iOS 26 and Apple Podcasts: Everything You Need to Know

With the release of iOS 26, Apple continues to improve its Apple Podcasts app, used by millions of listeners worldwide. This update introduces several major changes that affect both the listening experience and the visibility of creators.

New features such as Enhance Dialogue, expanded playback speeds, and a redesigned interface that highlights search are transforming the way listeners consume and discover podcasts on the app. For podcasters, this means new opportunities—but also new responsibilities when it comes to production and metadata optimization.

In this article, we break down the key updates and share practical tips to help you make the most of them.

A dedicated Search tab puts discoverability front and center

With the new iOS comes a refreshed design and a new interface for Apple Podcasts. While the “liquid glass” effect has made waves in the design community, what really matters for podcasters is this: the search icon is now detached from the three other tabs (Listen, Library, New) and becomes a central tab on its own, prominently displayed in the navigation bar.

This change might seem minor, but it’s actually significant. By giving greater visibility to search, Apple encourages listeners to use it more often. In practice, users are now more likely to type keywords to explore and discover new shows.

👉 More than ever, you need to work on your Podcast Search Optimization (PSO) strategy and integrate relevant keywords into your metadata:

Identify the most relevant and most searched keywords for your podcast.
Add them to your episode titles and descriptions.
Analyze how your competitors optimize their own metadata.
Track how your visibility evolves in Apple Podcasts and Spotify search results.
And repeat!

With search now highlighted in the interface, the battle for visibility is fought directly in the metadata you provide.

What’s more, search pages themselves have also evolved. When a listener uses the search bar, they now see categories (True Crime, News, Sports, etc.), each leading to a curated selection of podcasts. These categories appear in addition to the regular search results and provide editorially curated collections of shows within that theme.

Enhance Dialogue: clearer voices, even with background audio

Apple is introducing a new feature called Enhance Dialogue. Available only on iOS and iPadOS, it uses machine learning to process audio in real time, reduce background noise, and normalize voice levels.

The goal: make speech easier to understand, especially in podcasts with music, jingles, or ambient sound. Unlike similar features in other apps, Enhance Dialogue can go as far as significantly reducing—or even completely removing—background music so that voices come through more clearly.

For listeners, this is a real improvement, especially in noisy environments like public transport. For creators, it means that even if your mixing isn’t perfect, listeners still have the option to make voices more intelligible.

👉 Our tips for podcasters:

Keep prioritizing high-quality recording and mixing (Enhance Dialogue doesn’t replace solid production).
Let your audience know about this option, for example in your newsletter or at the start of an episode, especially if your content includes background music.

Expanded playback speeds – from 0.5× to 3×

iOS 26 expands the range of available playback speeds. Listeners can now set the speed anywhere between 0.5× and 3×, with increments as fine as 0.1. Gone are the days of being limited to just two or three preset speeds—everyone can now adjust playback precisely to their liking.

Another important point: these settings can be saved per podcast. For example, a user can listen to a fiction podcast at 1.0× and an interview show at 1.5×, without having to change the settings each time.

The “Browse” tab becomes “New” to highlight fresh content

Another major update: the Browse tab has been replaced with New. This shift is more than just cosmetic. Apple wants to spotlight what’s fresh, recent, and trending by highlighting:

the latest episodes,
current trends,
Apple’s editorial picks.

This New tab becomes a key entry point for acquiring new listeners.

New reports in Apple Podcasts Connect

On the creator side, Apple is enhancing Podcasts Connect with new downloadable reports: Episode, Show, Channel, and Provider Listening Reports.

These reports can be exported daily, weekly, or monthly. They also allow creators to distinguish between free and paid listens (for those offering subscriptions via Apple Podcasts).

These reports provide a more detailed view of how your content is consumed on Apple Podcasts—insights you can cross-reference with your own hosting analytics.

In summary, here’s what iOS 26 changes for:

Listeners

With iOS 26, listeners enjoy a richer, more personalized experience on Apple Podcasts:

More listening comfort with Enhance Dialogue.
Greater flexibility thanks to adjustable playback speeds down to 0.1×.
Easier discovery through the New tab and the dedicated Search.
Per-podcast settings for a customized listening experience.

In short, Apple is betting on personalization and simplicity to boost listener loyalty.

Podcasters

For creators and audio marketers, these updates are game-changers:

Search is now a key entry point—your metadata is your most powerful tool to be found.
The New tab creates new opportunities for visibility if your episodes are recent and well-categorized.
Enhanced reports in Podcasts Connect help you better steer your content and marketing strategy.
The improved listening experience (clearer voices, personalized playback) supports stronger audience retention.