Edinburgh TV Festival Moves to Manchester in Major Industry Shift

BySSZee Media

Jun 24, 2026 ##News #Entertainment, #artists, #Festival, #Hollywood, #News, #Television

The TV Festival will relocate from Edinburgh to Manchester next year, bringing an end to its 50-year association with the Scottish capital.

Organisers announced the move, citing growing concerns around accessibility, affordability and sustainability within the television industry. The festival, which has been held in Edinburgh since 1976, will take place in Manchester from 2027, with the final Edinburgh edition scheduled for 25-28 August this year.

The TV Foundation, which runs the festival, said Greater Manchester had presented a compelling vision for the event’s future and offered a stronger platform for growth at a time when the industry faces increasing economic pressures.

The annual festival is one of the television industry’s most influential gatherings, bringing together leading broadcasters, producers, writers, executives and on-screen talent for keynote speeches, debates and masterclasses. Last year’s event featured high-profile participants including presenter Graham Norton, actor Michael Sheen and American comedian, writer and producer Tina Fey.

The 2027 festival will be staged in St John’s, Manchester’s newest creative district, although dates have yet to be confirmed.

According to organisers, the decision followed “an extensive consultation and competitive bidding process” launched last year and was ultimately approved by the festival’s board of directors.

Campbell Glennie, chief executive of The TV Festival and The TV Foundation, said: “Greater Manchester presented a vision for the festival that combined genuine creative ambition and future-facing energy with practical accessibility and affordability for delegates.

“This means we can radically reduce the costs associated with attending the festival as well as the cost of passes.

“The city reflects the expanding ambition of the UK television industry, while still offering the scale, connectivity and unique cultural identity needed for an event of this significance; it gives us the strongest platform to grow the festival’s reach and impact in the years ahead.”

Organisers said the move would help lower attendance costs for delegates and improve access to the event, while positioning the festival within one of the UK’s fastest-growing creative hubs.

Despite the relocation, the festival team paid tribute to Edinburgh’s long-standing role in the event’s success, describing the city as central to the festival’s identity.

In a statement, organisers said Edinburgh was where the festival “established itself as one of the most influential gatherings in television” and added that the city’s cultural heritage remains “embedded within The TV Festival’s heart and soul”.

The decision has been met with disappointment in Edinburgh, where the festival has been a fixture of the cultural calendar for five decades.

Edinburgh Council leader Jane Meagher said: “Of course, we’re disappointed by this decision but are rightly proud of the role that Edinburgh has played in hosting The TV Festival over the last 50 years.

“Being the world’s festival city, Edinburgh will always be a place where creativity is welcomed and celebrated, and our ambitions for the screen sector and wider creative industries is as strong as ever.”

The move marks the end of an era for Edinburgh but signals a new chapter for the festival as it seeks to expand its reach and adapt to the evolving needs of the UK television industry.