The 20 Best Sports Podcasts of 2026: 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
Every best sports podcasts 2026 list names the same dozen shows, because the people writing them listen to the same dozen shows. This one is built from chart data instead. CastFox scrapes the Apple Podcasts charts daily in 78 countries, and the 20 shows below are the ones that held a US Sports top-100 position across the 26 snapshots taken between February 24 and September 25, 2026, scored on consistency, average rank, and how many countries they reach. A show that spiked for one playoff run does not make the cut.
The September window shifted the order more than a typical month. The Zach Lowe Show moved up to second on the strength of a wider country footprint, Pardon My Take holds the best US average rank on the chart but sits third because its audience is almost entirely domestic, and Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective slipped from the top three as its international reach narrowed. PTI, the ESPN television staple, entered the top 20 for the first time this year, edging out Club 520 Podcast, which now sits just outside the cut at #21 on our score.
The category itself has settled into recognizable formats: personality-led talk shows (The Bill Simmons Podcast, Pardon My Take, The Ryen Russillo Show), daily radio and television shows repackaged as podcasts (The Dan Patrick Show, The Herd with Colin Cowherd, First Things First, PTI), NBA insider shows (Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective, The Zach Lowe Show), NFL and fantasy shows (New Heights, The Athletic Football Show, Fantasy Footballers), single-sport communities in hockey, golf and the outdoors (Spittin Chiclets, No Laying Up, The MeatEater Podcast), and reported storytelling (Pablo Torre Finds Out). Each card below shows the cover art, the host, what the show is, why it earned its place, who it is for, and the chart numbers behind the ranking.
The 20 best sports podcasts of 2026 at a glance
| # | Podcast | Hosted by | Avg US rank | Best rank | Countries charting | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Bill Simmons Podcast | The Ringer | 2.2 | #1 | 67 | 1,000 |
| 2 | The Zach Lowe Show | The Ringer | 23.5 | #4 | 58 | 150 |
| 3 | Pardon My Take | Barstool Sports | 1.2 | #1 | 20 | 910 |
| 4 | Pablo Torre Finds Out | The Athletic | 11.3 | #4 | 32 | 478 |
| 5 | Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective | ESPN, Omaha Productions, Brian Windhorst | 21.1 | #6 | 36 | 200 |
| 6 | New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce | Wondery | 18.1 | #4 | 30 | 217 |
| 7 | The Dan Le Batard Show | Dan Le Batard | 3.3 | #2 | 11 | 350 |
| 8 | The Ryen Russillo Show | Barstool Sports | 10.7 | #4 | 17 | 128 |
| 9 | The Herd with Colin Cowherd | iHeartPodcasts and The Volume | 18 | #11 | 21 | 1,000 |
| 10 | DOUBLE COVERAGE PODCAST | Mystic Zach | 5.7 | #3 | 4 | 26 |
| 11 | The MeatEater Podcast | MeatEater | 10.3 | #6 | 9 | 931 |
| 12 | Spittin Chiclets | Barstool Sports | 16.6 | #4 | 14 | 676 |
| 13 | The Dan Patrick Show | iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network | 13 | #7 | 9 | 1,000 |
| 14 | Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast | Fantasy Football | 25.5 | #2 | 20 | 1,000 |
| 15 | The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL | The Athletic | 31.9 | #17 | 24 | 1,000 |
| 16 | PTI | ESPN, Tony Kornheiser, Michael Wilbon | 19.8 | #11 | 16 | 200 |
| 17 | First Things First | FOX Sports | 37 | #24 | 28 | 1,000 |
| 18 | No Laying Up - Golf Podcast | NoLayingUp.com | 28 | #6 | 16 | 1,000 |
| 19 | KSR | iHeartPodcasts and Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM) | 16.2 | #10 | 1 | 1,000 |
| 20 | The Tony Kornheiser Show | This Show Stinks Productions, LLC | 23.2 | #14 | 7 | 500 |
Jump to a Show
- #1. The Bill Simmons Podcast
- #2. The Zach Lowe Show
- #3. Pardon My Take
- #4. Pablo Torre Finds Out
- #5. Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective
- #6. New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
- #7. The Dan Le Batard Show
- #8. The Ryen Russillo Show
- #9. The Herd with Colin Cowherd
- #10. DOUBLE COVERAGE PODCAST
- #11. The MeatEater Podcast
- #12. Spittin Chiclets
- #13. The Dan Patrick Show
- #14. Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast
- #15. The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL
- #16. PTI
- #17. First Things First
- #18. No Laying Up - Golf Podcast
- #19. KSR
- #20. The Tony Kornheiser Show
Rising this month · How we ranked these · How to pick the right show · FAQ
The 20 Best Sports Podcasts to Listen To in 2026
General Sports Talk Built Around a Personality
#1. The Bill Simmons Podcast
Hosted by The Ringer
About this show: Bill Simmons of HBO and The Ringer hosts what the show itself bills as the most downloaded sports podcast of all time, with a rotating crew of celebrities, athletes, and media figures alongside mainstays like Cousin Sal and Joe House. Game analysis sits next to pop culture, and the conversation stays informal.
