Coronation Street and Emmerdale: ITV to air first ever crossover episode as date revealed

The hour-long crossover episode will air in January 2026 as ITV and STV announce a new hour of soap schedule, which will see half hour Emmerdale episodes air at 8pm, followed by 30-minute episodes of Coronation Street at 8.30pm.

Producers of the two soaps say the special episode will have “everlasting consequences for everyone involved”, saying the two shows’ universes in Manchester and Yorkshire had been linked in an “ingenious way”.

They say the episode will be self-contained, but its events will have “repercussions for both communities and see them linked forever as familiar faces depart and exciting new characters arrive into both soaps”.

From next month fans will be able to vote on the soaps’ Instagram, Facebook and TikTok accounts for the two characters they want to see interact.

The new scheduling comes after ITV said its research showed that 30-minute episodes attracted higher audiences in 2024.

Coronation Street currently airs for three hour-long episodes a week, while Emmerdale’s weekly schedule is made up of four 30-minute episodes plus one hour-long instalment, but from next year both soaps will only air 30-minute episodes.

Speaking about the changes, 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.

“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.”

Episodes will continue to drop at 7am on ITVX and STV Player, before they air in the evening.