ITV confirms The British Soap Awards will not return to air in 2026
The British Soap Awards returned in 2025 after a one-year break.
ITV has today (Wednesday 11th February) confirmed that The British Soap Awards will not air in 2026.
An ITV spokesperson exclusively told Radio Times: "The British Soap Awards is taking a break and won't be on air in 2026."
The awards last aired in 2025, after taking a one-year break, where EastEnders was crowned the Best Soap, taking the lion's share of the awards on the night, too.
The host of the previous two ceremonies was presenter and singer Jane McDonald.
It's been a bumper year for all the soaps, most notably ITV's, with its groundbreaking Corriedale kicking off the new year in style, gaining 5.9 million viewers – the biggest audience ITV had in January.
ITV wasn't the only soap to do a crossover after Hollyoaks celebrated its 30th birthday with a crossover episode with Brookside.
Over on EastEnders, returns of classic characters like Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) and Max Branning (Jake Wood) saw exciting storylines and a tantalising flash-forward to more drama in 2027.
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In 2024, we ran the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards, celebrating the best storylines of that year – you can see all the fun from the night here.
Read more:
- 9 Coronation Street spoilers next week: Murder victim revealed in special flash-forward episode
- Coronation Street to kill classic character off-screen next month over 35 years after debut
- 5 EastEnders spoilers next week: Shock arrest made after Anthony Trueman's funeral, as Max Branning professes his feelings
- EastEnders' Kat Moon and Vicki Fowler make risky move to secure Zoe's freedom in BBC iPlayer release
- Emmerdale reveals Victoria Sugden's exit story following vicious ultimatum in early ITVX release
- 5 Emmerdale spoilers next week: Bear Wolf arrested as Laurel Thomas learns a shocking secret
Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Authors
Helen Daly is the Deputy Digital Editor for Radio Times, overseeing new initiatives and commercial projects for the brand. She was previously Deputy TV Editor at a national publication. She has a BA in English Literature and an MA in Media & Journalism from Newcastle University.