Why it made the list in 2026: The #1 sports podcast of 2026 by CastFox's data: a US average rank near the very top for the whole year and the widest country footprint of any sports show on this list, which no other show in the category comes close to. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 2.2, best #1, charting in 67 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Anyone who wants one show that covers the NBA, the NFL, and everything adjacent without ever feeling like homework.
#3. Pardon My Take
Hosted by Barstool Sports
About this show: Barstool Sports' flagship, hosted by Big Cat and PFT Commenter, delivers what it calls the loudest and most correct sports takes in the history of the spoken word. Daily topics, big-name guests, and a running refusal to take itself seriously.
Why it made the list in 2026: The most consistently top-ranked sports show in the US in 2026, with the best average rank of any show on this list and the #1 spot on the most recent scrape; its audience is far more domestic than global, which is the only reason it is not first here. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 1.2, best #1, charting in 20 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Listeners who want their sports talk loud, funny, and every single day.
#7. The Dan Le Batard Show
Hosted by Dan Le Batard
About this show: From the Elser Hotel in downtown Miami, Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, and company share their take on sports, pop culture, and more, including the daily Local Hour focused on South Florida and the Big Suey.
Why it made the list in 2026: One of the strongest US averages on the list, holding a top-three position for most of 2026 on the strength of a fiercely loyal audience. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 3.3, best #2, charting in 11 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Listeners who like their sports show to wander off topic and come back with something better.
#8. The Ryen Russillo Show
Hosted by Barstool Sports
About this show: Ryen Russillo moved his show to Barstool Sports in 2026 and kept the format intact: sports talk, long tangents, guests, and the Life Advice segment with Kyle and Ceruti. New episodes Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Why it made the list in 2026: A US top-five peak and a top-15 average in its first year at a new home, which is rare for a show that changed networks mid-run. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 10.7, best #4, charting in 17 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Fans who want thoughtful sports conversation with room for stories and the occasional detour.
#20. The Tony Kornheiser Show
Hosted by This Show Stinks Productions, LLC
About this show: Tony Kornheiser, longtime Washington, DC radio host and co-host of ESPN's PTI, runs a daily talk show that starts with sports and quickly moves to politics, current events, and whatever is on his mind, with regular sit-in guests and familiar segments. Now on-demand only.
Why it made the list in 2026: A weekday show that has held a US top-100 position in every 2026 snapshot despite spending as much time off sports as on it. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 23.2, best #14, charting in 7 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Longtime listeners of sports radio who value personality and routine over breaking news.
Daily Radio and TV Debate Shows
#9. The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Hosted by iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
About this show: Colin Cowherd's daily show, from iHeartPodcasts and The Volume, is a topic-driven, opinionated run through the biggest sports stories of the day, with a heavy football emphasis.
Why it made the list in 2026: Charted in the US top 100 in every 2026 snapshot with a top-15 peak, one of only a handful of daily radio shows to do so. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 18, best #11, charting in 21 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Listeners who want strong opinions on the day's biggest stories, delivered fast.
#13. The Dan Patrick Show
Hosted by iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network
About this show: Dan Patrick's daily radio show, distributed by iHeartPodcasts and the Dan Patrick Podcast Network, brings A-list guests from sports and entertainment, insider access, and Patrick's dry humor to a weekday audience.
Why it made the list in 2026: A US top-10 peak and a steady top-15 average across 2026, plus a thousand-episode archive that keeps new listeners discovering it. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 13, best #7, charting in 9 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: People who want a classic sports-radio morning with the best guest list in the format.
#16. PTI
Hosted by ESPN, Tony Kornheiser, Michael Wilbon
About this show: Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon face off in the nation's capital on the day's hottest topics, in the ESPN television format that has run on weekday afternoons for more than two decades. The podcast feed carries the daily show.
