Edinburgh launches new media event after final TV Festival

Scottish cultural organizations and the Scottish government have announced plans to establish a new television and screen festival in Edinburgh. The initiative aims to replace the long-running Edinburgh TV Festival, which is relocating to Manchester after nearly 50 years in the Scottish capital.

Organizers hope to launch a pilot version of the new Scottish festival in August 2027 to coincide with the city's established summer arts festivals. Unlike the industry-exclusive event it replaces, the proposed festival will be open to general audiences alongside content creators, expanding its scope beyond traditional film and television to encompass the wider global content industry.

Scottish Culture Secretary Màiri McAllan revealed details of the project at a launch event, stating that the new addition to the August lineup would showcase the capital's creativity and cultural innovation. The initiative is being funded by Screen Scotland and delivered through the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, with former TV festival creative director Rowan Woods leading ongoing consultations.

Actor and writer Richard Gadd, whose hit Netflix series Baby Reindeer was originally staged as an Edinburgh Fringe show, spoke at the launch in support of preserving Edinburgh's creative ecosystem. Gadd stated that he owed everything he had to the festival, which provided a platform to experiment and take risks. He warned that if the Fringe becomes too expensive or commercialized, the industry risks losing the place where an artist can arrive with an idea and leave with a career.

The original event began in 1976 as the Edinburgh Television Drama Festival, co-founded by Linda Myles and Gus MacDonald. Held during the final week of the arts festival, it allowed media executives to network and scout new talent. Notable productions discovered at the Fringe before being adapted for television include Fleabag, Taskmaster, and Baby Reindeer.

The decision to move the traditional TV festival to Manchester followed industry concerns regarding affordability, accessibility, and sustainability. Edinburgh bid to retain the event but lost to Manchester, which will host the conference starting in 2027.

The original festival was known for its keynote MacTaggart lecture, delivered over the years by industry figures such as Rupert Murdoch, Ted Turner, and David Attenborough. At this year's final Edinburgh gathering, YouTube Vice President Pedro Pina delivered the main MacTaggart lecture, while presenter Amol Rajan used the Alternative MacTaggart to urge the UK government to resolve the BBC's funding structure.

To honor the original event's history, Screen Scotland also announced plans to establish The Linda Myles Debate. Myles stated she was deeply touched and honored by the recognition, noting it was exciting to see the importance of discussion recognized in the plans for the new event.