Emmerdale will not air at 8pm tonight, here’s why and when it is back
Another week, another Emmerdale schedule change as the staple of the week night ITV schedule is taken off air again tonight (Friday March 27). It also hasn’t been released on ITVX, so when is it back?
The soap schedule can be messed around. It’s usually due to sport or one-off shows. And even now we’ve got the ‘soap power hour’, Emmerdale and Coronation Street are still not immune to changes. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered here so you know when you can watch Emmerdale next.
Is Emmerdale on tonight?
Emmerdale is not on on Friday March 27 and neither is Coronation Street. The two soaps usually air at 8pm and 8.30pm, but they are not on at all tonight.
As there are no episodes tonight, it means no ITVX early release either. Both are usually on the streaming site and YouTube at 7am.
It’s because of football. England are playing Uruguay in a friendly at Wembley Stadium. Kick-off is at 7.45pm and the build-up coverage starts at 7pm.
Emmerdale will air this Sunday though
The good news is this time we are getting catch-up episodes. On Sunday March 29 both Coronation Street and Emmerdale will air from 7pm on ITV.
Emmerdale will see Joe Tate take vicious revenge on the Dingles. Following the cow theft win, Joe is taking no prisoners. He wants the Dingles to pay so hits them where it hurts.
Ordering workmen to bulldoze one of the fields at the farm, he tells them that includes Holly Barton’s memorial. So the whole burial site is destroyed.
Understandably the Dingles are distraught and want to hit back again. So where will this war end?
Elsewhere, Tracy is leaving the village. She packs her boxes into Billy’s van and waits for Cain to say goodbye to Frankie.
But he is preoccupied with what’s going on with Joe. Will Cain put his agenda aside to say goodbye to his granddaughter? Or is he just too caught up in his own drama?
Should the soap power hour move earlier?
ITV rolled out a brand new schedule for the soaps in January 2026, dubbed the soap power hour. Emmerdale continues to air five nights a week, with episodes still available on ITVX from 7am, but it has moved to a later 8pm slot instead of 7.30pm.
Coronation Street has also undergone a major change, switching from hour-long episodes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday to half-hour episodes every weeknight at 8.30pm. Emmerdale’s traditional Thursday double bill has been cut back to make room.
The idea is simple: faster-paced, more digestible 30-minute episodes, a format that has already proven popular with viewers. But has it paid off?
Soap power hour verdict
The response has been largely positive. Many viewers say they are loving the shorter episodes and the nightly routine.
“I love the new soaps schedule,” wrote one fan on social media. “So much better having the episodes on 30 mins a night in my opinion.”
Another agreed: “Finally, I can watch my three favourite soaps in a row. Much prefer this schedule and the 30 min episodes.”
Others have noticed a shift in quality too, particularly since Corriedale. “Since Corriedale Emmerdale has been so much better. The longer scenes and actual fallout from events has been so good,” one viewer commented.
Someone else added: “These shows this week feel different. Better. Somewhat character driven which is all I’ve ever wanted to return to the shows.”
One change needed
Despite the praise for the soap power hour, there is one big sticking point for some fans: the timing. The 8pm slot is not a winner in some eyes and people feel it should move to 7pm instead.
“I think Emmerdale should be on at 7pm then Corrie at 7.30pm so it won’t be too late,” suggested one viewer.
Another added: “Can’t help feeling that the 8pm timeslot will mean losing viewers who watch it live. You’re up against bigger programs such as The Traitors in that time slot. 7pm was the best slot for Emmerdale I felt.”
Others echoed the sentiment, arguing the power hour would work better earlier in the evening. “It would be better if it was an hour earlier. Emmerdale belongs at 7pm, and Coronation Street at 7.30,” said one fan.