The Edinburgh TV Festival is set to relocate to Greater Manchester next year, ending a 50-year run in Edinburgh. Multiple outlets report that the festival’s board of directors makes the decision following an extensive consultation and competitive bidding process involving a number of UK cities. Deadline and Variety say the move follows a bid process in which Greater Manchester was selected as the new host area.
The Scotsman reports that the festival cites “increasing challenges” associated with rising costs in the Scottish capital as a key factor behind the relocation. Variety similarly describes the decision as a move carried out after board-led consultation and bidding that began in 2025. The festival typically takes place at the end of August, and the relocation means 2026 will be the final year the event is held in Scotland.
All reporting agrees on the broad timeline: the festival is leaving Edinburgh after half a century and moving to Greater Manchester for the next edition, with the transition tied to board decision-making and a structured selection process.
