TV fans have been left enraged after it emerged that ITV have cancelled this year’s British Soap Awards, explaining that the ceremony will be taking a break from airing
A major televised awards show has been cancelled. ITV have announced that the British Soap Awards will not be on air this year for the second time.
The event, which takes place annually, celebrates British soaps including Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks, as well as their jaw-dropping storylines. But no explanation has been given for the reason it won’t be airing this year.
In a statement, a spokesperson for ITV confirmed the show will be paused, despite attracting millions of viewers each year. At its peak, the televised ceremony saw almost six million people tune in.
ITV said: “The British Soap Awards is taking a break and won’t be on air in 2026.”
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The programme was last on air in 2025. It had also been paused in 2024, leaving fans upset at the time.
It’s absence will come as a surprise to many, with UK soaps having a bumper year. One user on Twitter/X fumed: “itv cancelling the soap awards when a corriedale sweep was likely and deserved ?? v unserious institution.”
Another complained: “why is #TheBritishSoapAwards taking a ‘break’, when it had one for precisely two years and it only came back last year.”
Among the biggest lines include Corriedale which saw the first-ever crossover of ITV’s biggest soaps, Coronation Street and Emmerdale.
ITV have also recently announced it had its most successful streaming month to date. The channel amassed and impressive 383 million streams in January.
Since 2023, Jane McDonald had presented the British Soap Awards. She replaced Phillip Schofield who had to step down from the position following the news of his affair becoming public.
At the time, Jane said: “You all know I love my soaps, so to be in a room giving recognition to all these wonderful actors and their fantastic hard work is simply joyous. I can’t wait to get my glittery frock on and celebrate with everyone.’
Last year was a successful showing for EastEnders at the event. Alongside Emmerdale, the BBC soap was both had an impressive 13 nominations over 12 categories each in the build-up to the ceremony.
However, it was the cast from London that proved triumphant on the night. The soap took away the top gong, being named Best British Soap.
In the end, EastEnders walked away with eight awards in total. Among them was a gong for Steve McFadden who up Best Dramatic Performance and Best Single Episode for Phil Mitchell’s psychosis. The accolade came in the soap’s 40th anniversary year.
Elsewhere, Hollyoaks got three awards, Emmerdale got two and Coronation Street walked away with one. They landed the Outstanding Achievement Award to David Neilson, who has played Roy Cropper for 30 years.
Speaking before she was presented with the scene of the year award, EastEnders legend Anita Dobson gushed: “It was just perfect.” When she was asked if she could return again, she confessed: “I don’t think so, although I should say never say never, it would have to be something extra special.”
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