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Best Fiction Podcasts 2026: Top 20 Ranked by Data

Best Fiction Podcasts 2026: Top 20 Ranked by Data: Ranked by Real Chart Data

Updated September 2026 · Based on CastFox data covering 26 Apple Podcasts chart snapshots in 78 countries (2026-02-24 to 2026-09-25) and 5M+ indexed podcasts

These are the 20 best fiction podcasts 2026 has produced in the United States, ranked by CastFox chart data rather than by opinion. Every show below appeared in all 26 snapshots of the US Apple Podcasts Fiction chart that we captured between February 24 and September 25, 2026. That single filter does most of the work in this category, because fiction is where a well-marketed launch can take the top 10 for a week and then vanish. A show that holds a spot for seven straight months has an audience that comes back for the next episode.

Fiction podcasting in 2026 has split into six recognizable shapes. Horror and creepypasta anthologies, which are the commercial engine of the category (The NoSleep Podcast, Scary Horror Stories by Dr. NoSleep, Creepy, Old Gods of Appalachia, The Antiquarium of Sinister Happenings, Relatos de la Noche). Mystery and classic literature brought back as produced audio, usually with a name actor reading (Sherlock Holmes Short Stories, Sherlock & Co., Jane Austen Stories). Speculative serials with continuing casts (Welcome to Night Vale, Midnight Burger, We're Alive, The SCP Experience). Tabletop actual play, where the plot is generated at the table (The Adventure Zone, Worlds Beyond Number, Legends of Avantris). Full-cast productions built like film, including one written for families (Table Read, Six Minutes). And fiction written to put you to sleep, now a permanent fixture near the top of the chart (The Sleepy Bookshelf, Night Falls).

Each card below shows the cover art, the producer, what the show is, why it earned its place in 2026, and who it is best for, plus the chart record behind the ranking: how many of the 26 US Fiction chart snapshots it appeared in, its average US rank across those snapshots, and how many of 78 tracked countries it charted in on the most recent scrape. Click through to CastFox for the full profile with audience estimates, chart history by country, reviews, and contact details. You can monitor any of these shows in CastFox and see the moment one starts climbing.

20Best fiction podcasts to listen to in 2026
26/26US Fiction chart snapshots every show appeared in
78Countries tracked daily for the reach score
Sep 2026Last refreshed from CastFox chart data

The 20 best fiction podcasts of 2026 at a glance

#PodcastHosted byAvg US rankBest rankCountries chartingEpisodes
1Sherlock Holmes Short StoriesNOISER3.5#171103
2The Sleepy BookshelfSlumber Studios6.1#361
3Welcome to Night ValeNight Vale Presents10.6#763379
4The NoSleep PodcastCreative Reason Media Inc.4#254728
5Midnight BurgerBusiness Goose Media8.1#555107
6Sherlock & Co.Goalhanger20.4#1257156
7Scary Horror Stories by Dr. NoSleepDr. NoSleep Studios8#442950
8Jane Austen StoriesNOISER27.9#56032
9The Adventure ZoneThe McElroys3.3#230418
10Six MinutesGZM Shows7.9#428386
11CreepyBe Afraid15.8#11321,000
12Old Gods of AppalachiaDeepNerd Media12.7#126143
13Worlds Beyond NumberWorlds Beyond Number19.1#1231
14Relatos de la NocheSonoro13.5#1019653
15Legends of AvantrisAvantris Entertainment18.5#1423431
16Night Falls: Bedtime Story, Sleep Story, Sleep PodcastSleepiest: Bedtime Story, Sleep Story, Sleep Podcast26.9#1533366
17Table ReadiHeartPodcasts1.7#11121
18We're AliveWayland Productions Inc20.3#1023241
19The SCP ExperienceDr. NoSleep Studios22.6#1724557
20The Antiquarium of Sinister HappeningsBloody FM27.2#1229162

The 20 Best Fiction Podcasts to Listen To in 2026

Horror Fiction and Creepypasta Anthologies

#4
The NoSleep Podcast podcast cover art

#4. The NoSleep Podcast

Hosted by Creative Reason Media Inc.

26/26 US chart snapshots Avg US rank 4 Best US rank #2 Charting in 54 countries

About this show: A multi-award-winning anthology of original horror stories with a full voice cast, atmospheric score, and sound design built around each story. Episodes collect several unrelated tales, so any one of them works as an entry point.

