Audio continues to break listening records: 2026 Infinite Dial Report

The Infinite Dial 2026 from Edison Research offers new insights on the audio landscape, and once again confirms audio’s essential role in any media strategy. This highly anticipated annual research study – one of the industry’s longest-running – revealed the latest data on continued growth and shifting trends in how audiences listen and engage.

Digital audio listening breaks its record once again. 

Digital audio usage continues to grow year over year, with 81% of the U.S. population, an estimated 233 million people, now reporting monthly listening. Weekly digital audio consumption has also risen, reaching 76% of Americans. This encompasses a variety of content, including digital streams of AM/FM radio, podcasts, and streaming music services.

With both monthly and weekly listening reaching all-time highs once again, Edison investigated which demographics are driving recent increases. When broken down by age, the 12-34 and 35-54 groups have maintained steady levels, while adoption among listeners 55+ is the key driver of growth.  

In-car listening trends are shifting, but radio remains on top.

AM/FM radio continues to dominate in-car listening, with 73% of people currently using it in their primary vehicle, but digital audio and podcasts are changing the landscape. 

Radio continues to be the dominant in-car media, significantly outpacing digital audio and podcasts, despite the growth of those formats over the last decade. While online audio use in cars has seen substantial growth over the past ten years, it recently experienced a 7% decline, falling to 48% from 55% in 2025. Conversely, podcast listening in the car increased by 6%, suggesting a growing consumer preference for spoken-word content in this environment.

The trend towards in-car podcast listening is making gains across age groups, while radio maintains its strength among the 55+ audience and sees surprising growth among the 18-34 audience. 

Podcast listening experiences a significant increase.

The number of Americans having ever consumed a podcast has grown by 20 million users in the past year alone, a 7% point increase and the largest jump ever recorded by the Infinite Dial since it began measuring podcast listening in 2006.

As people become increasingly familiar with podcasts, their regular adoption is also growing – both monthly and weekly listening have reached record levels, with 58% of Americans listening monthly and 45% listening weekly. Weekly listening saw even higher growth than monthly, indicating that podcasts continue to be integrated as an essential part of the routine for many listeners.

Video and audio come together to expand the podcast audience.

Along with continued increases among the 55+ audience, expansion into video is fueling industry growth. In 2025, The Infinite Dial began measuring both listening and watching as part of podcast consumption. Since then, the percentage of Americans who report listening to and watching podcasts has increased significantly, rising 9% from 48% to 57% in the past year. Audiences who only listen or only watch remain smaller, stable segments, while the share of Americans who have never listened to or watched a podcast has dropped from 27% in 2025 to 20%.

Digital audio and podcasting have seen continued growth for years, with digital audio listening increasing consistently for the last five years and podcasts on a thirteen-year growth streak. Growth trends are not the only reason media buyers should include audio in their plans – cost efficiency, an incremental audience, and perceived authenticity, when combined with reach, provide brands with an unmatched opportunity. And as a leader in the audio industry for over 50 years, NPR has the legacy, reach, and expertise to help brands make the most of their audio buys.