Why it made the list in 2026: New to this top 20 in the September refresh: a television debate show that has held a US top-100 position in almost every 2026 snapshot and charts internationally, which is rare for a daily US studio program. Chart record: 25 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 19.8, best #11, charting in 16 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Fans who want the day's arguments in a fixed format, finished before the commute is over.
#17. First Things First
Hosted by FOX Sports
About this show: The FS1 weekday show, hosted by Nick Wright, Chris Broussard, and Kevin Wildes, debates the biggest stories in sports, from LeBron James to Patrick Mahomes, in the classic television debate format.
Why it made the list in 2026: A television show that charts as a podcast in nearly 30 countries, the widest international footprint of any daily debate show on this list. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 37, best #24, charting in 28 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Fans who enjoy the debate format and want it on demand rather than at 3 PM ET.
NBA Insiders and Basketball
#2. The Zach Lowe Show
Hosted by The Ringer
About this show: Zach Lowe's NBA show found a new home at The Ringer, with game breakdowns, conversations about the Association, and guests including the reporters covering the league and the people shaping it. Episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Why it made the list in 2026: The #2 sports podcast of 2026 and the highest-ranked basketball show, with a US top-five peak in its first full year at a new network and one of the widest country footprints on this list, which is unusual for a single-league show. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 23.5, best #4, charting in 58 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Basketball obsessives who want the deepest game-by-game analysis on the chart.
#5. Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective
Hosted by ESPN, Omaha Productions, Brian Windhorst
About this show: Brian Windhorst and a team of ESPN's insiders sort out life in and around the NBA world, produced with Omaha Productions. It is the show that turns front-office reporting into conversation.
Why it made the list in 2026: Still the insider's NBA show and one of only a handful of single-league podcasts that charts in dozens of countries, though its US rank and its international footprint both narrowed over the summer, which is what moved it down the list this month. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 21.1, best #6, charting in 36 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: NBA fans who want to know what the league's decision-makers are actually thinking.
NFL and Fantasy Football
#6. New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Hosted by Wondery
About this show: Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs, both Super Bowl champions, share weekly insights on the slate of games, trending NFL news, and pop culture, while ragging on each other as brothers do. Produced by Wondery, new episodes on Wednesdays.
Why it made the list in 2026: The highest-ranked football show on the list and the biggest riser in this top 20 over the last month as the NFL season started, with a US top-five peak and a footprint in 30 countries. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 18.1, best #4, charting in 30 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: NFL fans who want the inside view from active players and everyone who found the show through the headlines and stayed.
#10. DOUBLE COVERAGE PODCAST
Hosted by Mystic Zach
About this show: A football podcast hosted by N3on and Mystic Zach. The show's own description is a single line, and its catalog is short, so we can say less about it than about the other shows here.
Why it made the list in 2026: A creator-led debut that charted in the US top 100 in every 2026 snapshot and peaked inside the top three, one of the strongest launches in the category this year. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 5.7, best #3, charting in 4 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Younger fans who already follow the hosts and want football talk in the creator style.
#14. Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast
Hosted by Fantasy Football
About this show: Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright break down fantasy football with analysis, strong opinions, and matchup advice, positioned as the alternative to the talking heads of the fantasy world.
Why it made the list in 2026: The highest-ranked fantasy show of 2026, with a US top-three peak during the season and a top-100 position in every snapshot, including the offseason months when fantasy shows usually disappear. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 25.5, best #2, charting in 20 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Anyone who has a lineup to set on Sunday morning.
#15. The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL
Hosted by The Athletic
About this show: The Athletic's flagship NFL podcast, hosted by Robert Mays with Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman, breaks down the Xs and Os, roster building, and the biggest stories in the league, with year-round draft coverage from Dane Brugler.
Why it made the list in 2026: The best pure-analysis football show on the chart, holding a US top-100 position in every 2026 snapshot and charting in more than 20 countries. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 31.9, best #17, charting in 24 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Fans who want to understand why a play worked, not just that it did.
Hockey, Golf, and the Outdoors
#11. The MeatEater Podcast
Hosted by MeatEater
About this show: Steven Rinella hosts an in-depth look at hunting, fishing, nature, conservation, and wild foods, with a rotating group of expert guests and a good deal of humor. Part of The MeatEater Podcast Network.
Why it made the list in 2026: The only outdoors show in the US Sports top 20, with an average US rank inside the top 15 across 2026, a reminder that Apple's Sports category is broader than ball sports. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 10.3, best #6, charting in 9 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Hunters, anglers, and anyone curious about where their food comes from.
