The Audio Description Project's 2026 virtual and hybrid conference schedule has been released; access the details on the ADP Conference page. Held July 16-18, the conference features panels of experts and consumers discussing multiple aspects of the creation and distribution of audio description. 

This year's panels include an exploration of next-gen television, a guided tour of the ADP website, a behind-the-scenes journey with an AD file, a screening of a film created with footage recorded by Braille Challenge competitors, and more. Registration opens in late May for ACB members and early June for non-ACB members; you can register on the ACB Convention website and receive Zoom links, or you can listen on ACB Media (links will be added soon).

If you want to learn more about audio description now, enjoy recordings of previous ADP Conferences on the ADP Archival Documents page!

Here's an update from the ACB Advocacy team: One of ACB's legislative imperatives, the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility (CVTA) Act, was reintroduced in Congress on April 16, 2026.

This bipartisan bill updates the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) to ensure people with disabilities can fully access today’s communication and video technologies.

The CVTA Act would:

• Strengthen closed captioning and audio description for TV and streaming
• Make accessibility features easier to find and use across devices
• Improve access to video conferencing platforms
• Expand equitable access to 9-1-1 services
• Ensure accessibility rules keep pace with emerging tech like AI and virtual reality.

ACB proudly supports the CVTA Act and applauds Senator Edward Markey’s leadership in advancing this bill. ACB has worked alongside a broad coalition of disability advocates to move this legislation forward, including making it a priority at this year’s D.C. Leadership Conference.

Stay tuned for more details about the CVTA Act, including how you can help ACB advocate for its passage.

Read Senator Markey's press release here: https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-markey-lujan-reps-dingell-fitzpatrick-reintroduce-bill-to-ensure-communication-and-video-technologies-are-accessible-to-people-with-disabilities

The Audio Description Project Performing Arts Committee had a busy 2025 and has an exciting to-do list for 2026. The committee’s ongoing goal is to improve the awareness, quality, and availability of audio description in live theatrical events, museums, and historic and recreational parks.

A significant highlight of the ACB year is the Conference and Convention, which is composed of dozens of panels over multiple weeks in June and July. To extend the convention’s reach and provide resources to virtual attendees, the Performing Arts Committee assembles a number of audio described tours that are available throughout the convention dates. The committee is hard at work now choosing the tours for 2026, so be sure to keep up with the latest news on the ACB Conference and Convention website.

Perhaps you’ve noticed the new design of the ADP website. The Performing Arts Committee is working to maintain the website’s listing of theatres, performing arts centers, museums, and parks that have a history of providing audio description. Access the pages to discover what’s audio described near you; you’ll also find a form so you can add a venue. Click here to visit the Performing Arts page and here for the Museums and Parks page.

Finally, the ADP Awards are an important way to recognize AD excellence on local levels. Past recipients include art museums, national parks, and individual audio describers who deliver live audio description in regional performing arts centers. Access the ADP Awards page for a list of honorees. And if your neighborhood theatre, museum, or park is doing great work, click here to submit a nomination (the deadline is April 6, 2026).

The ADP depends on the volunteer members of its associated committees. Check the ADP website and social media regularly for updates on all the exciting progress we’re making!

In the March 4, 2026, episode of the Eyes on Success podcast, Roy Samuelson discussed writing and performing description that match on-screen action, carry the emotion of scenes, and make the experience more enjoyable. Roy teaches and advises others on how to do audio description well, from writing to voicing. Go behind the scenes with Roy and hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey - you can find the episode and show notes with links to Roy's book and other great resources by clicking here.

The 98th Academy Awards were held March 15. Here's where to find the Best Picture nominees that have audio description. This list was updated for the final time on May 2, 2026. You can click on each title to search our Directory for current information after that.

Bugonia - Apple TV Store, DVD, Fandango, Netflix, Prime Video

F1 - Apple TV, Apple TV Store, DVD, Fandango, Prime Video

Frankenstein: The Anatomy Lesson - Netflix

Hamnet - Apple TV Store, Fandango, DVD, Hulu, Peacock, Prime Video

Marty Supreme - Apple TV Store, DVD, Fandango, HBO Max, Prime Video

One Battle After Another (WINNER!) - Apple TV Store, DVD, HBO Max, Plex, Prime Video

Sentimental Value - There is no known AD track for this film

Sinners - Apple TV Store, DVD, HBO Max, Plex, Prime Video

The Secret Agent - There is no known AD track for this film

Train Dreams - Netflix

The Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington recently invited Carl Richardson, one of the ADP co-chairs, to share his knowledge. Access the recording for an overview of the history and mission of audio description. Learn where audio description is available across broadcast TV, streaming platforms, and movie theaters, and how to access and enable audio description on your devices.

