Great stories start with great storytellers. That's why Audible is committed to investing in emerging creators around the world—through workshops, mentorship, grants, hands-on production support, and more designed to amplify and uplift storytellers.

Consider this your running list of current opportunities with Audible and our collaborators to develop your craft, fund your projects, and find your community.

Bookmark this blog post to stay up to date as new programs open and follow @AudibleACX on X and Facebook for the latest.

ACX x Studio126 Narrator Program

For emerging and established audio storytellers in the New York Tri-State Area: Now accepting applications until November 5, 2026

Calling New York tri-state area narrators! ACX has partnered with Amazon's Studio 126 in Brooklyn, New York, and to kick things off, we're recording three productions in the space: completely free! This pilot program gives three emerging and established indie narrators access to a state-of-the-art, distraction-free studio so you can focus purely on your craft.

What's included:

• Free professional studio access at Studio126 Brooklyn (10 AM - 3 PM, up to 5 hours)

• Professional audio engineer support provided on-site

• Curated swag bags

• Educational resources (ACX best practices, follow-up contact)

• Networking opportunity with ACX team and fellow creators

Who should apply:

Narrators based within 50 miles of Brooklyn with a minimum of 5 published ACX titles, an average performance rating of 4.0 or higher, and at least one title produced on ACX in the past 24 months. Applicants must have an ACX title ready to record during their session.

Key dates:

• Applications open until: November 5, 2026

• Participant notification: Continuous (reviewed as received)

• Program runs: October 5 – December 15, 2026

Apply here.

Audible Creator Development Program: Los Angeles

We're bringing the Audible Creator Development Program to the Greater Los Angeles area. This free, three-day intensive is designed for emerging audio storytellers ready to develop and shape their projects for the audio medium. Facilitated by Paulco, the program brings together a cohort of approximately 15 creators through masterclasses, hands-on workshops, and industry exposure at The Audible LA Hub in Culver City, CA.

What's included:

• 3 full days of workshops and panels covering the audio landscape, ideation, production, and the business of audio

• $150 daily stipend ($450 total)

• Post-program studio hours for recording your own project

• A connected community of LA-area creators equipped with knowledge, tools, and relationships to continue developing their work in audio

Who should apply:

Content creators with written works, filmmakers, performing artists, oral historians, poets, cultural workers, and thought leaders who have a project they're ready to bring to life in audio. We're looking for narrative-driven original works like essays, manuscripts, short stories, oral histories, anything that can be scripted and recorded. At this time, conversational or chat-based formats, such as talk shows or traditional podcasts, are outside the scope of the program. Applicants must be 18 or over and residents of the Greater Los Angeles area.

Key dates:

• Applications open: October 13 – November 2, 2026

• Participant notification by: November 6, 2026

• Program runs: Monday, December 14 – Wednesday, December 16, 2026

Creative samples must be submitted as MP3, DOC/DOCX, or PDF files (maximum total of 300 MB).

Questions? Contact audiblecreators@paulco.com

Apply now and start your audio storytelling journey

Emerging Playwrights Fund

The Emerging Playwrights Fund is Audible Theater's global commissioning program for early-career playwrights. Through the Fund, selected writers receive $25,000 each to write and develop an original audio play, with access to Audible's production resources, casting expertise, and state-of-the-art studios. Since 2017, the Fund has commissioned 50 projects, with over 30 released on Audible.

What's included:

• Up to five applicants selected to receive a fee of $25,000 each to write and develop an original audio play

• Creative and logistical resources including development and production fees, casting expertise and talent budget

• Access to Audible's state-of-the-art studio and production equipment

• The opportunity to have your work produced and distributed to millions of Audible listeners worldwide

Who should apply:

Early-career theatrical writers who craft immersive fictional experiences that engage, entertain, and inspire. Audible values diverse perspectives, innovative approaches to form, and stories that harness the unique intimacy and immediacy of audio storytelling. For this cycle, they're particularly interested in original audio dramas in Action & Adventure (including Mystery, Thrillers, Horror, Sci-Fi & Fantasy) and Core Fiction (including Contemporary Fiction, Romance, and Literary Companion Pieces). Applicants must be 18 or over and residents of the US or UK.

