2026 brings with it some major changes for soap viewers after Corriedale aired on Monday
Coronation Street will air every week night in 2026(Image: ITV)
Soap fans can expect major changes to their usual viewing routine from tonight. A major ITV change has altered the way viewers can tune in to their favourite soaps during the week. The drama continues in the Dales and in Weatherfield following the aftermath of last night’s explosive Corriedale episode.
It was jam-packed from start to finish, possibly too much to put into words. From Billy Mayhew’s heartbreaking death to Lisa Swain’s iconic arrest, it’s safe to say Corriedale will go down in history.
Victoria Sugden murdered her brother John, ending his terrifying reign of terror in the Dales. If that wasn’t enough, Carla told Lisa everything about Becky, Aaron and Robert got engaged, Cain was diagnosed with cancer and David suffered a seizure while Ken Barlow and Eric Pollard tried to figure out the hospital vending machine.
The “Corriedale” special marks the start of a new way of viewing soaps in 2026. Last year, Coronation Street aired Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm, with Emmerdale airing every night.
However in 2026, 30 minute episodes of each programme will be shown every night, with Emmerdale at 8pm and Coronation Street at 8.30pm from 2026.
ITV has branded the change a “soaps power hour” as a new way of viewing the soaps in one sitting each night.
ITV’s managing director of media and entertainment, Kevin Lygo, said: “The new commissioning pattern is viewer-led. We already give more choice than ever to viewers on how they watch us through ITVX and we want to present their favourite soap to them in the most digestible way.
Emmerdale will air at 8pm for half an hour before Coronation Street(Image: ITV)
“In a world where there is so much competition for viewers’ time and attention, and viewing habits continue to change, we believe this is the right amount of episodes that fans can fit into their viewing schedule to keep up to date with the shows.
“Research insights also show us that soap viewers are increasingly looking to the soaps for their pacey storytelling. Streaming-friendly, 30-minute episodes better provide the opportunity to meet viewer expectations for storyline pace, payoff and resolution.
“While viewing is growing on ITVX, we know a significant proportion of our soaps’ audience still watch us via the schedule. This new pattern is in the DNA of the soap genre – nobody else does 30-minute drama this successfully.
“It creates a soap power hour that’s consistent, and easy to find in the linear schedule, for the UK’s biggest soaps.”
Some of the best ways to watch the soaps include:
ITV1Emmerdale will air at 8pm followed by Coronation Street at 8.30pm every weeknight on ITV1.ITVXEach episode will land on streaming platform ITVX at 7am each morning before transmission that evening.YouTubeFull episodes of both soaps are available to watch on YouTube
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