Why it made the list in 2026: The best-produced horror anthology in the category and one of the most consistent performers on the entire Fiction chart, more than a decade after launch. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 4, best #2, charting in 54 countries on the latest scrape.

Best fit for: Horror listeners who care about production quality as much as the story.

#7
Scary Horror Stories by Dr. NoSleep podcast cover art

#7. Scary Horror Stories by Dr. NoSleep

Hosted by Dr. NoSleep Studios

26/26 US chart snapshots Avg US rank 8 Best US rank #4 Charting in 42 countries

About this show: Dr. NoSleep Studios publishes diabolical horror stories, creepypastas, and original scary fiction with professional human narration and immersive sound design, and states plainly that no AI stories or voices are used. New episodes arrive Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The creators stay anonymous, and the show is not connected to The NoSleep Podcast.

Why it made the list in 2026: The highest publishing rate of any horror show on this list, three episodes a week, sustained across every chart snapshot we captured. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 8, best #4, charting in 42 countries on the latest scrape.

Best fit for: Adult horror listeners who want something new in the feed every other day.

#11
Creepy podcast cover art

#11. Creepy

Hosted by Be Afraid

26/26 US chart snapshots Avg US rank 15.8 Best US rank #11 Charting in 32 countries

About this show: Jon Grilz narrates the most famous and disturbing creepypastas and urban legends, one per episode, with listener discretion advised and story requests taken from the audience.

Why it made the list in 2026: The most reliable single-narrator horror show on the chart, holding a top-20 average without a cast or a score to carry it. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 15.8, best #11, charting in 32 countries on the latest scrape.

Best fit for: Listeners who want the canonical internet horror stories told straight.

#12
Old Gods of Appalachia podcast cover art

#12. Old Gods of Appalachia

Hosted by DeepNerd Media

26/26 US chart snapshots Avg US rank 12.7 Best US rank #1 Charting in 26 countries

About this show: A horror anthology set in an alternate central Appalachia, where things with unknowable hunger slept beneath the mountains long before anyone started digging. Digging too deep into the mines was only the first mistake.

Why it made the list in 2026: The best-realized single world in fiction podcasting, and a show that touched the US number 1 spot in 2026 while remaining independent. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 12.7, best #1, charting in 26 countries on the latest scrape.

Best fit for: Listeners who want folk horror with a sense of place, and who will follow one mythology across seasons.

#14
Relatos de la Noche podcast cover art

#14. Relatos de la Noche

Hosted by Sonoro

26/26 US chart snapshots Avg US rank 13.5 Best US rank #10 Charting in 19 countries

About this show: Sonoro's Spanish-language anthology in the tradition of classic radio, telling the stories, tales, and legends that live in the streets of Mexico and Latin America.

Why it made the list in 2026: The only Spanish-language show to hold a top-100 US Fiction position in every snapshot of 2026, with a top-10 peak. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 13.5, best #10, charting in 19 countries on the latest scrape.

Best fit for: Spanish speakers in the US, and anyone who wants regional legend rather than internet horror.

#20
The Antiquarium of Sinister Happenings podcast cover art

#20. The Antiquarium of Sinister Happenings

Hosted by Bloody FM

26/26 US chart snapshots Avg US rank 27.2 Best US rank #12 Charting in 29 countries

About this show: A weekly full-cast horror anthology set in a mysterious shop where every relic has a sordid tale, featuring Mike Flanagan, Kate Siegel, David Dastmalchian, Devon Sawa, and Jocelin Donahue.

Why it made the list in 2026: The most award-decorated newcomer in the horror group, and the show that proved screen horror talent will carry an anthology onto the chart. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 27.2, best #12, charting in 29 countries on the latest scrape.

Best fit for: Horror listeners who want recognizable voices and an anthology with a frame story.

Mystery and Classic Literature Adaptations

#1
Sherlock Holmes Short Stories podcast cover art

#1. Sherlock Holmes Short Stories

Hosted by NOISER

26/26 US chart snapshots Avg US rank 3.5 Best US rank #1 Charting in 71 countries

About this show: NOISER's reading of Arthur Conan Doyle's original Holmes cases, narrated by Hugh Bonneville with original music and sound design. New episodes land every Thursday, each one a self-contained case built from the first strange detail to the solution.

Why it made the list in 2026: The highest-scoring fiction podcast in the United States this year, and the clearest evidence that a well-produced reading of public-domain work can outrank original scripted audio. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 3.5, best #1, charting in 71 countries on the latest scrape.

