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Acast AB Publ (-0A9Z), the leading pure-play podcast company globally, reported record net sales of SEK 775.6 million in Q2 2026, marking a 28% year-over-year increase. The firm achieved 29% organic growth alongside notable profitability gains, with adjusted EBITDA margin rising to 7% from 3% in the previous year. Strong performance was evident across all regions, complemented by a significant breakthrough in video monetisation via Apple Podcasts integration.
Key Highlights
- Acast AB Publ (-0A9Z) posted its highest quarterly net sales of SEK 775.6 million in Q2 2026.
- Organic net sales surged 29%, driven by 34% growth in North America and 25% acceleration in Europe.
- Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded to 7% from 3% in Q2 2025; adjusted EBIT turned positive at SEK 32 million (4% margin).
- Introduced first integrated video advertising campaigns on Apple Podcasts, enabling over 180 shows and 1,000 episodes.
- Average Revenue Per Listen or View (ARPLV) rose 26% year-over-year to SEK 0.69, reflecting robust advertiser demand.
Record Quarterly Revenue Fueled by Global Geographic Growth
Acast (-0A9Z) set a new quarterly revenue record of SEK 775.6 million in Q2 2026, representing a 28% year-on-year increase and 29% organic growth after adjusting for currency and acquisitions. This growth was driven by balanced expansion across its three main geographic segments.
North America, the company's largest and fastest-growing market, achieved 34% year-over-year net sales growth. Europe accelerated growth to 25%, while Other Markets expanded by 17%. The CEO highlighted that all regions delivered double-digit growth, with Europe and North America contributing nearly equal incremental revenue. This geographic diversification strengthens confidence in the company's sustained growth and ability to capitalize on the rising global demand for premium podcast advertising.
Profitability Gains Driven by Operating Leverage
The company made significant strides toward profitability, with adjusted EBITDA margin increasing to 7% from 3% in Q2 2025. Adjusted EBITDA more than doubled to SEK 57.7 million from SEK 15.8 million. This margin improvement reflects disciplined cost management, as revenues grew 28% while adjusted operating expenses rose only 8%, demonstrating clear operating leverage.
Operating profit reached SEK 31.6 million, yielding a 4% EBIT margin, compared to a SEK 66.4 million loss in Q2 2025. Adjusted operating profit also stood at SEK 31.6 million (4% margin), reversing the prior year's adjusted EBIT loss of SEK 7.3 million (-1%). Net income improved to SEK 27.3 million from a loss of SEK 79.7 million. Earnings per share before dilution rose to SEK 0.15 from SEK -0.44. Operating cash flow turned positive at SEK 50.1 million versus negative SEK 53.4 million previously, indicating enhanced cash generation.
Innovative Video Monetisation Launched on Apple Podcasts
In May 2026, Acast pioneered integrated video advertising campaigns on Apple Podcasts, becoming the first to monetize Apple's new video platform at scale. Major global brands like State Farm and T-Mobile were early adopters. Over 180 shows are now video-enabled, with more than 1,000 episodes published through Apple Podcasts. This aligns with Acast's strategic goal to increase value for creators through every listen and view.
The company collaborates with the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) to develop standards for cross-format audience measurement using HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) technology. Management emphasizes that podcasters are defined by audience relationships rather than distribution formats. As video consumption grows, Acast is adopting unified measurement approaches, now reporting consumption metrics combining RSS and HLS, with plans to include YouTube data by Q3. This video monetisation strategy diversifies revenue beyond traditional audio advertising.
Listening and Viewing Metrics Grow with Enhanced Monetisation
Total Listens and Views reached 1,120 million in Q2 2026, a 2% increase year-over-year. Although consumption growth was modest, monetisation per unit improved significantly. ARPLV rose 26% to SEK 0.69, driven by strong advertiser demand for premium podcast inventory and content.
This ARPLV increase reflects success in enriching Acast's creator network with highly monetizable content. The quarter saw new high-profile partnerships, including The Washington Post, The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast, and viral podcast The Comment Section with Drew Afualo. These additions bring engaged, multi-channel audiences, enhancing advertiser value and supporting premium ad rates.