What to submit:

1. Playwright Application

2. One full-length script for an original play (in English, PDF or Word doc)

3. A professional biography (up to 300 words)

4. A pitch or summary for an original audio play (Action & Adventure or Core Fiction preferred)

Key dates:

• Submissions accepted: September 23, 2026 – November 18, 2026 (11:59 PM EST)

• Applicants notified via email, typically within three months of submission

Submit your application

Past Programs:

Audible Creator Development Program

For emerging audio storytellers in Newark and North Jersey: Now accepting applications until May 10, 2026

If you're a writer, filmmaker, performer, podcaster, oral historian, poet, or thought leader based in Newark or the surrounding North Jersey region, this one's for you. The Audible Creator Development Program is a free, three-day in-person intensive designed to help you shape your project for the audio medium. Facilitated by ABF Creative, the program brings together a cohort of around 15 creators for masterclasses, hands-on workshops, and industry exposure at Audible's headquarters and affiliates’ facilities in Newark.

What's included:

• 3 full days of workshops and panels at Audible and affiliated Newark facilities

• Guided visits to Newark-based production studios

• A $450 stipend ($150/day) for your time

• A curriculum covering the audio landscape, ideation, production, and the business of audio

Who should apply:

Creators who are based in Newark or the surrounding North Jersey region with a narrative-driven project—an essay, manuscript, short story, oral history, poem, or other scripted work—they're ready to bring to life in the audio format. Please note that conversational or chat-based formats like talk shows or traditional podcasts are outside the scope of this program.

Key dates:

• Applications open until: May 10, 2026 at 11:59pm EST

• Participant notification: May 22

• Program runs: June 22 – June 24

Learn more and apply here.

Questions? Email audiblecreators@abfc.co

Audio in Color Romance Author Grant

For emerging romance writers from underrepresented backgrounds: Now accepting applications until June 15, 2026

Audible is proud to collaborate with nonprofit Audio in Color to support 8 romance authors in producing their first self-published audiobook. The grant program is designed to open doors for underrepresented voices in a field they might not otherwise have access to—giving authors the tools, support, and industry relationships to launch successful audiobook careers. Applications are open until June 15, 2026.

What's included:

• End-to-end production support, including editing and mixing

• Voice actors, with duet and full-cast options available

• The freedom to independently publish the finished audiobook on any audio service the author chooses

This is Audio in Color's fourth grant cycle, and past recipients have gone on to do extraordinary things. Jen Trinh's Crushing on You became a 2023 Audie Award finalist. Katrina Jackson's Office Hours earned enough to fund a follow-up audiobook, Sabbatical, which was nominated for an Audie in 2024. Amy Oliveira credits her audiobook Keepsake with leading to publishing contracts. And Bella Jay says the grant for her novel 12:01 has "truly impacted my growth as an indie author."

Key Dates:

• Applications open until: June 15, 2026 at 11:59pm EST

• Participant notification: Early Fall 2026

• Program runs Fall 2026 to Fall 2027

Learn more here.

More Audible Emerging Creator programs:

Here is a lookback on past emerging creator programs and events from around the world.

• Collaboration with Sundance Collab—A masterclass during the 2025 festival, and a three-day intensive training that supported emerging creators to consider audio as a media for their vision. More to come in 2026.

• Collaboration with Entertainment Community Fund—A series of webinars that started in March 2026 (Intro to Financial Wellness for Audio Storytellers) to help creators build sustainable, resilient careers. 3 more to come throughout 2026.

• Indigenous Writers' Circle, 6th edition (Canada)—A six-month mentorship and workshop program which connects emerging First Nations, Inuit, and Métis writers with established Indigenous authors. Up to 21 creators will be selected and supported during 2026.

• Audible LAB (Spain)—In March 2026, we launched Audible LAB across four partner universities—Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Universidad Loyola Sevilla, Universidad Castilla-La Mancha, and Universitat Politècnica de València—with masterclasses and workshops for students of communication, journalism, and audiovisual production. Participating teams will develop original audio series concepts.

• Off-Mic (UK)—Developed with Multitrack, Off-Mic helps aspiring creators become working professionals in audio storytelling. 12 participants spent months producing full audio episodes—documentaries, audiobooks, and audio series—culminating in a showcase at Audible's UK office.

• Collaboration with Barbican Young Poets workshop (UK)—As part of our year-long sponsorship of the Young Poets Program, we hosted a workshop in March on producing audio-visual formats with strong audio components, expanding participants' skills into multimedia storytelling.

• Emerging Playwrights Fund (Global)—has commissioned 50 projects to date, with more than 30 released on Audible and several performed live at Audible's Minetta Lane Theatre.

Want to be the first to know when applications open for the next round of Audible’s emerging creator programs? Bookmark this post and follow @AudibleACX on X and Facebook for updates.