Edinburgh TV Festival to move to Greater Manchester in 2027

After 50 years in Scotland, the Edinburgh TV Festival will relocate to Greater Manchester starting in 2027, organizers announced on Tuesday, June 23. The move follows a strategic review and competitive bidding process aimed at addressing rising costs and ensuring the event's long-term growth.

The final edition in Edinburgh will be held this August. Organizers said the decision was driven by the need to improve affordability, accessibility, and sustainability for attendees and the industry. They stated that moving the festival will allow them to radically reduce costs associated with attendance and passes.

The festival, launched in 1976 and organized by The TV Foundation charity, is the UK's largest annual television industry gathering, typically attracting around 2,000 delegates. It has featured prominent figures including Sir David Attenborough, Michaela Coel, and Louis Theroux. In recent years, delegates have faced soaring accommodation costs in Edinburgh during August, when the city also hosts the Fringe, the International Festival, the Book Festival, and other major cultural events.

Fatima Salaria, chair of the festival's board, said the review was launched to carefully...