#12. Spittin Chiclets
Hosted by Barstool Sports
About this show: Former NHL players Ryan Whitney and Paul Bissonnette, with Barstool writer Rear Admiral and producer Mike Grinnell, bring outspoken and irreverent opinions on the NHL and everything else. New episodes every Tuesday.
Why it made the list in 2026: The only hockey show in the US Sports top 20 in 2026, with a top-five peak that shows how deep the hockey audience runs even on a general sports chart. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 16.6, best #4, charting in 14 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Hockey fans who want the game talked about by people who played it, without a filter.
#18. No Laying Up - Golf Podcast
Hosted by NoLayingUp.com
About this show: Founded in 2014 as a group text among college friends, No Laying Up grew into one of the most popular podcasts in golf, with appearances from the biggest names in the sport, plus video travel series and PGA Tour and LPGA writing. The community is known as The Nest.
Why it made the list in 2026: The only golf show on the list and a US top-10 peak in 2026, proving a single-sport community can hold its own against national talk brands. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 28, best #6, charting in 16 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Avid golfers who want an insider's conversation about the pro game and the culture around it.
Reported Storytelling and Regional Fandom
#4. Pablo Torre Finds Out
Hosted by The Athletic
About this show: Pablo Torre's award-winning video podcast, now part of The Athletic Podcast Network, reports one urgent question per episode in a deep-dive format the show calls a talkumentary, with contributors including Wyatt Cenac and Ezra Edelman. Honored by the Edward R. Murrow and Peabody Awards.
Why it made the list in 2026: The #4 sports podcast of 2026 and the highest-ranked storytelling show, with a US top-five peak and one of the broadest international footprints in the category. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 11.3, best #4, charting in 32 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Listeners who want sports journalism with a reporter's curiosity rather than a pundit's take.
#19. KSR
Hosted by iHeartPodcasts and Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM)
About this show: Matt Jones and the KSR crew bring the latest UK news and views weekdays from 10 to noon on Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM), distributed by iHeartPodcasts. The UK here is the University of Kentucky, not the United Kingdom.
Why it made the list in 2026: A regional radio show that held a US top-100 position in every 2026 snapshot with a top-10 peak, on the strength of one fan base. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 16.2, best #10, charting in 1 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Kentucky fans, and anyone interested in how a local show can out-chart national brands.
Rising This Month: Sports Podcasts Climbing the Charts (September 2026)
These are the sports 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.
Gil's Arena New to the top 100
Hosted by Playmaker and iHeartPodcasts. Gil's Arena new to the US top 100, now averaging #46, with a best US rank of #39 so far in 2026 and a top-100 position in 4 countries on the latest snapshot.
Sports Gambling Podcast New to the top 100
Hosted by Sports Gambling Podcast Network, Sean Green, Ryan Kramer. Sports Gambling Podcast new to the US top 100, now averaging #54.5, with a best US rank of #42 so far in 2026 and a top-100 position in 2 countries on the latest snapshot. The Sports Gambling Podcast is your home for uncensored sports betting opinions, analysis, and advice. Since 2011 The Sports Gambling Podcast has picked every NFL game against the spread. They also give out winning...
The Ringer NFL Show
Hosted by The Ringer. The Ringer NFL Show moved from an average of #99 to #62 (up 37 places), with a best US rank of #47 so far in 2026 and a top-100 position in 14 countries on the latest snapshot. Tom Pelissero, Sheil Kapadia, and Billy Gil get together three times a week to analyze and unpack the NFL's biggest stories. Make sure you follow @RingerNFLShow on Instagram, TikTok, X and @RingerNFL on YouTube.
IT IS WHAT IT IS New to the top 100
Hosted by Ma$e & Cam'ron. IT IS WHAT IT IS new to the US top 100, now averaging #66.5, with a best US rank of #39 so far in 2026 and a top-100 position in 2 countries on the latest snapshot. It Is What It Is, hosted by platinum-selling recording artists Ma$e and Cam’ron alongside Treasure "Stat Baby" Wilson, combines barber shop dialogue and sports commentary in hilarious and insightful episodes everyday....
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Hosted by Wondery. New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce moved from an average of #36.7 to #11 (up 25.7 places), with a best US rank of #4 so far in 2026 and a top-100 position in 30 countries on the latest snapshot. Football’s funniest family duo, Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs, team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super...
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 Sports 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 appeared in at least 25 of the 26 snapshots, 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 Sports Podcast for You
What are the best sports talk podcasts to listen to every day?