Strengthened Premium Content via Key Creator and Publisher Alliances
Acast continues to fortify its competitive position through strategic partnerships with leading media and talent. The Washington Post's collaboration validates Acast's distribution and monetisation capabilities. The addition of The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast brings established entertainment audiences, enabling cross-promotion and expanding advertiser appeal. The viral podcast The Comment Section adds emerging content with strong audience resonance.
Creative production excellence was recognized with awards: Divine Intervention from Acast Creative Studios won a 2026 Peabody Award, and the Acast-hosted Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast received the Pulitzer Prize for Audio Reporting. These accolades highlight Acast's role as a creator-focused company with top-tier production capabilities.
Expanding Network Scale and Advertiser Reach
As the largest pure-play podcast company, Acast connects over 140,000 storytellers with 4,000 advertisers worldwide. This scale offers a unique entry point for creators to monetize across audio, video, social, and other formats. The diverse advertiser base, spanning global tier-1 brands to niche firms, supports revenue diversification and strengthens Acast's influence over advertising budgets and bookings.
Acast's exclusive focus on podcasting differentiates it from diversified media groups, positioning it to capture full market growth potential. Management notes strong industry momentum as brands increasingly embrace podcast advertising. The combination of scale, specialization, and multi-format monetisation provides a structural edge as content consumption evolves. CEO Greg Glenday emphasized Acast's unique positioning to lead omnichannel, 360-degree monetisation for creators.
Medium-Term Strategic Goals and Outlook
Acast (-0A9Z) maintains its 2028 EBIT margin target, with current trends indicating steady progress. Organic growth continues to exceed long-term targets, and the substantial margin expansion in Q2 2026 confirms a solid path forward. Market share gains in the U.S., the largest and fastest-growing region, bolster confidence. The strategy of prioritizing revenue growth ahead of costs has proven effective in H1 2026, with operating leverage increasingly evident.
The company’s market positioning reflects two key trends: shifting brand advertising budgets toward podcast and audio channels, and podcasting's evolution into a multi-format medium including video and social. Acast's first-mover advantage in Apple Podcasts video monetisation and partnerships with top creators position it to capture outsized value. Management expressed strong conviction about the H2 outlook and business model sustainability. No specific future revenue or EBIT guidance was disclosed.
Investor Presentation and Financial Reports
CEO Greg Glenday and CFO Anders Hägg hosted a webcast on 23 July 2026 at 14:00 CET discussing interim results and strategic positioning, with live Q&A. The webcast recording and presentation materials are available via Acast’s media server.
The full Interim Report for January-June 2026 is published on Acast’s investor relations site at https://investors.acast.com/, featuring detailed financials, segment analysis, and management commentary. Acast is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm under ticker ACAST. CFO Anders Hägg and Investor Relations Manager Sofia Markovic are available for further investor inquiries.
Podcast Advertising Market Dynamics Supporting Growth
The podcast advertising sector continues to benefit from structural tailwinds as brands recognize the medium’s engaged audiences, targeted segmentation, and measurable ROI. The shift toward direct-to-creator and omnichannel monetisation models reflects evolving content monetisation and advertising purchasing patterns. Acast’s intermediary role connecting creators and advertisers at scale enables it to capitalize on this market transformation.
Expansion into video formats via platforms like Apple Podcasts marks a significant evolution in distribution and monetisation. As video consumption grows, platforms enabling cross-format monetisation gain competitive advantage. Acast’s pioneering Apple Podcasts video advertising and active industry standard-setting with the IAB demonstrate strategic leadership. The 26% ARPLV increase in Q2 2026 evidences advertiser willingness to pay premiums for high-quality, multi-format podcast inventory with improved measurement.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold Acast shares. The content is based solely on facts disclosed in the company’s announcement and is not comprehensive. Investors should perform their own due diligence, review full interim reports and financials, and seek independent financial advice before investing. Past performance and growth rates do not guarantee future results. All investments carry risks, including potential capital loss.
