ITV TV Schedule March 2026: Full Daily Guide and Must-Watch Shows in the UK

Larry Mimosa February 22, 2026 | 16:18

Explore the complete ITV TV schedule for March 2026, including day-by-day highlights, returning dramas, live sport, entertainment favourites and what to stream on ITVX. A detailed UK viewer’s guide to the best ITV shows this month.

ITV Schedule for March 2026

March 2026 is a pivotal month for ITV, combining flagship drama, high-rating entertainment formats, live sport and long-running soaps that continue to anchor weekday evenings. For viewers across the UK, ITV and ITVX offer a schedule designed around appointment viewing, particularly in primetime.

While exact daily listings update continuously on ITVX and regional guides, this structured overview reflects confirmed series runs, traditional time slots and seasonal programming patterns across ITV in March 2026.

Week 1: Sunday 1 March – Saturday 7 March

Sunday 1 March

Sunday evenings on ITV are typically reserved for premium drama or major entertainment specials.

At 8:00pm or 9:00pm, ITV often schedules:

High-end crime drama
Limited series premieres
Returning detective franchises

March is traditionally strong for thriller and mystery programming, making Sunday one of ITV’s most competitive nights.

Monday 2 – Friday 6 March

Weekdays follow a consistent structure:

6:00pm – Regional News
ITV regional bulletins lead into the national evening lineup.

7:30pm – Emmerdale
The long-running Yorkshire-based soap continues to draw loyal audiences.

8:00pm – Coronation Street
One of the UK’s most iconic soaps, airing multiple times per week in primetime slots.

Post-soap slots often include:

Factual documentaries
Consumer affairs programming
True crime series
Lifestyle formats

Late evenings (9:00pm onwards) are typically reserved for darker drama, investigative journalism or crime documentaries.

Saturday 7 March

Saturday nights on ITV frequently focus on large-scale entertainment. In early 2026, the channel continues to lean heavily on:

Talent competitions
Game shows
Celebrity-led formats

These programmes generally air between 7:00pm and 9:30pm, targeting family audiences.

Week 2: Sunday 8 March – Saturday 14 March

Sunday Drama Slot

ITV’s Sunday 9:00pm drama slot remains one of the most important on British television. March often sees:

Psychological thrillers
Police procedurals
Event mini-series

These dramas are simultaneously promoted heavily on ITVX, where episodes may be available shortly after broadcast.

Midweek Factual Programming

Mid-March typically brings strong factual commissions, including:

Crime reconstructions
Health and social issue documentaries
One-off investigative specials

ITV continues to compete aggressively in this space, often positioning these programmes at 9:00pm midweek.

Live Sport Coverage

ITV shares key live sport rights throughout the year, including:

International football qualifiers
FA Cup fixtures (selected matches)
Rugby coverage

Any live event during March can shift the evening schedule significantly, with pre-match build-up beginning an hour before kick-off.

Week 3: Sunday 15 March – Saturday 21 March

By mid-March, several dramas are typically approaching their final episodes.

Sunday 15 March

This period often features:

Penultimate drama episodes
High-impact story arcs
Cliffhanger builds toward finales

Sunday night remains ITV’s strongest drama showcase.

Weekday Soaps Remain Core

Emmerdale and Coronation Street continue to dominate weekday evenings. Storylines in March frequently build toward:

Major character exits
Spring season turning points
High-profile stunt episodes

These story arcs are central to ITV’s ratings strategy.

Saturday Entertainment

Saturday evenings continue with flagship formats. ITV has increasingly relied on:

Competition-based reality shows
Celebrity-fronted challenges
Revival formats with nostalgic appeal

These programmes remain critical for family viewing share.

Week 4: Sunday 22 March – Tuesday 31 March

Late March transitions ITV toward spring scheduling shifts.

Sunday Finale Window

The final Sundays of March frequently host:

Drama finales
Special extended episodes
Feature-length conclusions

These finales often trend strongly on social media and drive catch-up viewing on ITVX.

Late-Month Specials

ITV may schedule:

Mother’s Day-themed programming (depending on calendar alignment)
Seasonal factual specials
Preview episodes of April launches

The final week often acts as a bridge between winter drama cycles and new spring commissions.

Must-Watch ITV Shows in March 2026

Coronation Street

Still one of the UK’s most-watched soaps, airing multiple evenings per week. March storylines often include high-stakes developments that drive strong overnight ratings.

Emmerdale

A cornerstone of ITV’s weekday lineup, maintaining steady audiences and dramatic arcs.

Sunday Night Drama

ITV’s prestige drama slot remains essential viewing. Whether crime thriller or psychological mystery, this is the channel’s strongest scripted offering.

Saturday Night Entertainment

ITV’s family entertainment formats continue to anchor Saturday viewing, competing directly with BBC One.

Live Sport

Selected FA Cup ties and international football matches remain major audience draws when scheduled.

What to Stream on ITVX in March 2026

ITVX continues to expand its digital-first strategy. Viewers can expect:

Early episode access for some dramas
Full box sets of current series
Exclusive online-only commissions
True crime documentaries
International drama acquisitions

Catch-up viewing remains available shortly after broadcast, making ITVX central to the channel’s viewing strategy.

Why March 2026 Is Important for ITV

March sits between winter ratings peaks and spring refreshes. It is traditionally a month where:

Dramas intensify before finales
Soaps build toward seasonal turning points
Entertainment formats stabilise audience share
Sport provides national event moments

For UK audiences, it is a month of consistent appointment viewing rather than experimental scheduling.

How to Check the Exact ITV Schedule

To confirm precise daily times:

Visit ITVX’s live TV guide

Check regional ITV listings

Use electronic programme guides via Freeview or Sky

Live viewing requires a valid UK TV Licence.

Larry Mimosa

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