Best fit for: Listeners who want a complete mystery in one sitting, read by a voice they already trust.

#6
Sherlock & Co. podcast cover art

#6. Sherlock & Co.

Hosted by Goalhanger

26/26 US chart snapshots Avg US rank 20.4 Best US rank #12 Charting in 57 countries

About this show: Goalhanger's modern Holmes, framed as Dr. John Watson's own true crime podcast about the most brilliant and bizarre person he has ever met. The cases are Doyle's, moved to present-day central London and recorded as if Watson is holding the microphone.

Why it made the list in 2026: The most inventive of the two Holmes shows on this list, and proof that the framing device can carry a two-year-old show into the top 15 against decade-old anthologies. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 20.4, best #12, charting in 57 countries on the latest scrape.

Best fit for: True crime listeners who want the same rhythm in fiction, and anyone who likes the conceit taken seriously.

#8
Jane Austen Stories podcast cover art

#8. Jane Austen Stories

Hosted by NOISER

26/26 US chart snapshots Avg US rank 27.9 Best US rank #5 Charting in 60 countries

About this show: Dame Julie Andrews reads Jane Austen's unabridged novels with original music and sound design, one chapter at a time, every Tuesday. Season one is Pride and Prejudice, season two is Emma.

Why it made the list in 2026: The fastest riser among the classic-literature readings and a show that peaked inside the US top 5 in 2026, which is unusual for a format this slow. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 27.9, best #5, charting in 60 countries on the latest scrape.

Best fit for: Austen readers, and listeners who want a long book delivered in weekly pieces by a voice built for it.

Speculative Serials and Science Fiction Anthologies

#3
Welcome to Night Vale podcast cover art

#3. Welcome to Night Vale

Hosted by Night Vale Presents

26/26 US chart snapshots Avg US rank 10.6 Best US rank #7 Charting in 63 countries

About this show: Twice-monthly community radio updates for the small desert town of Night Vale, where every conspiracy theory is true. The format is a local news broadcast and the effect is deadpan cosmic horror. You can start with the current episode or go back to episode 1.

Why it made the list in 2026: Thirteen years in and still a top-10 US charter every month of 2026, with a footprint in more than 60 countries. No other independent fiction podcast has held that position for this long. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 10.6, best #7, charting in 63 countries on the latest scrape.

Best fit for: Listeners who want surreal comedy and dread in the same voice, and who do not mind arriving mid-story.

#5
Midnight Burger podcast cover art

#5. Midnight Burger

Hosted by Business Goose Media

26/26 US chart snapshots Avg US rank 8.1 Best US rank #5 Charting in 55 countries

About this show: Gloria takes a waitressing job at a diner outside Phoenix and finds out she now works for Midnight Burger, a time-traveling, dimension-spanning diner that appears somewhere new in the cosmos every day, staffed by a galactic drifter, a rogue theoretical physicist, a sentient old-timey radio, and some guy named Caspar.

Why it made the list in 2026: The warmest of the continuing speculative serials and a top-10 fixture all year, built by a small independent team rather than a network. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 8.1, best #5, charting in 55 countries on the latest scrape.

Best fit for: Listeners who want science fiction that is kind, funny, and character-first.

#18
We're Alive podcast cover art

#18. We're Alive

Hosted by Wayland Productions Inc

26/26 US chart snapshots Avg US rank 20.3 Best US rank #10 Charting in 23 countries

About this show: An award-winning full-cast audio drama following survivors in a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles ruled by the Infected. The main story, A Story of Survival, runs 48 chapters, and the world continues in Lockdown and Goldrush.

Why it made the list in 2026: The deepest finished catalog of any audio drama on the chart, and a show still holding top-100 US positions every month years after its main story concluded. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 20.3, best #10, charting in 23 countries on the latest scrape.

Best fit for: Listeners who want a long, completed story they can start at chapter 1 and finish.

#19
The SCP Experience podcast cover art

#19. The SCP Experience

Hosted by Dr. NoSleep Studios

26/26 US chart snapshots Avg US rank 22.6 Best US rank #17 Charting in 24 countries

About this show: An immersive science fiction series set in the SCP Foundation universe, adapting classified containment files, anomalous technologies, and forbidden research through cinematic narration and sound design. New episodes every Monday and Friday, written for adults.