Here are some 2025 highlights from Fred Brack, the ADP webmaster and data wrangler. Thanks, Fred!

Looking back at 2025, I would like to review some of the major accomplishments and changes in the world of audio description as reflected on the ADP Website.

While the major change was the June switchover to our new website managed by the same company responsible for the ACB website, there were months of preparation involved and continued meetings two to three times a week discussing ongoing enhancement plans. A huge amount of time has been spent adding pointers to IMDb (the Internet Movie Database) for as many titles as we could identify, in addition to verifying and adding genres and more in our Master Title database.

Because we were unable to list weekly additions to streaming service titles originally, I began extracting and compiling this data behind the scenes for publication weekly. Later, that data was made available online. We were also able to restore “comments” about titles, including things like any fees beyond subscriptions involved in accessing them. Along the way, we had (and still have) two very experienced screen reader users testing our website, making recommendations for changes.

Four additional streaming providers were added during the year: The Roku Channel, Howdy (a subscription version of The Roku Channel), MGM+, and PBS (streaming, not TV).

Here’s how our providers ended the year. The first number is the year-end 2025 number of described titles offered. This is followed by the increase and the percentage over the year-end 2024 number.

• Apple TV: 306, +47, 18%
• Apple TV Store (iTunes): 2617, +249, 11%
• Disney+: 1280, +41, +3% (but not updated recently)
• Fandango: 922, +285, 45%
• HBOMax: 1175, +54, 5%
• Hulu: +137, 21%
• MGM+: n/a, new this year
• Netflix: +307,11%
• Paramount+: +77, 16%
• Peacock: +72, 21%
• Plex: +16, 59%
• PlutoTV: +4, 5%
• Prime Video: +597, +10%
• ReelAbilities Stream: +26, 54%
• Roku Channel: +9, 12%
• Tubi: +2, 2%
• Spectrum Access: +150, 20%

In analyzing the numbers above, the annual increase gives you some idea how individual services are growing their described content. To the extent that a service focuses on recently released titles, there is a greater likelihood that any given title will have audio description. Overall growth of titles carried will also boost the number, while removal of titles for cost-cutting measures may decrease the number. We certainly must congratulate Fandango at Home for its 45% growth, Plex for its 59% growth, and ReelAbilities Stream for its 54% growth. Fandango is especially impressive given its total described title count of nearly 1,000.

At year-end, we had 13,109 unique titles available with English audio description tracks from Cinema, DVD, Spectrum Access, and over 20 streaming services. This was an increase of 24% over year-end 2024, which was 2% more than 2024 over 2023. Clearly, the number of described titles available is increasing nicely, even though we have a long way to go.

Our Master Title database contains nearly 18,000 titles, meaning there are over 5000 additional titles that have audio description tracks only in non-English languages or they aren’t currently available anywhere in English. For those speaking non-English languages, there were 12,630 titles in 64 languages other than English available (in the USA) with audio description, the most prominent of which was LatAm Spanish at 1888 titles, closely followed by Brazilian Portuguese.

While I, personally, focus on the services listed above, my associate, Timothy Wynn, scans numerous sources of TV listings and uses his network contacts to compile a weekly database of everything that is on TV with audio description. We believe we have the most comprehensive listing of described TV content anywhere, and we have Timothy to thank for that. At the same time, I am grateful to Vicki Vogt of Perkins Library for compiling the list of movies available in Cinemas with audio description.

Please enjoy the ever-increasing number of audio described titles available as updated weekly on our website. You can also help spread the word about the ADP website, especially to newcomers to the blindness community who might not know about the exciting world of audio description.

Welcome to the Awards Gala Spotlight Series! Over the next few weeks, we’ll focus on some of the 2025 award recipients so you can learn more about the great audio description contributions our awardees are making.

Meet SOVAS

At the 2025 Audio Description Awards Gala, the ADP gave its first award for Talent Promotion to the Society of Voice Arts and Sciences (SOVAS). SOVAS trains and celebrates voice actors, but their mission is far more expansive. They strive to uplift a community, foster global inclusivity, and create meaningful connections between artists and the people their work serves.

Everything SOVAS offers, including education, mentorship, job development, and recognition through the Voice Arts Awards, is rooted in the belief that storytelling and communication have the power to improve lives. Their work took on an even deeper purpose when they learned about audio description.

