Why Isn’t Emmerdale On at 8pm Tonight? The Unexpected Schedule Shake-Up Finally Explained!
There is huge disruption to Emmerdale's schedule coming this week
he Emmerdale schedule is all over the place again this week as football causes disruption, but we’ve got you covered – here’s all the information you need about the changes to tonight’s episode (Friday June 26)
ITV has been making regular changes to its soap line-up thanks to sport and special programming, and June is proving no different. If you’re wondering when Emmerdale is back on screen and whether you’ll be able to watch it on ITVX, here’s everything you need to know.
Is Emmerdale on tonight and can you watch it on ITVX?
Emmerdale fans hoping to catch up with the latest drama tonight are set to be disappointed. The ITV soap has been pulled from the schedules altogether.
There won’t be a trip to the Dales on Friday, June 26, with Coronation Street also missing from the line-up. And because there are no episodes airing, there are no early releases on ITVX or YouTube either, leaving viewers waiting even longer for their next fix.
Last night’s extended hour-long episode made up for tonight’s absence, but ongoing disruption caused by the World Cup continues to leave soap fans guessing when their favourite shows will actually be on.
The fixture chaos isn’t over yet either, with next week’s schedule still yet to be confirmed.
Once the FIFA tournament reaches the knockout stages, ITV and BBC will continue sharing the matches between them. That means the soap schedules cannot be finalised until the football fixtures are confirmed.
At the moment, it is thought Emmerdale will air on Monday, Tuesday for an hour and Wednesday, although ITV is expected to confirm the schedule over the weekend.
Some viewers have suggested that if ITV moved the power hour to an earlier slot, it could make it easier for the soaps to stay on air even when football coverage is taking place.
What happens in Emmerdale next week?
Charity goes to the police over Dr Todd’s blackmail. However, she is left distraught when DS Reid informs her it will be treated as a separate case to the sexual assault investigation. Feeling it has all been for nothing, can Charity hold it together? Or will Leyla’s christening push her, or Mack, over the edge?
Also next week, Kev is back in town and Claudette offers him somewhere to stay. He admits Lewis is his son and Claudette encourages him to fight for a relationship with him. But will Lewis want anything to do with his father?
Nicola is far from pleased to see Kev return, especially when he tries to fill his bucket from the café toilets to clean his van. She soon makes it her mission to drive him out of the village. Meanwhile, Robert is pleasantly surprised when Kev suggests they finally sort out their divorce.
Elsewhere, Sarah becomes suspicious when Serena reveals she knows John. Even so, she invites the newcomer to stay after discovering she’s been living out of her car.
There’s also a flashforward next week, with viewers seeing a crime scene and a glimpse of a mystery victim. But whose body is it? And what shocking events have unfolded?
ITV’s soap power hour remains popular
ITV launched its new soap ‘power hour’ in January 2026. It keeps Emmerdale on air five nights a week while continuing the 7am ITVX releases.
The soap also moved to its current 8pm slot, while the former Thursday double bill was reduced to a single half-hour episode to allow for extra Coronation Street content.
The shorter format has proved popular with many viewers. It offers quicker-paced episodes that are easier to fit into busy evenings.
One thing the schedule overhaul hasn’t solved, however, is the ongoing disruption caused by major sporting events. So for now, like tonight, Emmerdale fans may still need to keep one eye on the TV guide before settling down for a night in the Dales.
