Edinburgh TV Festival Replaced

The Edinburgh TV Festival is moving to Manchester from 2027, but the city will not be left without a TV festival for long. Plans are underway to develop a new Edinburgh-based festival for the media and creative industries, with a pilot event planned for August 2027.

The new festival will be developed by Screen Scotland, with consultation expected to wrap up in spring 2027. Rowan Woods has been appointed to lead the development of the new festival, which will include a debate format titled the Lynda Myles Debate, named after Lynda Myles, formerly director of the EIFF and co-creator of the Edinburgh TV Festival.

The new festival will be developed with an eye to integrating it with other creative festivals in Edinburgh, including the Edinburgh Fringe and Edinburgh International Film Festival. This will provide a new way to showcase the city's unique position as a global shop window for talent, content, and creative ideas.

Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic, confirmed the plans for the new festival at a launch event, stating that the city's screen sector is something to be proud of. Richard Gadd, creator of 'Baby Reindeer', attended the launch event and spoke about his experiences at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The Edinburgh TV Festival is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and its move to Manchester has been met with disappointment from the industry. However, the development of a new festival in Edinburgh is seen as an opportunity to build on the city's unique position and provide a new platform for creative talent and ideas.

## What happens next The consultation phase for the new festival is expected to conclude in spring 2027, with a pilot event planned for August 2027. The new festival will be developed with the support of the Scottish Government and will sit alongside the other Edinburgh festivals, including the film and comedy events.

## Why it matters The new festival will provide a new way to showcase the city's creative industries and provide a platform for emerging talent. It will also help to maintain Edinburgh's position as a global hub for the television industry, despite the loss of the Edinburgh TV Festival. The festival will be an important part of the city's cultural calendar and will help to promote Scotland's screen sector to a global audience.