Inside Soap Awards 2026 announces final nominations shortlist

The Inside Soap Awards 2026 are now just under a week away! As anticipation builds, the final nominations shortlist has been revealed ahead of the star-studded ceremony in Manchester.

Since voting opened at the end of June, over 110,000 readers have taken part by backing their favourite actors and moments – and now it's time to reveal the top five nominations in each category.

Competition for many of the major prizes has been fierce, including Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Villain and Best Showstopper.

Voting has closed for most of the categories, but the battle for Best Soap remains open until 12pm on Monday 21 September – the day of the ceremony.

Awards bosses are also planning to present three special trophies this year. Soap Superstar of 2026 is awarded by fans to an actor who has performed above and beyond the call of duty, while Outstanding Achievement honours a performer who's made a long-standing contribution to the world of soap.

To mark 30 years of the Awards, organisers will also announce the first inductee into the Inside Soap Awards Hall of Fame, which will go to someone who's been closely associated with the Inside Soap Awards since they first began in 1996.

Sarah Ellis, editor of Inside Soap magazine, commented: "2026 has delivered some truly spectacular drama, from the hugely successful Corriedale crossover episode to Nigel's heartbreaking goodbye in EastEnders, and Diane's tragic battle with ovarian cancer in Hollyoaks.

"It's also been a stellar year for Home and Away, Casualty and Waterloo Road – but who will reign supreme on the big night?"

Read on for the full shortlist…

Best Actress

Vicky Myers (Lisa Connor-Swain, Coronation Street)

Diane Parish (Denise Fox, EastEnders)

Emma Atkins (Charity Dingle, Emmerdale)

Alex Fletcher (Diane Hutchinson, Hollyoaks)

Emily Weir (Mackenzie Booth, Home and Away)

Best Actor

Gareth Pierce (Todd Grimshaw, Coronation Street)

Paul Bradley (Nigel Bates, EastEnders)

Jeff Hordley (Cain Dingle, Emmerdale)

Danny Mac (Dodger Savage, Hollyoaks)

Ethan Browne (Tane Parata, Home and Away)

Best Comic Performance

Amy Robbins (Christina Boyd, Coronation Street)

Pierre Counihan-Moullier (Oscar Branning, EastEnders)

Chris Coghill (Kev Barton, Emmerdale)

Nicole Barber-Lane (Myra McQueen, Hollyoaks)

Shane Withington (John Palmer, Home and Away)

Best Villain

James Cartwright (Theo Silverton, Coronation Street)

Ronni Ancona (Bea Pollard, EastEnders)

Joe Absolom (Ray Walters, Emmerdale)

Anna Passey (Sienna Blake, Hollyoaks)

Sara Wiseman (Kerrie Matheson, Home and Away)

Best Young Performer

Jude Riordan (Sam Blakeman, Coronation Street)

Max Murray (Joel Marshall, EastEnders)

Amelia Flanagan (April Windsor, Emmerdale)

Oscar Curtis (Lucas Hay, Hollyoaks)

Nathan Murray (Cohen Luthor, Home and Away)

Best Newcomer

Olivia Frances-Brown (Jodie Ramsey, Coronation Street)

Pierre Counihan-Moullier (Oscar Branning, EastEnders)

Chris Coghill (Kev Barton, Emmerdale)

Tisha Merry (Gemma Johnson, Hollyoaks)

Jeremy Lindsay Taylor (David Langham, Home and Away)

Best Exit

Daniel Brocklebank (Billy Mayhew, Coronation Street)

Paul Bradley (Nigel Bates, EastEnders)

Joe Absolom (Ray Walters, Emmerdale)

Alex Fletcher (Diane Hutchinson, Hollyoaks)

Lynne McGranger (Irene Roberts, Home and Away)

Best Family

The Driscolls (Coronation Street)

The Brannings (EastEnders)

The Dingles (Emmerdale)

The Hutchinsons (Hollyoaks)

The Fowlers (Home and Away)

Best Partnership

Alison King & Vicky Myers (Carla & Lisa Connor-Swain, Coronation Street)

Steve McFadden & Paul Bradley (Phil Mitchell & Nigel Bates, EastEnders)

Jeff Hordley & Natalie J Robb (Cain & Moira Dingle, Emmerdale)

Kieron Richardson & Jonny Labey (Ste Hay & Rex Gallagher, Hollyoaks)

Ada Nicodemou & James Stewart (Leah Patterson & Justin Morgan, Home and Away)

Best Storyline

Todd's abuse at the hands of Theo (Coronation Street)

Nigel’s dementia & final goodbye (EastEnders)

Bear's modern slavery nightmare (Emmerdale)

Diane's ovarian cancer (Hollyoaks)

Irene’s Alzheimer's diagnosis (Home and Away)

Best Showstopper

Corriedale (Coronation Street & Emmerdale)

Nigel's 90s special (EastEnders)

Return to Brookside Close (Hollyoaks)

The train crash (Home and Away)

Best Drama Star

William Beck (Dylan Keogh, Casualty)

Elinor Lawless (Stevie Nash, Casualty)

Lindsey Coulson (Stella Drake, Waterloo Road)

Adam Thomas (Donte Charles, Waterloo Road)

Best Soap

Coronation Street

EastEnders

Emmerdale

Hollyoaks

Home and Away

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