Coronation Street Dominates 2026 Inside Soap Awards
The long-running British soap opera secured eight wins, including Best Soap for the third consecutive year.
Coronation Street was the biggest winner at the 2026 Inside Soap Awards, taking home a total of eight accolades. The ceremony, held in Manchester, saw over 110,000 fans vote for their favorite shows and stars. This marks the third consecutive year Coronation Street has won the Best Soap Award.
The program's hard-hitting storyline depicting Todd's abuse by his partner Theo was honored with Best Storyline. Gareth Pierce received the Best Actor award for his portrayal of Todd Grimshaw, while James Cartwright, who played the abuser Theo Silverton, was named Best Villain.
Daniel Brocklebank secured the Best Exit award for his character Billy Mayhew's storyline. Inside Soap editor Sarah Ellis commented on the domestic abuse storyline, stating it "really struck a chord with the audience." The popular pairing of Lisa and Carla Connor-Swain, referred to as "Swarla," also contributed to the show's success.
Vicky Myers won Best Actress for her role as Lisa Connor-Swain, and Alison King took home Best Partnership for her portrayal of Carla. Myers' win was highlighted alongside King's in a separate photo caption.
Elsewhere, Emmerdale's Dingle family was recognized as Best Family for the seventh consecutive year. Chris Coghill earned both Best Newcomer and Best Comic Performance for his role as Kev Barton.
The crossover episode between Coronation Street and Emmerdale, titled "Corriedale," was named Best Showstopper. Waterloo Road's Adam Thomas received the Best Drama Star award.
Alex Fletcher was presented with the Outstanding Achievement trophy for her four decades in soap opera. Emmerdale star Claire King was inducted into the Inside Soap Awards Hall of Fame, celebrating 30 years since her initial wins at the awards.
Diane Parish of EastEnders was named Soap Superstar of 2026 for her performance as Denise Fox, particularly her handling of the character's blood cancer storyline. Ellis noted that the record number of votes this year reflects audience engagement with powerful performances in dramatic storylines, underscoring the continued strength of the soaps on their 30th anniversary.