For four days this month, Williamsburg will again become home to “the Coachella of podcasts” as On Air Fest returns to Brooklyn with one of its most ambitious lineups yet.
Running from Feb. 23 to 26, On Air Fest 2026 will span three walkable neighborhood venues: the Wythe Hotel, Arlo Williamsburg and The XX Venue. The event will feature live podcast tapings, intimate interviews, performances, panels and industry conversations that explore how audio, media and culture intersect and evolve.
Produced by On Air Presents, the Brooklyn-based creative studio behind the festival, On Air Fest has built a reputation as one of the most influential gatherings in the podcasting world. Now in its eighth year, the festival continues to draw top industry talent for meaningful conversations and experiences.
That same star power is on full display this year. Programming features a wide cross-section of voices from journalism, entertainment, music and media, including Alec Baldwin, Malcolm Gladwell, Roxane Gay, Don Lemon, Kara Swisher, Audie Cornish, Wyclef Jean and Ari Shapiro, alongside live appearances from hit shows such as “Radiolab,” “Heavyweight,” “Revisionist History,” NPR’s “Code Switch” and CNN’s “The Assignment.”
The four-day event opens Monday, Feb. 23, with a reimagined presentation of The Podcast Academy’s Awards for Excellence in Audio, commonly known as the Ambies. Widely considered the most prestigious honors in podcasting, the ceremony will be produced and created by On Air Fest’s creative team for the first time.
On Feb. 24, the focus shifts to the business of audio with the Bloomberg Podcast Business Summit at the Wythe Hotel. Hosted by Ashley Carman, the invite-only gathering brings together industry leaders, executives and creators to discuss where podcasting is headed next.
The festival’s public-facing programming takes over on Feb. 25 and 26, when audiences can attend live tapings, talks and performances featuring storytellers, comedians, musicians and journalists from across the audio landscape.
Since its launch, On Air Fest has hosted hundreds of notable figures, including Anderson Cooper, Seth Meyers, Norah Jones, Ira Glass, Terry Gross and Jad Abumrad, all in the heart of Williamsburg. Tickets for public programming are now available.
On Air Fest 2026 will take place across Williamsburg from Feb. 23-26. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit onairpresents.com/events/onairfestbrooklyn2026.
