WCAG 1.2.9 Audio-only (Live): What It Means and How to Test It

Anton StewartAuthor Reviewed September 28, 2026 against the W3C Understanding document

What WCAG 1.2.9 Requires

AAA only: a live audio-only broadcast, such as a live podcast recording or radio-style stream, needs a text alternative describing its content.

New to this criterion? Read our plain-English guide, WCAG 1.2.9 Audio-only (Live) Explained in Plain English, with examples and code.

Can AccessBell Test This Automatically?

Not fully. Like most WCAG criteria that depend on meaning or context, this one needs a person to judge. AccessBell's report lists it for manual review rather than marking it pass or fail automatically, so it never gets missed.

How to Test It by Hand

Check whether live audio-only content links to a live transcript or a same-day summary.

Common Failures

A live audio show has no transcript, live or after the fact.

WCAG 1.2.9 Questions

What does WCAG 1.2.9 require?

AAA only: a live audio-only broadcast, such as a live podcast recording or radio-style stream, needs a text alternative describing its content.

Can AccessBell test WCAG 1.2.9 automatically?

Not fully. This criterion needs a person to judge, so AccessBell's report lists it for manual review rather than marking it pass or fail on its own.

What level is WCAG 1.2.9?

Level AAA, added in WCAG 2.0. Level AAA is the highest, most demanding conformance level in WCAG.

Sources

This page explains a technical standard and is not legal advice. See our disclaimer.

1.2.9 Audio-only (Live)