News
SOUND.WAVES. & All Ireland Podcast Awards return this November
SOUND.WAVES. returns to Limerick this November for its second year for a three-day programme that brings together the people shaping music, podcasting and the business of modern content.
Taking place from 10th – 12th November 2026 at The Woodlands Hotel, Adare, SOUND.WAVES. will once again connect creators, artists, podcasters, producers, platforms, broadcasters and industry leaders from Ireland and beyond, exploring how audiences are built, how creative work travels and how sustainable careers and businesses are developing around it.
The All-Ireland Podcast Awards will also return for their second year as part of SOUND.WAVES. 2026 on the evening of Wednesday 11th November. Award submissions will open on September 2nd.
Bringing together leading voices from podcasting and music for three days of honest, substantive conversation.
Ireland has often been described as a nation of storytellers and as audience behaviours have evolved creators, presenters and musicians are now brands, and the stories they tell are the currency.
Over two days, SOUND. WAVES. brings together the innovators and pioneers from the world of content creation to Adare, Co. Limerick, to explore the business of content through the prism of podcasting, sport and music and how they intersect through content, creativity, and commerce.
SOUND. WAVES. explores how user content can be better created, monetised, and shared across platforms and audiences. placing it at the centre of the conversation, whether it’s a viral podcast, a sync placement, or a fan-first release strategy.
What to Expect at Sound. Waves.
Panels, Keynotes & Conversations
Expect keynotes, panel discussions and fireside chats spanning content creation, distribution, monetisation, AI, deal-making and the evolving relationship between artists, audiences and platforms. National and international speakers share the stage, covering the full sweep of the modern audio industry.
All Ireland Podcast Awards
At the heart of Sound.Waves. sits the All Ireland Podcast Awards — Ireland's only ceremony dedicated entirely to the podcast medium. Celebrating the best audio content produced across all 32 counties, the AIPA gala is a highlight of the Irish media calendar, recognising the podcasters, producers and publishers shaping the future of the form.
Networking
Sound.Waves. is built for real access to build your network. Whether you're an independent creator, a publisher, a platform or a label, you'll be in the same rooms as Ireland's audio decision-makers — with the space and time to actually connect.
Workshops
Go deeper in our hands-on workshop sessions, designed for practitioners who want practical takeaways, not just big ideas.
The inaugural All Ireland Podcast Awards saw over 250 entries received, resulting in 84 nominees recognised across 8 award categories on the night.
Hosted by Limerick broadcaster Louise Cantillon and comedian and podcaster Kevin McGahern, the gala drew 100+ guests including Nicky Byrne, Mary Kennedy, The Dating Orange, Young Hot Guys and Joe McGuckan. Winners included Indo Daily (Current Affairs & Politics), The Laughs of Your Life with Doireann Garrihy (Conversation), Young Hot Guys (Entertainment), Cover: The Real Stakeknife (Documentary & Drama) and The Real Carrie Jade (True Crime), with RTÉ, Mediahuis, Headstuff and the BBC all represented in the winners' circle.