Canadian Podcast Monthly Reach Surged to 46%, the Largest Year-Over-Year Increase, According to Triton Digital’s Fourth Annual Canadian Podcast Report

Signaling a New Era for Canadian Podcasting, YouTube Cements Its Lead as Video Expands the Experience, Francophone Audiences Fuel New Growth, and Canadian-Made Content Outperforms

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Canada's podcast market reached new heights as 46% of Canadian adults now consume podcasts monthly, the largest single-year increase ever recorded for the format, up from 39% in 2024.

Triton Digital®, the global technology and services provider to the digital audio, podcast, and broadcast radio industries, today released its 2026 Canadian Podcast Report, a comprehensive year-in-review of podcast consumption across the country. The report analyzes audience behavior, content preferences, genre trends, and the nation’s top-performing shows from April 2025 through March 2026, incorporating findings from The Canadian Podcast Listener study by Signal Hill Insights and Ulster Media.

"The pace of change in Canada's podcast market is unlike anything we've seen before," said Daryl Battaglia, Senior Vice President of Measurement Products and Strategy at Triton Digital. "What's especially compelling is that growth is coming from multiple directions at once — new listeners entering the market, existing listeners consuming more content, and video transforming how the medium is experienced altogether. The Canadian podcast audience is growing, diversifying, and listening more. That's a powerful foundation for what comes next."

Video Enters the Mix, But Audio Remains the Foundation

While audio remains the primary way most Canadians consume podcasts, video is increasingly becoming part of the experience. More than half (51%) of monthly podcast consumers now both watch and listen, signaling that video has emerged as a meaningful complement to the medium, even as audio-first consumption continues to define the majority of podcast behavior.

Amid this transformation, YouTube has solidified its position as the single most-used podcast platform in the country, as 40% of monthly listeners use the platform, up from 35% in 2024 and 29% in 2023. The platform's rise demonstrates how YouTube is bringing extra growth in podcast consumers to the market.

When it comes to RSS downloads, Apple Podcasts continues to lead, accounting for nearly half (49%) of all new episode downloads, followed by Spotify (19%).

Francophone Canada: A Market Reborn in Consumption and Engagement

After a dip in 2024, French-speaking Canadians are fueling new growth in the podcast market.

Francophone podcast consumption has rebounded sharply, climbing to 33% among French-speaking Canadians (18+) listening monthly, up from 24% in 2024. French speakers are significantly more likely to be new listeners, a signal that this audience is still in an early, expansive phase.

In fact, 70% of the content French-speaking Canadians consume is Canadian-made, underscoring the depth of cultural connection between Francophone listeners and locally produced audio.

Canadian Content Drives Local Connection

Canadian-made podcasts now hold their widest lead over U.S. podcasts in seven years, capturing 43% of average listening time among Canadian monthly podcast consumers, compared to 41% for U.S. content.

The top sales network and overall podcasts were nearly all Canadian productions, reflecting both the quality of homegrown content and the depth of Canadian listener loyalty.

CBC/Radio-Canada network leads with an average of 2.16 million average weekly downloads in Canada, more than double its nearest competitor.

CBC/Radio-Canada also led among top overall podcasts with shows including Front Burner, The World This Hour, World Report and The Current.

Top Content Categories Remained the Same Yet Platforms Vary Among Canadian Listeners

Content preferences have remained remarkably consistent even as the audience expands. News, True Crime and Comedy have held the top three positions for multiple years, demonstrating the enduring appeal of information, intrigue, and laughter.

Genre	% of downloads
News	29%
True Crime	15%
Comedy	12%

However, different genres attract strikingly different listeners. Comedy over-indexes heavily among 18-to-34-year-olds. Sports draws a predominantly male audience (78%) and reaches the 35-54 age range the most. True Crime and Health & Fitness are the most female-leaning genres, 65% and 68%, respectively. And Business listeners rank among the most educated (47% are University graduates) and highest-earning (38% have an income of $100K+).

Meanwhile, each platform tells a different story and serves a different audience. YouTube continues to skew male (56%), with Spotify dominating the younger audience of 18- 34-year-olds (51%). Apple Podcasts garners the most affluent (47%) and educated (79%) listeners.

"Podcasting is no longer an emerging channel in Canada. It’s become mainstream, reaching nearly half of all Canadian adults and evolving rapidly in how it's consumed,” concluded Battaglia. “That scale, combined with the depth of engagement we're measuring, creates a compelling case for creators to invest in their content and for advertisers to treat audio as a core part of their media strategy. For creators, publishers and advertisers, that convergence represents a significant and durable opportunity."

Access the Full Report and Learn More

The 2026 Canadian Podcast Report is available in both English and French. To download the full reports visit:

• The 2026 Canadian Podcast Report (English): https://info.tritondigital.com/en-ca/canadianpodcastreport2026
• The 2026 Canadian Podcast Report (French): https://info.tritondigital.com/fr/rapport-canadien-sur-les-podcasts-2026

To learn more about participating in Triton Digital's podcast and streaming rankers, contact [e-mail] or visit www.tritonrankers.com.

About Triton Digital
Triton Digital® is the global technology and services leader to the digital audio, podcast, and broadcast radio industries. Operating in more than 80 countries, Triton provides innovative technology that enables broadcasters, podcasters, and online music services to build their audience, maximize revenue, and streamline their day-to-day operations. In addition, Triton powers the global online audio industry with Webcast Metrics®, the leading streaming audio measurement service, and Podcast Metrics, one of the first IAB-certified podcast measurement services in the industry. With unparalleled integrity, excellence, teamwork, and accountability, Triton remains committed to connecting audio, audience, and advertisers to continuously fuel the growth of the global audio industry. For more information, visit www.TritonDigital.com.