Why it made the list in 2026: The strongest performer to come out of collaborative internet fiction, and a twice-weekly release that has not missed a chart snapshot this year. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 22.6, best #17, charting in 24 countries on the latest scrape.

Best fit for: Science fiction listeners who like speculative science and ethical dilemmas in self-contained episodes.

Tabletop Actual Play Fiction

#9
The Adventure Zone podcast cover art

#9. The Adventure Zone

Hosted by The McElroys

26/26 US chart snapshots Avg US rank 3.3 Best US rank #2 Charting in 30 countries

About this show: Justin, Travis, and Griffin McElroy of My Brother, My Brother and Me recruited their dad Clint for a campaign of high adventure. The story is improvised at the table and the comedy and the plot arrive together.

Why it made the list in 2026: The strongest average US rank of any actual play show on the chart, and the one that pulled the format into mainstream fiction listening. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 3.3, best #2, charting in 30 countries on the latest scrape.

Best fit for: Comedy listeners who do not play tabletop games but will follow four people who obviously enjoy each other.

#13
Worlds Beyond Number podcast cover art

#13. Worlds Beyond Number

Hosted by Worlds Beyond Number

26/26 US chart snapshots Avg US rank 19.1 Best US rank #12 Charting in 31 countries

About this show: A serialized tabletop fiction series in which a long-form fantasy story is built through play rather than from a finished script. Apple files it under Comedy Fiction inside the Fiction category.

Why it made the list in 2026: One of three actual play shows that held a top-100 US position in every snapshot this year, on very long episodes and a slower release schedule than its neighbors. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 19.1, best #12, charting in 31 countries on the latest scrape.

Best fit for: Listeners who want an hours-long story told by a table that takes the world seriously.

#15
Legends of Avantris podcast cover art

#15. Legends of Avantris

Hosted by Avantris Entertainment

26/26 US chart snapshots Avg US rank 18.5 Best US rank #14 Charting in 23 countries

About this show: Seven hosts from Avantris Entertainment tell stories set in the interconnected world of Avantris, usually while playing D&D, with improv, voice acting, and comedy carrying the narrative. The Curse of Strahdanya campaign has its own feed; everything else from nearly six years of play lives here.

Why it made the list in 2026: A consistent top-20 US charter built entirely on an independent community, with no network behind it. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 18.5, best #14, charting in 23 countries on the latest scrape.

Best fit for: Listeners who want the actual play format at its most relaxed and least gatekept.

Full-Cast Productions and Family Drama

#10
Six Minutes podcast cover art

#10. Six Minutes

Hosted by GZM Shows

26/26 US chart snapshots Avg US rank 7.9 Best US rank #4 Charting in 28 countries

About this show: From Peabody Award-winning Gen-Z Media: eleven-year-old Holiday is pulled from the icy waters of Alaska with no memory of who she is, and starts to develop abilities that suggest she is not alone in the world. Episodes are short, and there are 365 of them.

Why it made the list in 2026: Described by its producers as the most downloaded family audio drama in history, and a top-10 US charter across every snapshot of 2026. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 7.9, best #4, charting in 28 countries on the latest scrape.

Best fit for: Families with kids who want a serial they can listen to together in six-minute pieces.

#17
Table Read podcast cover art

#17. Table Read

Hosted by iHeartPodcasts

26/26 US chart snapshots Avg US rank 1.7 Best US rank #1 Charting in 1 countries

About this show: Hollywood actors perform award-winning screenplays with a full cinematic score, immersive sound design, and the energy of a live performance. Each episode uses 20-plus working actors and film-quality production. Recent guests include Mark Hamill, Rosario Dawson, Ty Burrell, Joe Mantegna, and Fred Armisen. Produced by Jack Levy, Shaan Sharma, and Mark Knell.

Why it made the list in 2026: The best average US rank on this entire list, with a 2025 Webby, Shorty, and Signal win behind it. Its reach is almost entirely domestic, which is the only reason it is not ranked first. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 1.7, best #1, charting in 1 countries on the latest scrape.

Best fit for: Film listeners who want a movie they can hear, and anyone curious what a screenplay sounds like before it is shot.

Fiction Written for Sleep

#2
The Sleepy Bookshelf podcast cover art

#2. The Sleepy Bookshelf

Hosted by Slumber Studios

26/26 US chart snapshots Avg US rank 6.1 Best US rank #3 Charting in 61 countries

About this show: A Slumber Studios production that reads books aloud slowly and quietly, chapter by chapter, so that drifting off partway through is the point rather than a failure. Apple files it under Drama inside the Fiction category.