SOVAS and AD

According to Rudy Gaskins, Chairman and CEO, and Joan Baker, Vice President, audio description “became our gateway into understanding the challenges faced by people who are blind or have low vision.” What began as an educational opportunity quickly grew into a calling. They realized how essential AD is and how perfectly aligned it is with the audience of passionate voice actors who want their work to have real impact.

Through audio description, SOVAS joined a community of individuals and organizations dedicated to creating a richer, more accessible life experience for people who are blind or have low vision. Gaskins and Baker note that we all share the responsibility of making the world more inclusive. “Serving this community,” they say, “is not only an honor, it also continues to deepen our commitment to building a voiceover industry that listens, learns, and lifts everyone.”

SOVAS is committed to spreading awareness of AD among voice actors as a pathway to meaningful employment, while ensuring that high-quality AD is created for the end users who depend on it. To further this mission, SOVAS developed an annual international contest for voice actors that provides four real-world, paid AD jobs in both Spanish and English. As part of their international awards show, the Voice Arts Awards®, they have implemented multiple award categories specific to a wide range of AD genres, including live theatre, film, television, museum tours, and more. This initiative is a powerful way to recognize the quality of the work and the importance of AD to the industry and end users.

Learning through Community

Interacting with blind and low-vision audiences is important to SOVAS. The community is invited to share their knowledge at the annual SOVAS career conference, and they are engaged to review and vet all materials SOVAS disseminates to blind and low-vision communities. SOVAS also offers paid speaker roles to blind and low-vision professionals in an online webinar series.

Additionally, the SOVAS International Ambassadors Committee (SIAC) brings together leaders in the field to help shape SOVAS’s approach. Dr. Joel Snyder, the founder of the ADP, serves on this committee. To get involved in the International Ambassadors, visit sovas.org/international-ambassadors/.

Learn more about SOVAS by visiting SOVAS.org, where you’ll find detailed information about programs, initiatives, events, and resources for the global voice acting community. You can also follow SOVAS on social media to stay updated and engaged:

• Facebook: SovasVoice

• Instagram: @societyvoicearts

• LinkedIn: Society of Voice Arts and Sciences

To access the Awards Gala, visit ADAwardsGala.org. And check back here soon for another Awards Gala spotlight!

The Audio Description Project’s (ADP) People’s Choice Awards is accepting nominations from Saturday, April 4, 2026, through Sunday, April 19. The winners will be announced during the 2026 ACB Audio Description Awards Gala, airing virtually on Thursday, November 12, at 7:30 PM ET. 

Click here to submit your nominations.

There are two phases in the selection process for the Audio Description People’s Choice Awards. First, the ADP will accept nominations in two categories, film and series, from April 4 through April 19. Second, the top titles in each category will compete for the grand prize during a two-week voting period in July.

Be sure to review the nomination criteria before submitting your nominations. Remember that the focus is on the quality of the audio description, not the show itself, and you may nominate a film or series only once. The Audio Description People’s Choice Awards nomination form can be found at:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AD-Awards-Nominations-2026

To make your nominations by phone, call 202-467-5081.

The Audio Description Awards Gala celebrates inclusivity and recognizes the entertainment industry’s role in providing access to film and television through audio description for people who are blind or have low vision. The Audio Description People’s Choice Award is a unique opportunity for fans to get involved by showing their support for the audio description they love the most.

Learn more at www.ADAwardsGala.org and don’t forget to submit your nominations by April 19: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AD-Awards-Nominations-2026.

On December 1, 2025, the FCC released a Public Notice (PN) reminding broadcast television stations about the audio description requirements adopted in its October 17, 2023 Report and Order. The Report and Order expanded the audio description requirements by phasing them in for an additional 10 designated market areas (DMAs) each year until all DMAs are included.

The PN reminds television broadcasters that the audio description rules will extend to DMAs 111 through 120 on January 1, 2026. Accordingly, the audio description rules will extend to the following DMAs on January 1, 2026:

• Tyler-Longview (Lufkin & Nacogdoches), Texas

• Sioux Falls (Mitchell), South Dakota

• Fargo, North Dakota

• Springfield-Holyoke, Massachusetts

• Lansing, Michigan

• Youngstown, Ohio

• Yakima-Pasco-Richland-Kennewick, Washington

• Traverse City-Cadillac, Michigan

• Eugene, Oregon

• Macon, Georgia

Link to the Public Notice:

https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-25-999A1.pdf

For general information about audio description, visit https://www.fcc.gov/audio-description.