Coronation Street and Emmerdale win big at the Inside Soap Awards 2026

Coronation Street has been named as the biggest winner at the Inside Soap Awards 2026, claiming a string of top prizes in the viewer voting.

Corrie has bagged the Best Soap prize for the third year in a row, while central characters like Todd Grimshaw, Lisa Connor-Swain and Carla Connor-Swain also proved popular.

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Gareth Pierce, who plays Todd, triumphed in the Best Actor category after his emotional performances in the ITV show's long-running domestic violence storyline.

Theo Silverton's evil abuse of Todd topped the vote for Best Storyline, while James Cartwright – who portrayed the evil character – was picked as the Best Villain.

Swarla fans had plenty of reason to celebrate, as Vicky Myers came out on top in the Best Actress category for her portrayal of Lisa.

Vicky and co-star Alison King, who plays Carla, have also been named Best Partnership. This comes in the year that their characters tied the knot in a highly-anticipated episode.

Jude Riordan was the top choice in the Best Young Performer category, with the recent storyline focusing on his character Sam Blakeman's mental health clearly resonating with viewers.

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As previously announced, Corrie's Daniel Brocklebank secured the Best Exit trophy after Billy Mayhew's tragic death in the Corriedale crossover episode.

Corrie and Emmerdale also claimed a joint victory, as the Corriedale road disaster was the top choice in the Best Showstopper category.

Inside Soap's editor Sarah Ellis commented: "The heartbreaking story of Todd's abuse at the hands of his partner Theo really stuck a chord with the audience, and won out against some really stellar work from the other soaps.

"Plus, the love for power couple Lisa and Carla Connor-Swain – aka Swarla – remains as strong as ever, making it a truly memorable year for our Best Soap winners Corrie."

Meanwhile, two of Emmerdale's successes rewarded the introduction of chaotic Kev Barton – as actor Chris Coghill won the awards for Best Newcomer and Best Comedy Performance.

Related: Real-life Emmerdale couple make surprise appearance on BBC show

Emmerdale's Dingle clan have been named Best Family for an unprecedented seventh time, while iconic star Claire King has become the first inductee into Inside Soap's new Hall of Fame, introduced to celebrate 30 years of the Awards.

EastEnders favourite Diane Parish is taking home the Soap Superstar gong, awarded by fans to a performer who has gone above and beyond in the past year. This recognises Diane's work on Denise Fox's leukaemia storyline, which viewers praised for showing "grace and sensitivity" and Diane "giving everything to every performance".

Alex Fletcher took the Outstanding Achievement prize, which celebrated her decades of success in Soapland across Brookside and Hollyoaks. Her Hollyoaks character Diane Hutchinson tragically passed away in May after she decided to leave the show following a 16-year run.

"The soaps have proved to be an emotional watch in 2026," added Inside Soap editor Sarah Ellis. "But these hard-hitting storylines offer our favourite actors the chance to do some of their most powerful work, and our readers are clearly engaging with those performances, as evidenced by the record number of votes we received this year.

"As the Inside Soap Awards cerebrates 30 years, it's great to see that our soaps are still going strong."

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Finally, Waterloo Road's Adam Thomas won the Best Drama Star award for his role as Donte Charles.

The winners have been announced tonight (Monday 21 September) at a star-studded ceremony in Manchester.

See the full winners list below:

Best Actress

Vicky Myers (Lisa Connor-Swain, Coronation Street) - WINNER

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) - WINNER

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) – WINNER

Nicole Barber-Lane (Myra McQueen, Hollyoaks)

Shane Withington (John Palmer, Home and Away)

Best Villain

James Cartwright (Theo Silverton, Coronation Street) - WINNER

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) - WINNER

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) - WINNER

Tisha Merry (Gemma Johnson, Hollyoaks)

Jeremy Lindsay Taylor (David Langham, Home and Away)

Best Exit

Daniel Brocklebank (Billy Mayhew, Coronation Street) - WINNER

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) - WINNER

The Hutchinsons (Hollyoaks)

The Fowlers (Home and Away)

Best Partnership

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

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) - WINNER

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) - WINNER

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) - WINNER

Best Soap

Coronation Street - WINNER

EastEnders

Emmerdale

Hollyoaks

Home and Away

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