Why it made the list in 2026: One of the two sleep shows that hold a permanent place near the top of the Fiction chart, and the more consistent of them across the whole year. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 6.1, best #3, charting in 61 countries on the latest scrape.

Best fit for: Anyone who wants a story to fall asleep to rather than a story to follow.

#16
Night Falls: Bedtime Story, Sleep Story, Sleep Podcast podcast cover art

#16. Night Falls: Bedtime Story, Sleep Story, Sleep Podcast

Hosted by Sleepiest: Bedtime Story, Sleep Story, Sleep Podcast

26/26 US chart snapshots Avg US rank 26.9 Best US rank #15 Charting in 33 countries

About this show: Geoffrey Newland narrates calming bedtime stories for adults twice a week, drawn from memory and magic and written specifically for people who cannot settle at night.

Why it made the list in 2026: One of two sleep shows in the Fiction top 20, and the one with the wider global footprint of the pair. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 26.9, best #15, charting in 33 countries on the latest scrape.

Best fit for: Adults whose thoughts will not switch off, and who find plot-driven fiction too engaging at midnight.

Rising This Month: Fiction Podcasts Climbing the Charts (September 2026)

These are the fiction shows moving up fastest in CastFox rankings. We compare each show's average US chart position across the 3 most recent snapshots (2026-09-08 to 2026-09-25) with the 3 snapshots before that. A show that was outside the top 100 in the prior window is marked as new to the top 100. This section is refreshed every month; the main list above changes more slowly because it rewards consistency.

Bear Hunt New to the top 100

Hosted by Goalhanger. Bear Hunt new to the US top 100, now averaging #15, with a best US rank of #12 so far in 2026 and a top-100 position in 61 countries on the latest snapshot.

The Haunted Library New to the top 100

Hosted by BBC Studios. The Haunted Library new to the US top 100, now averaging #16, with a best US rank of #11 so far in 2026 and a top-100 position in 63 countries on the latest snapshot.

Room 1D343: I'll Stop When They're Dead New to the top 100

Hosted by Voyage Media. Room 1D343: I'll Stop When They're Dead new to the US top 100, now averaging #16, with a best US rank of #5 so far in 2026 and a top-100 position in 16 countries on the latest snapshot.

It's Storytime with Wil Wheaton

Hosted by Wil Wheaton. It's Storytime with Wil Wheaton moved from an average of #91.5 to #34 (up 57.5 places), with a best US rank of #20 so far in 2026 and a top-100 position in 9 countries on the latest snapshot. You may recognize Wil Wheaton's name from his acting work in television shows like The Big Bang Theory, Leverage, and Star Trek: The Next Generation, or 1985's timeless classic, Stand By Me. You may recognize his voice...

The Death of Edgar Allan Poe New to the top 100

Hosted by My Victorian Nightmare. The Death of Edgar Allan Poe new to the US top 100, now averaging #76, with a best US rank of #75 so far in 2026 and a top-100 position in 6 countries on the latest snapshot.

How We Ranked These: CastFox Methodology

CastFox scrapes the Apple Podcasts charts every day in 78 countries and stores every position in the top 200 of every genre. For this list we took the 26 2026 snapshots of the US Fiction chart between 2026-02-24 and 2026-09-25, and scored every show that appeared in the top 100 of any of them.

  • Consistency (50% of the score): the number of snapshots in which the show appeared in the US top 100. Every show on this list scored 26 out of 26, which is the filter that removes one-week spikes.
  • Average US rank (30%): the mean of the show's US chart positions across those snapshots. Lower is better.
  • Global reach (20%): the number of tracked countries in which the show was in the genre top 100 on the most recent snapshot. This is what separates a show with a large US following from a show with a global one.

There are no paid placements and no editorial overrides. A few shows on this list would not be our personal picks; they are here because the chart data put them here, and we would rather show you what people are actually listening to than what we think they should be. Chart position is not the same as audience size, so treat the ranking as a measure of sustained popularity rather than a download count. For a deeper look at what chart data can and cannot tell you, read how podcast audience demographics are calculated.

How to Pick the Right Fiction Podcast for You

What are the best audio drama podcasts 2026 has on the chart?