The Bill Simmons Podcast is the #1 show on this list and the widest tent: NBA, NFL, movies, and whoever happens to be in the studio. Pardon My Take is the same breadth at higher volume and posts almost every weekday. The Dan Patrick Show and The Herd with Colin Cowherd are the radio versions you can start at any point in the week, and The Ryen Russillo Show is the calmer option with a life-advice segment at the end.
What are the best NBA podcasts 2026 has on the chart?
The Zach Lowe Show is the deepest game-by-game analysis in the category and the #2 show on this list, charting in 58 countries on the latest scrape. Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective is where ESPN's insiders sort out front-office news. The Bill Simmons Podcast is not basketball-only but covers the league more than any other general show here.
What are the best NFL podcasts 2026 has to offer?
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce gives you two Super Bowl champions talking about their own week and is the highest-ranked football show on the list. The Athletic Football Show is the Xs-and-Os breakdown with year-round draft coverage. DOUBLE COVERAGE PODCAST is the creator-era entry, and PTI covers the NFL alongside everything else in the news cycle.
What are the best fantasy football podcasts?
Fantasy Footballers is the only fantasy show that held a US top-100 position in all 26 snapshots, including the offseason months when fantasy shows normally disappear from the chart, and it peaked at #2 during the season. Open it before you set a lineup. The Athletic Football Show is the companion for understanding why a player is producing rather than just that he is.
What are the best hockey podcasts?
Spittin Chiclets is the only hockey show in the US Sports top 20 in 2026. Former NHL players Ryan Whitney and Paul Bissonnette run it with Rear Admiral and producer Mike Grinnell, and it peaked at #4 on the US chart this year. If you want the NHL talked about by people who played in it, this is the one show the chart points to.
What are the best golf podcasts?
No Laying Up is the only golf show on this list and the flagship of the golf podcast community, with a US top-10 peak in 2026. It mixes tour coverage with interviews and travel series, and its audience, known as The Nest, is what keeps a single-sport show on a general sports chart every week.
You want a story rather than a take
Pablo Torre Finds Out reports one question per episode in what the show calls a talkumentary format, with Peabody and Murrow recognition behind it. The MeatEater Podcast is the other long-form option, covering hunting, fishing, conservation, and wild food rather than ball sports.
Want the next 180 sports podcasts?
This list is the top 20. The CastFox Sports 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 Sports Podcasts
What is the best sports podcast in 2026?
By CastFox's chart-consistency score, The Bill Simmons Podcast is the best sports podcast of 2026. It appeared in all 26 US chart snapshots between February 24 and September 25, 2026, with an average US rank of 2.2, a best rank of #1, and top-100 positions in 67 of the 78 countries CastFox tracks. The Zach Lowe Show and Pardon My Take are second and third.
What is the most popular sports podcast in 2026?
On the US chart alone, Pardon My Take is the most popular sports podcast of 2026: its average US rank across the 26 snapshots is 1.2, the best on this list, and it sat at #1 on the most recent scrape. It ranks third overall here because it charted in 20 countries against 67 for The Bill Simmons Podcast, and reach is 20% of our score.
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 Sports chart snapshots taken in 2026 it appeared in the top 100 of (50% of the score), its average US rank across those appearances (30%), and how many of the 78 tracked countries it charted in on the latest scrape (20%). No paid placements and no editorial overrides.
Which sports podcasts are growing fastest in 2026?
Gil's Arena, Sports Gambling Podcast and IT IS WHAT IT IS are new to the US Sports top 100 in the most recent three snapshots, and The Ringer NFL Show made the largest jump among shows that were already charting. New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce climbed the most of any show that is also in this top 20, which tracks with the start of the NFL season. The Rising This Month section above has the full window.
Why is a Kentucky radio show on a national sports list?
KSR appeared in the US Sports top 100 in all 26 snapshots with an average rank of 16.2, and it charted in exactly one country on the latest scrape. It is the clearest example on this list of a show ranked by sustained popularity rather than breadth, and the best illustration of how a single fan base can out-chart national brands.
How do I find sports podcasts about a specific team, or get booked on one?
Use PodcastGPT Podcast Finder and describe what you want in plain English ("podcasts about the Detroit Lions" or "marathon training podcasts"); it searches 5M+ shows and 114M+ episodes by topic rather than by category name. If you work in sports and want to be a guest, CastFox Guest Finder matches your expertise to active sports shows with verified host contacts, and the complete guesting playbook covers the pitch.