What Time Is Emmerdale on Tonight? Everything You Need to Know About the New Schedule

Emmerdale’s New Time Slot in 2026

If you’re wondering what time Emmerdale is on tonight, there’s important news for fans of the long-running ITV soap. The soap has moved to a new time slot of 8pm as part of a major scheduling shake-up that began in January 2026. This marks a significant change from the previous 7.30pm slot that viewers had become accustomed to over the years.

The Soap Power Hour Schedule Change

The soap ‘power hour’ starting from January 2026 sees Emmerdale continue to air five nights a week, maintaining its Monday through Friday presence on ITV1. However, there’s another notable adjustment: The Thursday double bill will also be cut to half an hour to make way for additional episodes of Coronation Street. According to ITV, this ensures faster-paced, digestible episodes – a 30-minute format which has already proven popular with viewers.

Early Access on ITVX

For viewers who can’t wait until the evening broadcast, there’s good news. New episodes are available at 7am weekdays on ITVX, allowing fans to stream the latest drama from the Dales up to 13 hours before the traditional television broadcast. This early release strategy has become increasingly popular among soap fans who prefer to watch on their own schedule.

Why This Matters for Viewers

The scheduling changes reflect ITV’s evolving approach to soap programming, balancing traditional television viewing with modern streaming habits. For regular Emmerdale viewers, it’s essential to adjust your viewing routine to the new 8pm time slot to avoid missing tonight’s episode. The consistent weeknight schedule means fans can easily build the show into their evening routine, whether watching live on ITV1 or streaming earlier via ITVX. With dramatic storylines continuing to unfold in the Yorkshire village, staying up to date with the new schedule ensures you won’t miss any of the compelling drama that has made Emmerdale a British television staple for decades.