We're Alive is the reference point: a full-cast post-apocalyptic drama with hundreds of episodes already finished. Midnight Burger is the warmest of the continuing serials, Old Gods of Appalachia the most atmospheric, and Table Read the closest thing to a film in your ears.

What are the best fiction podcasts to binge?

Pick a completed or very deep run so you are not waiting a week between episodes. We're Alive has a finished main story of 48 chapters plus spin-offs, The NoSleep Podcast has more than a decade of seasons, and Welcome to Night Vale has been publishing twice a month since 2012. Six Minutes has 365 short episodes, which is a weekend.

What are the best horror fiction podcasts?

The NoSleep Podcast is the best-produced anthology and the one to start with. Old Gods of Appalachia is the best if you want a single sustained world rather than one-off stories. Scary Horror Stories by Dr. NoSleep publishes three times a week, Creepy covers the famous creepypastas and urban legends, and The Antiquarium of Sinister Happenings brings in screen actors for a full-cast anthology.

What are the best mystery fiction podcasts?

Sherlock Holmes Short Stories, narrated by Hugh Bonneville, is the highest-charting fiction podcast of 2026 in the US and the straightest reading of the original cases. Sherlock & Co. moves Holmes and Watson to present-day London and frames the show as Watson's own true crime podcast, which is the more inventive of the two.

What are the best short story podcasts?

Anthologies are built for this. The NoSleep Podcast, Creepy, Scary Horror Stories by Dr. NoSleep, and The SCP Experience all publish self-contained episodes, so nothing is lost by starting with whatever is newest. Sherlock Holmes Short Stories and Relatos de la Noche do the same outside horror.

What are the best narrative fiction podcasts for long drives?

Long episodes with continuous plot are what you want. The Adventure Zone, Worlds Beyond Number, and Legends of Avantris run long by design because the story is being played out live. We're Alive and Old Gods of Appalachia give you a single continuing narrative across dozens of hours.

You want fiction that helps you fall asleep

The Sleepy Bookshelf and Night Falls are both engineered so that losing the thread partway through is the intended outcome, and both hold top-10 positions in the Fiction category all year. Night Falls is written for adults who cannot switch off, with a new story twice a week.

Want the next 180 fiction podcasts?

This list is the top 20. The CastFox Fiction chart page shows the top 50 updated daily, and PodcastGPT can find shows on any specific topic across 5M+ podcasts.

See the daily top 50 → Search by topic →

Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Fiction Podcasts

What is the best fiction podcast in 2026?

By CastFox's chart-consistency score, Sherlock Holmes Short Stories from NOISER is the best fiction podcast of 2026. It appeared in all 26 US Fiction chart snapshots we captured between February and September 2026, with an average US rank of 3.5, and it charted in 71 of the 78 countries we track on the latest scrape. The Sleepy Bookshelf and Welcome to Night Vale are second and third.

How is this list ranked?

Each show's score combines three things from CastFox's daily Apple Podcasts chart data: how many of the 26 US Fiction chart snapshots it held a top-100 position in (50% of the score), its average US rank across those appearances (30%), and how many of 78 tracked countries it charted in on the latest scrape (20%). There are no paid placements and no editorial overrides.

Which fiction podcasts are growing fastest right now?

Three shows are new to the top 100 in the most recent three snapshots: Bear Hunt from Goalhanger, The Haunted Library from BBC Studios, and Room 1D343: I'll Stop When They're Dead from Voyage Media. It's Storytime with Wil Wheaton made the largest jump among shows that were already charting. The Rising This Month section above has the full window and the rank moves.

Are fiction podcasts and audio dramas free?

Yes. Every show on this list is free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and the other major apps. Several sell ad-free feeds, early access, or bonus seasons through a paid tier, and a few of the actual play shows put side campaigns behind a membership, but the main feed is always free.

How do I find fiction podcasts in a specific sub-genre?

Use PodcastGPT Podcast Finder and describe what you want in plain English ("cosmic horror audio dramas" or "sci-fi serials with a finished story"). It searches 5M+ shows and 114M+ episodes by what they are actually about rather than by category label, and topic search finds the individual episodes.

I make a fiction podcast. How do I get it in front of more listeners?

Watch the chart rather than your own download graph. CastFox tracks the Fiction category in 78 countries every day, so you can see which anthologies and serials are gaining, which countries pick up a show first, and who sponsors the shows next to you. Analyze covers the chart and audience side, and our sponsor breakdowns show how advertisers buy narrative audio.