasting experience is required for students to participate in these challenges.